Deaths

Registering an overseas death


If a British citizen or member of the British Armed Forces dies abroad, a death certificate is issued by the relevant authorities in the country concerned. This document is usually acceptable for all official purposes although it may need to be translated into English or Welsh, as appropriate. We are not automatically notified or sent copy certificates. Additionally, the death can often be registered at the request of the deceased family, by the British Consul or High Commission in the country where it happened. If the person was a serving member of the British Armed Forces, his or her commanding officer can also request it. A British Armed Forces registration, as long as it takes place within 12 months, may be made by the Forces Registering Officer.

Addresses:

  • Australia - British Defence Liaison Staff, British High Commission, Commonwealth Avenue, Canberra, ACT 2600
  • Germany- G1 Compassionate (BMD) Headquarters UKSC, Germany, BFPO 140
  • Gibraltar - HQBF Registry, The Tower, British Forces Gibraltar, BFPO 52
  • Cyprus - Personnel Branch Headquarters, British Forces Cyprus, BFPO 53
  • Washington- British Defence Staff (Washington), British Embassy, 3100 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20008-3688 USA.
  • Canada - British Defence Liaison Staff, British High Commission, 80 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1P 5K7
  • Canada (BATU) - Headquarters, British Army Training Unit Suffield, BFPO 14
  • Kenya - British Army Training Liaison Staff, Kenya, BFPO 10
  • CINC Fleet - Personnel Division, CINCFLEET, Room 211, PP 73A Jago Road, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth PO1 3LU
  • Falkland Islands - Headquarters, British Forces Falkland Islands, Mount Pleasant Airfield, BFPO 655
  • RAF (Innsworth) - Royal Air Force, Personnel Management Agency, Royal Air Force Innsworth, Gloucestershire GL3 1EZ

The advantage of registering with the British authorities is that a record of the death will be sent to the GRO within 12 months, after which time we hold a permanent record. This also means death certificates can be provided by the GRO - for full details see How to order overseas certificates. Please note that registering with British authorities does not happen as a matter of course and the family needs to ask for it.

The following is a list of the countries where it is not possible to register with the British authorities.

  • Ascension Islands
  • Australia
  • Bermuda
  • Canada
  • Cayman Islands
  • Christmas Islands
  • Falkland Islands
  • Gibraltar
  • Irish Republic
  • Nevis
  • New Zealand
  • St.Helena
  • South Africa
  • Turks & Cacos Islands
  • Virgin Islands (UK)

If you would like to arrange for a death that has taken place overseas to be registered with the British authorities or have any further queries, please contact our Overseas Section or get in touch with:

Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Consular Division
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
+44 (0) 20 7 008 0186
www.fco.gov.uk