When someone dies: what to do, and repatriation to Nepal

This is a guide nobody wants to need. When a death happens far from home the practical demands arrive immediately, often while the family is least able to deal with them, and the process is unfamiliar. What follows is the outline - the order things happen in, and who to contact.

You do not have to do this alone. Nepali community associations and samaj groups across the UK routinely help bereaved families with paperwork, funeral arrangements and fundraising for repatriation costs. Reaching out early makes a real difference.

The first steps

1. Get a medical certificate of cause of death. If the death happened in hospital, the hospital arranges this. If it happened at home, contact the GP. If the death was sudden, unexpected or unexplained, it is referred to the coroner, which delays the paperwork - sometimes by weeks - and that has to be factored into any repatriation plan.
2. Register the death. In England and Wales this is done at a register office, usually within 5 days, though the timescale differs in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Start at gov.uk – what to do after someone dies, which also has a step-by-step tool.
3. Order several certified copies of the death certificate. Banks, insurers, the embassy, airlines and the Nepali authorities will each want one. Ordering extra copies at registration is much cheaper and faster than going back later.
4. Use Tell Us Once where it is available - it reports the death to most government departments in a single step, which spares the family a long series of difficult phone calls.

Contacting the embassy

The Embassy of Nepal in London handles repatriation of deceased Nepali nationals and registration of a death that occurred abroad. Contact them early, even before decisions are final, because they will tell you exactly which documents they need.

Embassy of Nepal, 12A Kensington Palace Gardens, London W8 4QU · +44 (0)20 7229 1594 · info@nepembassy.org.uk · uk.nepalembassy.gov.np

Repatriation: what is involved

Repatriating a body to Nepal is arranged through a funeral director experienced in international repatriation, working alongside the embassy and the airline. In outline, it usually requires:

• The death certificate and the certificate of cause of death.
• An embalming certificate and a certificate of non-contagious disease.
• Clearance from the coroner where the death was referred - repatriation cannot proceed without it.
• Consular authorisation from the embassy, and cancellation or surrender of the deceased’s Nepali passport.
• A zinc-lined coffin meeting international transport requirements, and airline cargo booking.

Costs are significant and vary widely with location and airline. Get more than one quote from funeral directors who state clearly that they handle repatriation to South Asia.

Before you commit: check for existing cover

Families often pay out of pocket for something already covered. Check for:

• Employer death-in-service benefit - common in NHS and care employment, and frequently overlooked.
• Life insurance, and any cover bundled with a bank account, mortgage or credit card.
• Travel insurance, if the death occurred while travelling - most policies include repatriation.
• Community funds. Many Nepali samaj and welfare organisations operate a bereavement fund or run a collection. See the association directory.
• Funeral Expenses Payment - UK government help with funeral costs, though it is a public fund and so restricted for those with no recourse to public funds.

If a funeral is held in the UK

Many families choose to hold the funeral here instead. Hindu and Buddhist funeral rites are well established in the UK, and several crematoria are experienced in accommodating them - including arrangements for the family to be present at the committal, and for the collection of ashes for later immersion. A funeral director who has worked with the Nepali or wider South Asian community will know which local crematoria are used to these requests. Nepali priests can be found through community associations and in the religious organisation listings.

Practical matters that follow

In the weeks afterwards, the estate has to be dealt with: notifying banks, the landlord or mortgage lender, HMRC, and pension providers, and dealing with probate if there was property or significant savings. If the person who died was the visa sponsor for family members in the UK, get immigration advice quickly - dependants’ status may be affected and there are usually time limits on the options available.

Bereavement support is free and confidential through Cruse Bereavement Support, and your GP can refer you to local services. Grief far from home, in a second language, is hard - asking for help is not an imposition.