When someone dies in Kyrgyzstan
The process when a British national dies in Kyrgyzstan, including registering the death, funerals, 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 Kyrgyzstan 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.
Registering the death
The death must be registered at the local Kyrgyz 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:
- medical certificate of death issued by hospital or mortuary
- official identity document (for example their British passport)
- proof of address
- notarised power of attorney from next of kin if application is submitted by representative or funeral director
- spouse’s details (if applicable)
- marriage certificate (if applicable)
Getting a death certificate
The Civil Records Registry Office under the State Registry Service (also known as ZAGS) will issue a death certificate in Russian and Kyrgyz languages. Collection of all required documents and issue of the death certificate takes 3 to 5 business days. Usually, Kyrgyz medical certificates give details of the cause of death.
Post mortems in Kyrgyzstan
A post mortem is a medical examination of the body. There might be one in Kyrgyzstan if the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent.
Cultural or religious sensitivities may not be taken into account. During an autopsy, organs can be removed for testing, including toxicological studies, at the discretion of the doctor, without consent of the next of kin.
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.
Direct family members or a lawyer can apply for a copy of the post-mortem report.
Burying or cremating the body in Kyrgyzstan
You need a local funeral director to arrange a burial in Kyrgyzstan. Your funeral director can give you advice.
There is no cremation service in Kyrgyzstan. However, there is a service where the cremation can be carried out in Russia and the ashes returned to you in Kyrgyzstan or sent to the UK.
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 Kyrgyzstan.
When taking the person’s body to the UK from Kyrgyzstan you will need:
- to show local medical and civil death certificates
- a certificate giving permission to transfer the remains to the UK along with a zinc coffin sealing report
- copy of the deceased’s passport
- copy of ID of the accompanying person
Local formalities for repatriation normally take around 7 days to complete.
Getting the person’s belongings back
Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to you or the Kyrgyz police.
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 they were a Kyrgyz resident, you may not be able to take the belongings as they may be part of their estate. Get legal advice 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.
Finding a local translator
You may need a local translator to help you understand Kyrgyz/Russian languages or get documents translated. Check official translators in Kyrgyzstan.
The Embassy in Kyrgyzstan cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs.
Finding a Kyrgyz lawyer
You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Kyrgyzstan legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Kyrgyzstan. The Embassy in Kyrgyzstan 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
- see how to get help from the UK government abroad