When someone dies in Portugal
Source: gov.uk (2025-03-21)

The process when a British national dies in Portugal, 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 Portugal 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 at the Portuguese registry office. Your funeral director can normally do this for you.

You will need to provide accurate information and/or documents about the person who has died, including:
- details of their place of birth, parents’ names and civil status
- their official identity document (for example their British passport)
- their spouse’s details (if applicable)
- marriage certificate (if applicable)
- divorce papers (if applicable)
Getting a death certificate

After registering the death, you will get a death certificate (Assento de Óbito). You can ask for an international version (Certidão de Óbito Internacional) with a multilingual/English translation. Portuguese death certificates do not give the cause of death. It’s worth asking for extra copies of the death certificate, as you might need them to show to people later.

Any further copies of the local death certificate can be obtained at any time
- in person from any Civil Registration Office in Portugal (https://irn.justica.gov.pt/Contactos/Lista-de-Contactos)
- on application to the Portuguese Consulate (https://portaldascomunidades.mne.gov.pt/pt/rede-consular)
You can also apply to view the certificate online and share a check code for others to view the certificate for a period of 6 months. Our step-by-step guide on ordering certificates online in Portugal (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guide-on-how-to-order-portuguese-certificates-online) explains the process.

Post mortems in Portugal

A post mortem is a medical examination of the body. There might be one in Portugal if the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent.

An inquiry into the causes and circumstances of the death is compulsory in Portugal where death has occurred suddenly, in suspicious circumstances or following an accident, including a road traffic accident. The inquiry is conducted by the public prosecutor.

The postmortem examination is part of the inquiry. It will normally be held within 3 to 4 working days of death.

Cultural or religious sensitivities may not be considered. Small tissue samples and organs may be removed for testing. The Portuguese authorities do not need your permission for this. If organs are removed, they will normally be returned before the person’s body is released for burial.

The public prosecutor will only dispense with the need for a post mortem examination if there is sufficient evidence to conclude that the death did not occur as the result of negligence or a criminal act.

Post mortem reports are not usually given to the next of kin. If you need a copy, send an email, with a copy of your passport, to the public prosecutor conducting the inquiry. The prosecutor will only release the report when they have closed the inquiry. This can take up to 12 months.

Obtaining cause of death in Portugal

Next-of-kin have a right to know the cause of death of their loved ones. This information is obtained as follows:

when death happened after a long illness and there is no post mortem examination, or a post mortem has been carried out for clinical purpose:
- apply to the hospital administration for a declaration of cause of death or for a copy of the deceased’s medical records
when death happened suddenly and a postmortem examination has been carried out for legal purposes:
- apply to the Public Prosecutor leading the inquiry for a copy of the post mortem report and court conclusion
The enquiry takes several months, and the postmortem report will not be released until the Prosecutor has concluded the inquiry.

Burying or cremating the body in Portugal

You need a local funeral director (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/portugal-list-of-funeral-directors) to arrange a burial or cremation in Portugal. You do not have to be in Portugal to instruct them, but you must complete a form and send a copy of your passport. They will also need the deceased’s passport.

Funerals normally take place within 72 hours of death or 48 hours after the post mortem examination. You may need permission from the public prosecutor if you wish to have a cremation. 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.

If no one takes responsibility for the funeral arrangements, the local authorities will arrange for a pauper’s burial.

Bringing the body to the UK

Ask your funeral director about options for bringing the person’s body to the UK from Portugal.

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 Portugal, you will need to:
- show the death certificate
- show the cremation certificate
- follow Portuguese regulations about leaving Portugal with ashes – your funeral director can give you more information
- tell 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. Ashes can be shipped by air freight, although this can be expensive. Check with your UK funeral director whether you need to pay customs duty on the ashes on arrival.

Getting the person’s belongings back

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

If you are bringing the person’s body to the UK, ask your funeral director if they can collect the belongings and transport them together. If the person who died had insurance, check with the insurance company whether the policy covers the return of their personal belongings.

In some circumstances, personal belongings may be kept as evidence. They will only be available for collection when the inquiry is over.

The Consulate cannot collect, store or forward personal belongings on your behalf.

Finding a Portuguese translator

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

Finding a lawyer in Portugal

You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Portuguese legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Portugal (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/lawyers?country=Portugal). The embassy or consulate in Portugal 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 may 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
- see how to get help from the UK government abroad (https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/home)