When someone dies in Vanuatu
The process when a British national dies in Vanuatu, 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 would usually appoint a funeral director in the location the person died 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 with the Vanuatu Civil Registration and Identity Management Office (CRIM).
ProMedical provides some funeral-related services in Vanuatu, including assistance with local death registration, for a fee. This is due to the absence of accredited local funeral directors, coroners or embalmers in the country. ProMedical is operated by the Vanuatu Emergency Services Association (VESA), a non-government organisation. It primarily delivers 24-hour international-standard paramedical ambulance services on the islands of Efate and Espiritu Santo.
You will need information and documents about the person who has died, which may include:
- full name
- date of birth and location
- date and time of death
- occupation
- usual place of residence
- sex
- names of mother and father
- family of the person who died - spouse, children including names and ages
- a medical certificate or medical note from the registered practitioner who was attending to the person who died prior to death or who attended to the person who died during or shortly after they died
- a completed ‘Witness form’ (a chief and/or church leader, if applicable)
After registering the death, you will get a death certificate issued in English. Vanuatu death certificates may give the cause of death. It’s worth asking for extra copies of the death certificate, as you might need them to show to people later.
Post-mortems
A post mortem is a medical examination of the body. Local authorities in Vanuatu may request a post mortem if the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent.
Vanuatu has no in-country forensic medical resources and does not have a local coroner. This means a post mortem may be delayed, as a forensic medical professional may need to be brought in from a neighbouring country.
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 may not be told if this happens and should check with the forensic medical professional should a post-mortem be required.
Postmortem reports are not usually given to the next of kin. If you have a lawyer, they can apply for a copy.
Buying or cremating the body
You will need to arrange a burial in Vanuatu with the local municipal council. The exact rules on burials are different depending on where you are in Vanuatu. If you choose to arrange a burial in Port Vila, you will need to coordinate with the Civil Status Unit at the Port Vila City Council. This will involve administrative procedures and associated costs.
There will also be costs associated with storing the person who died in the local morgue while awaiting a post mortem or funeral arrangements. These costs can vary depending on location and duration.
Cremation is not available in Vanuatu. The country does not have crematory facilities or services. If cremation is required, the person who died must be repatriated to a nearby country with the appropriate facilities. This will involve additional costs and logistical challenges, particularly as the person who died must be embalmed for repatriation. Cremation of an embalmed body can only take place in a country with the appropriate capabilities.
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 ProMedical or an international funeral director about options for bringing the person’s body to the UK from Vanuatu.
When taking the person’s body to the UK from Vanuatu you will need to:
- show the death certificate
- get permission to remove the person’s body
- show the passport of the person who died
- check with ProMedical, local authorities in the receiving country or with an international funeral director to confirm if there are any additional requirements
Bringing the ashes to the UK
If you’re arranging for the person who died to be cremated in another country, speak to their travel insurer, the crematorium in that country, or an international funeral director They can tell you the rules for bringing ashes back to the UK. Requirements and costs vary depending on the country.
Bringing the ashes to the UK yourself
If you are taking the ashes with you when you leave you will need to:
- show the death certificate
- show the cremation certificate
- follow local regulations about leaving the receiving country with ashes - your funeral director or crematorium can give you more information
- tell the airline in advance
Arranging for the ashes to be taken to the UK
Ask the crematorium in the receiving country or an international 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.
Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to you or the Vanuatu police.
Getting the persons belongings back
If you bring the person’s body to the UK, you could ask ProMedical, the crematorium in the receiving country or an international funeral director to organise collection of all the belongings and transport them together.
If they were a Vanuatu 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. They will only be returned when the court case is over.
Finding a Vanuatu translator
You may need a translator to help you understand Vanuatu rules or get documents translated though English is commonly used. Check with a local lawyer in Vanuatu. The High Commission in Port Vila cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs.
Finding a Vanuatu Lawyer
You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Vanuatu legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Vanuatu. The embassy or consulate in Vanuatu 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