Guidance

China: bereavement pack

Updated 2 April 2025

Disclaimer

This information is not meant to be definitive, nor is it to be taken as a substitute for independent legal advice. Neither His Majesty’s Government nor its staff take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information, nor accept liability for any loss, costs, damage or expense that you might suffer as a result of relying on the information. Some of the information may not be relevant to your circumstances. The language used is intended to be general and factual and is not meant to cause offence.

When a relative or friend dies abroad, the different procedures, laws or language can cause additional distress. You may be uncertain about what to do or who to contact.

This country specific information is designed to help you through some of the practical arrangements you may need to make. It supplements the general information on death abroad produced by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office(FCDO), which applies to all countries.

Please note, as each country has its own laws and customs when a death occurs, it may not be possible to make the arrangements that you prefer, or at the time you would like.

How to contact the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

There is a lot of information below, but you may have questions. You can speak to someone by phone 24/7, any day of the year by contacting the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in London on 0207 008 5000.

If you are not in the UK, you can find the contact details of the nearest British embassy, high commission or consulate.

The priority of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is to provide assistance to British nationals overseas who need the most help. The level and type of assistance they can offer is tailored to the individual circumstances of each case.

Next of kin

The next of kin of the person who died will usually need to make decisions and practical arrangements. The next of kin can sometimes appoint another person to act on their behalf.

If you are not the next of kin, they will need to be informed. If required, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office can help you do this.

There is no legal definition of next of kin in the UK. Please note that if there is a disagreement over who is the next of kin, or the person who died did not choose a next of kin, this can cause additional complications.

In China, in general, next of kin is considered to mean a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandparent and grandchild. Chinese legislation does not recognise same-sex marriage or unmarried opposite-sex partners, and there is no legal equivalent of a civil partnership.

If the next of kin is in China, they may make decisions on issues such as whether the deceased should be repatriated or cremated, and collect documents such as the death certificate themselves.  

If the next of kin is not in China, and does not intend to travel to China, a letter of authorisation should be written explicitly stating their wishes regarding how their loved one should be treated, and who they wish to act as proxy. This letter of authorisation (see Appendix for sample letters) should be written and signed by the next of kin themselves. The letter should be provided to the relevant British Embassy or Consulates-General consular officers and should be accompanied by a photocopy of the bio page of their passport and a photocopy of the proof of relationship. Typically, the proxy could be another family member, friend, or representative of the employer, insurance company or funeral director.

Release of information to next of kin

When someone dies in China, the police, medical institution, or other relevant body such as an employer will usually attempt to notify relatives whose details they hold. Chinese authorities may also notify British Embassy or Consulates-General. If the next of kin is in the UK or abroad, the British Embassy and Consulates-General will do whatever they can to trace the next of kin as soon as possible and would ask the UK police to deliver the news in person if possible.  However, you might also be notified about the death directly by someone else, for example, a doctor or a police officer.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will try to obtain as much information as possible after your loved-one has died abroad. However, some of this may only be available to the next of kin in which case consular officers may put you in direct contact with the local authorities in China. Consular officers will be able to provide you with details of others who can advocate on your behalf such as lawyers or funeral directors in China.

In some places, medical information about the deceased can only be shared with the next of kin or the deceased’s legal representative.

Insurance

It is very important to check if the person who died had insurance. If they had insurance, contact the insurance company as soon as possible. They may have a list of approved funeral directors to help you make arrangements and may be able to cover some of the costs.

If the person who died did not have insurance, the next of kin will usually be asked to appoint a funeral director and would therefore be responsible for all costs.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office cannot help with these costs.

Appointing a funeral director

If you decide to bring the deceased to the UK for the funeral or cremation, you may only need to appoint an international funeral director. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office produces a list of international funeral directors based in the UK.

If you decide to hold a funeral or cremation in China, you can find a list of funeral directors in China, which also contains contact details of a couple of international repatriation companies based in China.

Registering the death and obtaining a death certificate

You will need to register the death with the local authorities in the country where the person died. Sometimes a funeral director can do this for you. You will usually need documents about you and the person who has died, which include information such as full name, date of birth, passport number and proof of relationship.

If a British national dies in a hospital in China, the hospital will issue a Chinese language death certificate. It is important that the death certificate specifies the cause of death, and that the death was not caused by infectious diseases. If the person suffered from an infectious condition such as hepatitis or HIV the local authorities will need to be told.  so that they can take precautions. If death was caused by injuries of unknown specification, it may be necessary to obtain clearance from the Public Security Bureau.

If a British national dies somewhere other than a hospital, the local Public Security Bureau must be notified to establish the cause of death. Forensic staff may be called on-site to investigate. If the cause of death cannot be quickly identified, but police are satisfied the death is not the result of violence, they may issue a police death certificate giving “sudden death” as the cause of death. 

Police in China reserve the right to request an autopsy if a death occurs under suspicious circumstances. If an autopsy is requested, the next of kin will need to give approval either directly or via their proxy before a death certificate will be   issued by the local Public Security Bureau.

Hospitals may withhold death certificates before medical bills are settled. Without a death certificate, you may not be able to arrange the cremation or repatriation of remains.

In Shanghai, a police death certificate is required in all circumstances prior to any funeral arrangements being made.

Consular death registration

You do not have to register the death of a British national that occurs overseas with the UK authorities. However, if you wish to do this, read more information on registering a death and apply online.

The local death certificate can usually be used in the UK for most purposes, including probate. If it is not in English, you will need to obtain and pay for an official translation. This can be done by a local public notary or translator. Some may request proof of relationship such as a marriage or birth certificate.

Post mortem examinations (autopsies)

A post-mortem (also known as an autopsy) is a medical examination of a body after death. It is generally performed when a death is not by natural cause or when the cause of death is unclear. Autopsies are not carried out as a matter of course in China. If next of kin would like further information related to the death of the deceased or have reason to believe the circumstances of death are suspicious, they may request an autopsy to be conducted.

Police in China reserve the right to request an autopsy if a death occurs under suspicious circumstances. If an autopsy is requested, the next of kin will need to give approval. If the next of kin is in China, they can provide authorisation directly. Otherwise, they may make a request via the British Embassy or Consulates-General.

There is usually a charge for conducting autopsies, prices for which vary widely between provinces. Additionally, autopsy reports are issued in Chinese. If it is necessary to obtain a translation, the insurance company may be able to do this. In the absence of insurance, the next of kin should pay for this personally. You can find translators in China.

In conducting autopsies, common practice is that only small sections of organs are removed from the deceased. Organs are not typically removed in their entirety or retained.

Please note that in some cases the process of conducting an autopsy in China has been known to go on for a significant period of time, in some instances for longer than 1 month. During this time the body might not be released for repatriation or other purposes.

Mortuary facilities

The place of death determines which mortuary the body is taken to. If a person dies in a hospital, then the body stays in the hospital morgue temporarily until it is transferred to a funeral parlour. If a person dies outside of a hospital, the body is normally taken to the funeral parlour. Morgues in rural areas may be of a lower standard when compared to morgues in larger cities. Storage costs will usually be incurred, possibly on a daily basis.

The deceased will need to be identified. Friends or relatives travelling with the deceased, or their employer in China, may be asked to identify the deceased. You may be able to travel to China to view the body. You may wish to instruct a local funeral director to identify the body on your behalf. Otherwise, the police or local authorities in the country where the British national died would identify the body.

Cremation, repatriation, burial

The next of kin should decide on whether the deceased should be cremated or repatriated for burial. Burials cannot be performed in China. The options available are as follows:

• cremation with the ashes remaining in China
• repatriation of the full remains for burial or cremation in the UK (or another country)
• repatriation of the ashes, following cremation in China

Your funeral director will be able to explain the options available, the costs, and help you make arrangements.

If the religious beliefs of the deceased include a need for the remains to be handled in a specific manner, please inform the funeral director or consular officers as soon as possible.

Please note if a local cremation takes place, then an inquest in the UK will not be possible. For more information on inquests, see the information on UK coroners and inquests.

Repatriation

Funeral directors will be able to arrange repatriation of the deceased’s remains or ashes once necessary documents such as the death certificate have been provided. You may select a funeral director yourself, or the insurance company may assign one. Please check with the insurer first, as they may have a list of preferred service providers. Please note, repatriations are subject to flight availability. During events such as Chinese New Year and Golden Week, repatriation may be delayed.

It may be possible to employ a UK-based funeral director of your own choice, if they offer international repatriation services.

Embalming is required if the deceased’s body is to be repatriated. This will be arranged by the funeral director, who will produce an embalming certificate for immigration purposes.

If the religious beliefs of the deceased include a need for the embalming to be conducted in a specific manner, please inform the funeral director or consular officers as soon as possible.

In the case of repatriating the ashes of the deceased, it may be possible to obtain a certificate from certain airlines allowing the ashes to be carried onboard. It is advisable to receive confirmation from the airline in advance, if deciding to choose this option.

In the absence of insurance, repatriation can be an expensive and lengthy procedure. Funeral directors vary, but in recent instances, repatriation of full remains typically costs between 130,000 to 250,000 Chinese Yuan (around GBP13,000 to 25,000), repatriation of ashes typically costs between 30,000 to 50,000 Chinese Yuan (around GBP3,000 to 5,000). This figure is subject to change and provided only to offer guidance in the decision-making process.

Return of personal belongings

If the person who died had insurance, check with the insurance company if this covers the return of their personal belongings.

In general, the funeral director assigned responsibility for repatriation of the deceased will not deal with personal belongings, though there may be exceptions.

Alternatively, the next of kin may provide a letter of authorisation for a third party to handle belongings.

Please note that there are certain items which couriers are unable to transport, including but not limited to cash, credit cards, mechanical watches, items containing strong magnets or batteries, explosive or dangerous items.

Please note, the British Embassy and Consulates-General cannot take responsibility for the personal belongings of the deceased.

Steps to take in the UK

You can find more information on the steps to take in the UK. This includes information on arranging the funeral, telling the government about the death, UK pensions and benefits, and dealing with the estate of the person who died. There is a step-by-step guide about what to do when someone dies.

British passport cancellation

To avoid identity fraud, the passport of the person who died should be cancelled with His Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO). To do this, you will need to complete a “D1 form”.

See form and instructions on where to send the passport.

If you plan to repatriate the person who died to the UK, you may require their passport to do this. In these circumstances, you should cancel the passport after they have been repatriated.

Chinese visa cancellation

The valid Chinese visa of the deceased should be cancelled with the Exit & Entry Division of the Public Security Bureau (PSB), the department responsible for immigration. Doing so will ensure the remains can be released for repatriation to the UK. The next of kin or authorised representative can cancel the visa via the relevant PSB office. Dial the National Immigration Hotline +86 (area code) 12367 to find out more about how to do this and whether an appointment is required.

Deaths investigated as murder or manslaughter

If the local police have confirmed that they are investigating the death as a murder or manslaughter a dedicated team within the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office will be available to provide support, including by referring you to a specialised organisation. You can find more about how the FCDO can support after murder and manslaughter abroad.

UK coroners and inquests

You should note that if the deceased is repatriated to England and Wales, the coroner or procurator fiscal may decide to hold an inquest. The decision on when to hold an inquest is made by His Majesty’s Coroner. Please note, an inquest will usually only happen in certain situations, for example, when someone has died in suspicious, unnatural, and violent circumstances or whilst in detention. If the person who died is cremated and only their ashes are brought home, there will not be an inquest.

If you repatriate the person who died to Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal may decide to call for a Fatal Accidents or Injuries Inquiry.

If you repatriate the person who died to Northern Ireland, there will be no coronial inquest or further inquiry.

Please note, Procurators Fiscal and Coroners do not have jurisdiction in another country, nor do they seek to apportion blame to a named individual. 

You can find more information on Coroners and the Procurator Fiscal in the FCDO guide on what to do when someone dies abroad.

Legal aid

If you require legal assistance within China, you may consult our list of lawyers. Please note that the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and its consular officers are unable to provide legal advice or provide recommendations regarding any particular service provider. Inclusion in this list should not be taken as approval by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of any service provider.

Compensation

In China, there are no government compensation schemes available for foreign nationals, although damages may be claimed from the accused. Any award of damages is made by the court when the case is heard.

You can find information on UK compensation for victims of terrorism overseas.

Translation and interpretation

Chinese Mandarin is the official language in China. Cantonese is spoken in some southern provinces. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has provided a list of translators and interpreters for British nationals who may need support abroad.

Support organisations in the UK

In the UK, there are many organisations that can help bereaved families. Some of these are listed in the guide death abroad: UK organisations that can help.

Visa to travel to China

If the next of kin or other immediate family members wish to travel to China, a Chinese visa will be required. If needed, consular officers may provide an official letter requesting that the application be fast-tracked.

However, please be aware that we are limited to being able to submit a request on compassionate grounds, and we cannot make guarantees related to visa issuance or timeframes.

Appendix: Letter of authorisation

The following is an example of a letter of authorisation, to be used for granting permission to a third party for duties such as collection of the deceased’s death certificate. This is for reference only. Final version may vary according to the requirements of the local authorities. The local authorities may also require a letter of authorisation in Chinese. You may wish to refer to the list of translators and interpreters provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office for reference only if you have difficulties in finding your own translator.

For local cremation

Letter of Authorisation

To whom it concerns

Undersigned
Full name:
Date of birth:
Passport number:
In the capacity of Next-of-kin
Relationship:
Of the deceased
Full name:
Date of birth:
Passport number:

Hereby appoints and authorises:

Full name: xxxxx（Nationality: xxxxxxx, ID no: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) to, on my behalf, deal with all formalities in China related to the cremation and repatriation to the UK of deceased’s ashes, as well as the personal effects. (please change if not applicable)

Those formalities will include amongst others, obtaining and notarizing the death certificate, obtaining all related reports (including the death reports) and certificates, body identification, instructing the funeral home, arranging inland and international transportation, collecting deceased’s personal effects if any, etc. (please delete and/or edit if not applicable)

If not a legal requirement in China, I do not wish any autopsy to be done, implying I do accept and agree with the cause of death as reported by the relevant Chinese authorities.

Signature:

Date:

For repatriation

Letter of Authorisation

To whom it concerns

Undersigned
Full name:
Date of birth:
Passport number:
In the capacity of Next-of-kin
Relationship:
Of the deceased
Full name:
Date of birth:
Passport number:

Hereby appoints and authorises either:

Full name: xxxxx（Chinese, ID no: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx）

or

Full name: xxxx（Chinese, ID no: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx）(please delete if not applicable) 

or

Funeral Home: xxx (please delete if not applicable)

to, on my behalf, deal with all formalities in China related to the repatriation to the UK of deceased’s embalmed remains in coffin, as well as the personal effects. (please delete and/or change to cremation if not applicable)

Those formalities will include amongst others, obtaining and notarizing the death certificate, obtaining all related reports (including the death reports) and certificates, body identification, instructing the funeral home, arranging inland and international transportation (acting as shipper), collecting deceased’s personal effects if any, etc. (please delete and / or edit if not applicable)

If not a legal requirement in China, I do not wish any autopsy to be done, implying I do accept and agree with the cause of death as reported by the relevant Chinese authorities. 

Signature: 

Date: