What should I do in the event of the death of a relative abroad?
Verified 03 June 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Step-by-step approach
In general, you should contact the French Embassy or Consulate.
Who shall I contact
But if you learn of the death from a travel agency, the media or some other means, contact the crisis center of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.
Who shall I contact
Please note
if a contract has been signed, consider contacting the assistance organization or insurance company.
You can get help or counseling from the victim support hotline.
Who shall I contact
116 006 - Victim Assistance Number
Listen, inform and advise victims of crime and their families.
By telephone
116,006
Free call
Open 7 days a week from 9am to 7pm
The service can also be accessed by calling the +33 (0)1 80 52 33 76 (Normal pricing number).
By email
victimes@france-victimes.fr
You must report the death to the local registrar, regardless of whether the relative was resident in the country or died while traveling.
A local death certificate is issued.
Please note
in rare cases, it is possible to report the death directly to the embassy or consulate of France. Inquire with the consular authority.
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Algeria, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Morocco, Monaco, Poland, Switzerland, Tunisia
You must contact the Central Civil Registry Service.
Who shall I contact
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad
Only by mail to:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
The service is not open to the public.
You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.
For more information, you can:
- Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
The note of death will then be added to the French birth certificate of the deceased.
Transcription is not required.
It is recommended to facilitate certain steps in France (succession, retirement pension, reversion, etc.).
As soon as the transcript is completed, you will be able to obtain copies of the death certificate.
Afterwards, you can request a copy of the death certificate at the embassy (or at the French consulate or directly at the central civil registration office in Nantes.
Request for Death Certificate (Overseas) - Free Service
Who shall I contact
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad
Only by mail to:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
The service is not open to the public.
You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.
For more information, you can:
- Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Other country
You must contact the French Embassy or Consulate.
Who shall I contact
The note of death will then be added to the French birth certificate of the deceased.
Transcription is not required.
It is recommended to facilitate certain steps in France (succession, retirement pension, reversion, etc.).
As soon as the transcript is made, the French Embassy or Consulate will provide copies of the death certificate.
Afterwards, you can request a copy of the death certificate from the central civil registration office in Nantes.
Request for Death Certificate (Overseas) - Free Service
Who shall I contact
Central Civil Registry Service (Scec)
Civil status (birth, marriage or death) of a Frenchman abroad
Only by mail to:
Central Civil Registry Service
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 09
The service is not open to the public.
You can apply for a civil status certificate through a online service.
For more information, you can:
- Go to diplomatie.gouv.fr
- Call the+33 1 41 86 42 47 Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 pm to 4 pm
Free access to video interpretation or instant speech transcription for the deaf or hard of hearing - Email courrier.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
You can also obtain a copy of the death certificate from the French embassy or consulate that transcribed the certificate.
Who shall I contact
For the funeral or repatriation of the body of the deceased, you can ask for the assistance of the embassy or consulate of France.
Who shall I contact
The embassy or consulate of France can help you:
- Information on the cost of local burial, incineration or repatriation to France
- Indication of the contact details of local or French funeral businesses operating abroad
- Assistance to local funeral directors in case of language problems
The embassy or consulate of France also issues the authorization to transport bodies or ashes, in case of repatriation.
FYI
the costs (repatriation of the remains or ashes, burial on site...) are borne by the family.
Paragraph 423 et seq
Online service
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs