When someone dies in Venezuela
Source: gov.uk (2025-09-16)

The process when a British national dies in Venezuela, including registering the death, funerals and cremations, and bringing the person’s body to the UK.

Contacting the insurance company

If the person who died had insurance, contact their insurance company as soon as possible. Read the general guidance on what to do when someone dies abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-national-dies-abroad) if you’re not sure if they had insurance.

The insurance company should appoint a funeral director in Venezuela and the UK. They may also cover the cost of bringing the person’s body to the UK (repatriation) and help with any medical, legal, interpretation and translation fees.

Registering the death

The death must be registered with the local authorities in Venezuela. The specific registryer office where the death must be registered is that of the municipality where the death occurred. Your funeral director can normally assist you with this.

You will need information and documents about the person who has died, including their:
- birth certificate, showing their place of birth and parents’ names
- official identity document (for example their British passport)
- spouse’s details (if applicable)
- children’s details (if applicable)
- marriage certificate (if applicable)
Getting a death certificate

After registering the death, you will get a death certificate (“Certificado de defunción” in Spanish). Venezuelan death certificates include details of the official cause of death. Obtaining a death certificate can be a lengthy process and local authorities will not provide a copy of the death certificate to a third party such as Embassy staff. This means that the next of kin will need to appoint a legal representative, such as a funeral undertaker or professional lawyer, for this purpose.

In Venezuela, the seniority of next of kin is usually as follows:
- spouse/partner/civil partner (same sex partners are not recognised in any case under local law or practice)
- children
- parents
- any ‘third degree’ blood relative
Same-sex partners or spouses are not recognised under local law or practices as next of kin.

Venezuelan death certificates need to be legalised and apostilled in order to have legal validity in the UK. Your appointed funeral undertaker can assist you with this.

Please note there are no facilities to order/obtain civil records online in Venezuela: the next of kin or an appointed legal representative must make the request to the respective civil registrar in person.

It’s worth asking for extra copies of the death certificate, as you might need them to show to other authorities at a later stage.

Post mortems in Venezuela

A post mortem is a medical examination of the body. There might be one in Venezuela if the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent (crime-related).

Cultural or religious sensitivities may not be taken into account. Tissue samples and organs may be removed for testing without the family’s permission. You will not automatically be told if this happens.

If organs are removed they will normally be returned before the person’s body is released for burial. In exceptional circumstances body parts may be kept without permission. This might happen if further investigation is needed.

Post mortem reports are usually given to the next of kin, if physically present in Venezuela, or to their lawyer/legal representative. Appointing a funeral director can significantly speed up obtaining a post mortem report.

Burying or cremating the body in Venezuela

The next of kin of the person who died needs a local funeral director to arrange for a burial or cremation in Venezuela, or for bringing the person home, which is known as a repatriation. Your funeral director will usually be able to explain the options available, the costs, and help you make arrangements.

You should not have the person cremated abroad if you want a coroner in England and Wales to conduct an inquest into their death. In Scotland, a further investigation may still be possible.

Bringing the body to the UK

Ask your funeral director about options for bringing the person’s body to the UK from Venezuela. In certain circumstances, such as crime-related death cases that involve police investigations, a repatriation may not be possible.

When taking the person’s body to the UK from Venezuela you will need to:
- show the death certificate
- have the appropriate permission issued by local sanitary authority (“Constancia de traslado Internacional de cenizas, cadaver y restos” in Spanish) - your funeral director can give you more information
- show the passport of the person who died
- have a local funeral director complete the logistic arrangements with the airline and customs authorities
Bringing the ashes to the UK

Ask your funeral director about the rules for bringing ashes to the UK.

Bringing the ashes to the UK yourself

If you are taking the ashes with you when you leave Venezuela you will need to:
- show the death certificate
- show the cremation certificate issued by a funeral director
- have the appropriate permission issued by local sanitary authority (“Constancia de traslado Internacional de cenizas, cadaver y restos” in Spanish) - your funeral director can give you more information
- notify the airline in advance
Arranging for the ashes to be taken to the UK

Ask your funeral director for advice if you cannot take the ashes yourself. You may not be able to send them by post or courier. Ashes can be shipped by air freight, although this can be expensive.

Getting the person’s belongings back

Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to you or the Venezuelan police.

If you bring the person’s body to the UK, you can ask your local funeral director to collect all the belongings and transport them together.

If they were a Venezuela resident you may not be able to take the belongings as they may be part of their estate. Seek legal advice if this happens.

Belongings may be kept as evidence if there is an investigation into the death. This will only be returned when the court case is over.

Finding a Spanish translator

You may need a translator to help you understand Spanish language rules or get documents translated. Check official translators in Venezuela (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/translators-interpreters?country=Venezuela). The British embassy in Venezuela cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs.

Finding a Venezuelan lawyer

You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Venezuelan legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Venezuela (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/lawyers). The British embassy in Venezuela cannot give you legal advice or pay for legal costs.

Telling the UK authorities

Although you do not have to register the death in the UK, when someone dies abroad you still need to tell the UK authorities. Read general guidance on what to do when someone dies abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-national-dies-abroad) to find out what to do.

Contacting the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)

You can contact the FCDO if you still need advice:

in the UK call xx-xxxx-xxxx

contact the nearest British Embassy or Consulate (https://www.gov.uk/world/embassies)