Repatriation without travel insurance cover is one of the most difficult situations a family can face. The process itself is the same as any repatriation. The difference is that someone has to fund it, and that someone is the family.
This guide explains what happens, what the FCDO will and will not do, and where families can look for financial help.
The FCDO will not pay
This is the first thing families need to know. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) does not fund repatriation. The British Embassy or Consulate abroad will provide consular assistance — helping register the death, providing information about local funeral directors, and issuing documentation — but it will not advance or pay for any part of the repatriation or funeral costs.
The FCDO has a British Nationals Welfare Fund, administered by the Foreign Assistance Team. This fund provides very limited assistance in exceptional cases of genuine destitution and cannot generally be relied upon to fund repatriation. Do not assume it will be available.
Who does pay
The cost of repatriation is met by whoever the family can assemble resources from. The most common sources are:
The estate. If the deceased had savings, property, or other assets, these can in principle be used to fund repatriation. The practical difficulty is that accessing an estate takes time, and repatriation costs need to be funded upfront. A solicitor or executor may be able to advance funds from liquid assets, but probate processes can move slowly.
Family contribution. Most uninsured repatriations are funded by family members pooling resources. Repatriation is a significant sum; families should be realistic about what is achievable and discuss quickly.
Employer death-in-service benefit. Many employment contracts include a death-in-service benefit, typically two to four times annual salary. For an employed person dying abroad, this benefit is paid to nominated beneficiaries and can substantially cover repatriation costs. Contact the employer’s HR department as soon as possible.
Premium credit cards and bank accounts. Some premium products — American Express Platinum, certain Barclays premium current accounts, and some other premium accounts — include travel assistance as a cardholder benefit. This can include repatriation support. Check the terms of any credit card or premium bank account the deceased held; the benefit may be there and unused.
Trade union membership. Trade unions with death benefit schemes may provide a lump sum to surviving family members. The amount varies by union; some are nominal, some more substantial.
Funeral crowdfunding. GoFundMe and similar platforms are regularly used by families to raise money for unexpected funeral costs, including repatriation. This works best where the family has a network who can share the campaign, and where the timeline allows — repatriation costs need to be committed before the campaign can raise the full amount.
The decision some families face
For some families, the full cost of repatriation is beyond reach. In this situation, there are two realistic alternatives to repatriation:
Local burial or cremation. The deceased can be buried or cremated in the country of death. This is a legal option in all countries and in some circumstances is what the family, on reflection, chooses. It does not prevent a memorial service in the UK. Where cremation is available and the family’s faith permits it, cremation and ashes transport is substantially less expensive than full-body repatriation and may be fundable where full repatriation is not.
Repatriation of ashes only. In countries where cremation is available, a hybrid approach — cremation abroad, ashes returned to the UK — is often feasible even on a constrained budget. The ashes can often be carried as cabin baggage by a family member travelling home.
What to do right now
If you are in this situation, move quickly on three fronts simultaneously. First, call the British Embassy in the country of death and confirm what consular assistance is available. Second, start investigating the financial sources above, starting with the employer (if employed) and estate. Third, call a UK repatriation company and explain the situation honestly — a reputable company will give you a realistic assessment of costs and may be able to work with you on payment terms.
Do not delay making these calls. The longer a body remains abroad, the more complications can arise, and in some countries costs begin accumulating from day one.
Source: FCDO British nationals overseas guidance; gov.uk guidance on dealing with a death abroad; FCDO British Nationals Welfare Fund guidance; HM Revenue and Customs (estate administration); Citizens Advice.