When someone dies in Laos
The process when a British national dies in Laos, 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 Laos 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. All hospital bills must be paid before a body can be released if the deceased had been hospitalised.
Registering the death
The death must be registered at the district office of Home Affairs, or the respective District Peoples Committee, where the deceased last resided. Your funeral director can normally do this for you.
You will need information and documents about the person who has died, including their:
- Official identity document (for example their British passport)
- Death Certificate from hospital/Police
Getting a death certificate
After registering the death, you will get a death certificate in the Lao language normally withing a day or two. Translation services are available in the capital of Laos, Vientiane, but less so in rural areas.
Laos death certificates often give the cause of death in basic terms and often do not normally reveal any underlying causes.
Mortuary facilities
There are basic refrigerated mortuaries with limited capacity and operating conditions across Laos. Basic embalming can be performed, but it is recommended a decision about funeral arrangements is made as soon as possible.
Post mortems in Laos
A post mortem is a medical examination of the body.
Post mortems are not standard in Laos; those that are performed are generally a visual inspection only and of a poor standard. A request for fluid samples to be taken can be made (for toxicology testing), there will normally be a charge for this.
Once the Laos authorities are content that no further examinations need to be made, the deceased’s body can be cremated in Laos or returned to the UK.
A postmortem could be conducted in Thailand (usually Bangkok) at the request of the deceased’s family. As the death occurred outside of Thailand, the post mortem results will have no legal standing under Thai law.
During a Thai postmortem, small tissue samples and organs may be removed and retained for testing without the consent of the next of kin. You will not automatically be told if this happens and there is nothing that can be done to stop it.
In Thailand a post-mortem report is usually written in Thai and available around 45 business days after completion. You can contact the funeral director or translation company if you need a translation.
Getting a letter to release a body
You’ll need a ‘Letter of Release’ from the British Embassy, Vientiane, funeral director or other authorised representative of the deceased’s family for the local authorities or hospital to release a body for cremation/repatriation. The Embassy will need written confirmation from the deceased’s family informing it of who has been appointed to organise the funeral/repatriation before the Letter of Release can be issued.
Burying or cremating the body in Laos
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.
You need a local funeral director to arrange a burial or cremation in Laos. Your funeral director can give you advice.
Cremations are the cultural norm in Laos and are carried out at a Wat (Temple). In the capital Vientiane, the crematoria are basic but enclosed facilities are available. In many parts of Laos, cremations may take place on a funeral pyre in the open air. You should be aware that the urn containing the ashes may also have fragments of bone.
Bringing the body back to the UK
Ask your funeral director about options for bringing the person’s body to the UK from Laos
We recommend that you employ a funeral director for this process as a standard Lao cremation may not be considered safe by airlines.
The funeral director will deal with any paperwork required.
- show the death certificate
- get permission to remove the person’s body, issued by a coroner
- show the passport of the person who died
- Letter for repatriation issued by the Embassy
This is not an exhaustive list and may vary by province or due to the cause of death.
Bringing the ashes to the UK
Ask your funeral director about the rules for bringing ashes to the UK.
There are no international funeral undertakers in Laos. It is covered by international funeral undertakers in Bangkok, Thailand, who are equipped to carry out repatriation procedures and work in partnership with International Funeral Directors in the UK to facilitate repatriation.
A local Laos civil registry death certificate, a certificate of embalming, and a certificate permitting transfer of the remains to the UK is required to repatriate the deceased.
The certificate of embalming, and a certificate permitting transfer of the remains to the UK to repatriate the deceased will be arranged by the Thai undertaker. If required, the British Embassy, Vientiane can provide a covering letter for British Customs.
Local formalities for repatriation normally take 8 to 10 working days to complete. If the deceased was covered by travel insurance, the insurance company will normally have a standing agreement with an International Funeral Director in the UK and will arrange repatriation on your behalf.
If the deceased was not covered by insurance, the NoK will need to appoint their own International Funeral Director in the UK.
Bringing the ashes to the UK yourself
If you are taking the ashes with you when you leave Laos you will need to:
- show the death certificate
- show the cremation certificate
- follow local Laos regulations about leaving Laos with ashes - your funeral director can give you more information
- tell the airline in advance
Getting the person’s belongings back
Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to whoever takes possession of the body or the Laos police depending on the circumstances of the death.
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 Laos 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 Laos translator
You may need a translator to help you understand Laos rules or get documents translated. Check official translators in Laos. The embassy or consulate in Laos cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs.
Finding a Laos lawyer
You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Laos legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Laos. The embassy or consulate in Laos 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