Nobody wants to think about dying while planning a holiday or business trip. The practical reality is that a small amount of preparation — an hour’s work before a journey — can spare a family weeks of avoidable difficulty in the worst possible circumstances.
This article is for travellers who want to leave their affairs in order. It is not a morbid exercise. It is the same practical thinking that professionals in high-risk industries, military families, and experienced long-term travellers apply as a matter of routine.
What to carry with you
Your travel insurance details. The policy number and the 24-hour emergency assistance telephone number. Not just the documents saved in your email — printed, or saved offline on your phone. The emergency line is what activates repatriation cover.
Your passport details separately from your passport. A photo of the identity page saved in cloud storage (Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox). If your passport is stolen or held by authorities, having the number and data available speeds up everything.
Your next of kin’s full contact details. Name, relationship, address, telephone number, email. Not just in your phone — on a card in your wallet, so anyone who finds you can contact your family.
A summary of your medical history. Any significant conditions, current medications, allergies, blood type. One side of A4. In your bag. In many countries this will be requested by a hospital in an emergency.
Your travel insurance medical exclusions. If you have a pre-existing condition that was declared when you bought the policy, carry the acceptance letter. If you have a condition that you did not declare, be aware that the claim may be disputed.
What to tell your family before you travel
Tell the person who would deal with an emergency the following:
Where your travel insurance documents are. The policy number, the emergency line number, and the certificate of insurance. Not “in my email somewhere” — a specific location they can find in minutes.
The name and contact of your repatriation company or funeral director preference. If you have a strong preference for how your remains are handled — religious requirements, a specific funeral director, instructions about burial versus cremation — write it down and tell someone.
The location of your will. If you have a will, the person managing your estate needs to find it quickly. Tell them where it is.
Access to your financial accounts. Not the passwords — but the names of banks, the rough value of assets, the location of any property deeds or significant documents.
Naming a repatriation preference in writing
Some families have strong preferences: a repatriation company recommended by their community, a funeral director who understands their religious traditions, or a preference for local burial abroad rather than repatriation. If you have these preferences, write them down.
A brief letter of wishes — not a legally binding document, but a clear statement of preference — stored with your will or travel documents gives the family guidance at a moment when they will not be thinking clearly.
For Muslim families in particular, where speed and the absence of embalming are important religious considerations, a written statement of religious requirements for burial is valuable. The people dealing with your death may not automatically know your faith’s requirements.
Travel insurance: the most important preparation
The single most important thing you can do is buy comprehensive travel insurance that includes repatriation cover, and declare all pre-existing medical conditions honestly. Undeclaring a condition to reduce the premium is not a saving — it is a risk that the entire claim will be denied, leaving your family to fund repatriation from their own resources at a moment of acute distress.
Read the repatriation section of any policy you buy. Confirm:
- That it covers repatriation of remains to the UK, not just to the nearest country of medical treatment.
- That the 24-hour emergency line number is correct and active.
- That your specific travel activities are covered (skiing, diving, trekking above a certain altitude, motorcycle riding — many policies exclude adventure activities unless specifically added).
For long-term travellers and expats
If you live abroad for extended periods or travel for work to multiple countries, standard travel insurance is often insufficient. Annual multi-trip policies need to be checked for maximum trip duration. Long-stay policies and expat health insurance with repatriation riders are specifically designed for these circumstances.
Expats should also consider whether they have up-to-date UK documentation — a current UK will, UK bank account, and UK point of contact — that would allow an estate to be administered in the UK if they die abroad.
Key points
- Carry your travel insurance policy number and emergency line number separately from your devices.
- Tell your next of kin where to find your insurance documents before you travel.
- Write a brief statement of any strong preferences for how you wish to be repatriated or buried.
- Declare all pre-existing conditions honestly when buying travel insurance.
- Check that adventure activities you plan to undertake are covered.
Source: FCDO consular guidance; Association of British Insurers (ABI) guidance on travel insurance; HM Courts & Tribunals Service (wills guidance); industry guidance from UK repatriation companies.