When someone dies in Italy
The process when a British national dies in Italy, 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 Italy 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 the person died in hospital, the hospital may ask for details of their Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to cover medical fees. If they did not have a card, but were entitled to one, next of kin can apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) to cover time spent in hospital. Contact the Overseas Healthcare Team if you need help.
Registering the death
The death must be registered at the local town hall (Comune) responsible for the area where the person died. This must be done within 24 hours of a medical examiner confirming the death. Your funeral director can normally do this for you. You or any other person may also register the death.
You will need information and documents about the person who has died, including a doctor’s certificate stating the cause of death.
If the person died in hospital, the hospital will tell the town hall. However, it is usually the funeral director who finalises the registration.
You must tell the local authorities if the person suffered from an infectious condition such as hepatitis or HIV, so they can take precautions against infection.
Under Italian law, if a person dies outside of a hospital, their body will be kept under observation until a medical examiner conducts an examination. If the place of death is considered safe, the body will not be moved during the observation period. For example, a hotel room might be considered a safe place. In some cases, the local town hall may appoint a funeral director to move the body.
In Italy, identification is normally carried out using documents such as a passport or driving licence, or by fingerprints. However, when an inquest is opened, the relevant magistrate may request an identification in person by a family member or known associate. If there is doubt about the person’s identity, a judge may order DNA testing and request information from police abroad. This process could take several months.
Stillbirth
You do not need to register the death of your baby before the 28th week of pregnancy. You can ask for burial through the local health authority (ASL). You must do this within 24 hours. Any hospital should be able to explain what to do.
If your baby is stillborn after the 28th week of pregnancy, you must register the death at the town hall before burial.
If your baby dies after being born alive, you must first register the birth and then the death.
Getting a death certificate
After registering the death, the authorities do not issue the death certificate automatically. You can ask for a copy from the town hall or through your funeral director.
It’s worth asking for extra copies of the death certificate, as you might need them later. You can get copies at any time from the town hall.
You can ask for a certificate in an international format that is in more than one language, including English. Some registry offices may only be able to issue certificates in Italian. In this case, if you are bringing the person’s body to the UK, you may need to pay for an official translation into English if the UK authorities ask for it. Your funeral director should be able to find out if this is necessary.
Italian death certificates do not give the cause of death. The medical certificate issued by the hospital, the GP or the coroner will have this information. Your funeral director might also be able to get an ISTAT (Istituto Nazionale di Statistica) certificate, issued by the local health authority (ASL) for statistical purposes, showing the cause of death.
Post mortems in Italy
A post mortem is a medical examination of the body. The Italian judicial authorities may ask for one if the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent. Next of kin will be told in advance and can appoint their own expert to be present.
In cases of natural deaths, medical staff may ask for a post mortem to confirm the exact cause. In these situations, the family does not have to be told in advance.
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.
The person who died can be buried or cremated in Italy or returned to the UK while removed organs are still being tested. Medical staff will store organs for a while and usually dispose of them later. Your funeral director or medical staff may tell you if any organs are kept, but this does not always happen.
You can ask for the return of organs through the UK Coroner’s office, your lawyer or your funeral director in Italy. Your funeral director can help return the organs to the UK.
The British consulate can tell you how to ask for post-mortem and police reports. A lawyer you appoint should also be able to help. The Italian authorities may not release information for many months. In more complicated cases, it may take years. Documents will be in Italian. If the authorities open an inquest, they will not normally release any reports before the preliminary investigation ends.
If a death is regarded as suspicious, the Italian police will investigate on behalf of a magistrate. Investigations and judicial cases can take many months or, in some cases, years. Consider appointing a lawyer who can advise you and keep you informed. Read about support after murder or manslaughter abroad.
Burying or cremating the body in Italy
You need a local funeral director to arrange a burial or cremation in Italy. Do not feel pressurised to make quick decisions until you can make an informed choice.
If you cannot pay for a funeral and have explored all funding options, the local council can cover the costs of a simple local burial.
Humanist funerals are not common, but your funeral director or the Italian Humanist Society can arrange one.
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.
In Italy, the local town hall authorises cremation on behalf of the mayor. For them to do this, you must provide:
- a medical certificate confirming the death is not suspicious and there are no objections to cremation
- evidence of the person’s wish to be cremated
- proof that you are next of kin to the person who died
Evidence of the person’s wish to be cremated could be a signed will or a statutory declaration from next of kin in Italian. You may need to make the declaration in front of the registrar, a notary public or the funeral director, depending on your circumstances. The Italian consulate in the country where you live should have a list of Italian-language notaries who can help you do this.
If your documents were not issued in Italy, you need to get them legalised in the country where they were issued. If you have UK documents, contact the UK Legalisation Office.
When more than one family member is entitled to make decisions regarding cremation, Italian law requires that a majority (50% plus one) agree on any arrangements. If you cannot agree, you should get legal advice. In the UK there is no legal definition of next of kin, but in Italy the order of priority for next of kin is:
- spouse
- children (or their legal guardian if they are minors)
- parents
- adult siblings
If the Italian authorities cannot verify who next of kin is, you can ask the British consulate to issue a ‘Nulla Osta for cremation’. This is a document that explains there are no legal obstacles to cremation.
If you live in Italy, you may be able to keep the ashes at home or scatter them. However, this is not always possible and you will need to get authorisation from the town hall.
Cremation letter
If you are asked for a consular cremation permit from the British embassy or consulate, you can show the Italian authorities this cremation letter. It explains you do not need a consular permit.
Bringing the body to the UK
Ask your funeral director about options for bringing the person’s body to the UK from Italy.
You can appoint an international funeral director in the UK, who will work with a trusted local funeral director in Italy. Alternatively, if you appoint a local funeral director in Italy, you will also need a funeral director in the UK to handle the necessary arrangements there.
Local formalities for repatriation can take up to 2 weeks. Italian law requires a basic preservation treatment of the body for repatriation abroad. If requested, the local mayor may authorise partial embalming, and this may delay the process.
Transfer of remains certificate (Nulla Osta)
When taking the person’s body to the UK from Italy, you will need to show this transfer of remains certificate (Nulla Osta) completed by your funeral director.
Transfer of remains letter
You can show your funeral director this transfer of remains letter. It explains what they must do.
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’re taking the ashes with you when you leave Italy you’ll need to:
- tell the airline in advance
- show a mortuary passport (passaporto mortuario) issued by the local town hall – this normally includes the death certificate and the cremation certificate
Your funeral director can help you get these documents.
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.
Getting the person’s belongings back
Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to the family or to the Italian police.
If you bring the person’s remains to the UK, you can ask your funeral director to collect all the belongings and transport them together.
Belongings may be kept as evidence if there is an investigation into the death. They will only be returned when the court case is over.
The British embassy or consulate cannot take responsibility for the personal belongings of the person who died.
Finding an Italian translator
You may need a translator to help you understand Italian rules or get documents translated. English is not widely spoken in all areas of Italy. Check official translators in Italy. The embassy or consulate in Italy cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs.
Finding a lawyer in Italy
You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Italian legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Italy. The embassy or consulate in Italy cannot give you legal advice or pay for legal costs. Ask your lawyer if you can get Italian legal aid.
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.
Support organisations in Italy
In Italy, you can get help from:
- Samaritans
- Associazione Familiari e Vittime della Strada (support for children)
- Telefono Azzurro (support for children)
- Libellule nel cuore (support for children)
There is a list of English-speaking doctors in Italy.
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
- see how to get help from the UK government abroad