When someone dies in Croatia
The process when a British national dies in Croatia, including registering the death, funerals and cremations, and bringing the person’s body to the UK.
When someone dies in Croatia
The process when a British national dies in Croatia, 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 if you’re not sure if they had insurance.
The insurance company should appoint a funeral director in Croatia 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.
If they did not have insurance, you will usually need to appoint and pay for your own funeral director for a cremation abroad or an international funeral director in the UK to bring the person’s body to the UK.
If you choose to appoint a local funeral director in Croatia, ask whether they can offer international services such as repatriations.
Registering the death
The death must be registered at the local Croatian registry office. Your funeral director can normally do this for you.
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)
- marriage certificate (if applicable)
- divorce papers (if applicable)
- home address
Getting a death certificate
After registering the death, you will get a death certificate (‘Smrtni list’). You can ask for an international version (‘Međunarodni Smrtni list’) with a multilingual translation, including in English. Croatian death certificates do not give the cause of death. You can find this on the death report (‘Izjava o smrti’) issued by the hospital or pathologist. It’s worth asking for extra copies of the death certificate, as you might need them to show to people later.
Post mortems in Croatia
A post mortem is a medical examination of the body. There might be one in Croatia if the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent, at the request of the medical doctor or the family. If you as family request a post mortem, you are likely to be asked to pay for it.
Cultural or religious sensitivities may not be taken into account. Small 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. The next of kin will be told if this happens.
Embalming is not an obligatory requirement but can be requested by the next of kin especially when repatriation is considered.
Post mortem reports are not usually given to the next of kin. If you have a lawyer they can apply for a copy.
Burying or cremating the body in Croatia
You need a local funeral director to arrange a burial or cremation in Croatia. The exact rules on burials and cremations are different depending on where you are in Croatia, because cremations can only be done in Zagreb. Your funeral director can give you advice on the details, the cost 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 Croatia.
When taking the person’s body to the UK from Croatia your funeral director will be responsible for ensuring that all the necessary documents are in place and local requirements have been met.
They will need to:
- get the local death certificate
- get permission to remove the person’s body, issued by a coroner
- show the passport of the person who died
- present other required documents
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 Croatia you will need to:
- show the death certificate
- show the cremation certificate
- follow local Croatian regulations about leaving Croatia with ashes - your funeral director can give you more information
You may also have to tell the airline in advance - ask your funeral director for more information.
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. Ask your funeral home for advice.
Getting the person’s belongings back
Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to you, to the Croatian police or the court if there is an investigation into a potential crime.
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 the person was a Croatian resident you may not be able to take the belongings as they may be part of their estate. Get legal advice from a local lawyer 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, but you might need to request for the belongings to be returned and might need to pay for postal or courier services.
Finding a Croatian translator
You may need a translator to help you understand Croatian rules or get documents translated. Check official translators in Croatia . The British embassy in Croatia cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs.
Finding a lawyer in Croatia
You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Croatian legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Croatia. The British embassy in Croatia 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 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 +44 (0)20 7008 5000