If someone dies outside Scotland

If someone dies outside Scotland you must:

• register the death in the country where they died
• arrange a burial or cremation

Burials and cremations can:

• be in the country where they died or in another country
• take place with or without a funeral service

England or Wales

Register the death

Find out how to register a death on GOV.UK.

Burials and cremations

Find out how to arrange a funeral in England or Wales on GOV.UK.

If you want to move the body from England or Wales, you must get permission from a coroner at least 4 days before. You can find a coroner on the Coroners' Society of England and Wales.

Northern Ireland

Register the death

Find out how to register a death on GOV.UK.

Burials and cremations

Find out how to arrange a funeral in Northern Ireland on ni direct.

If you want to move the body from Northern Ireland, you must get permission from a coroner. You can find more information from the Coroners Service for Northern Ireland.

Outside the UK

Register the death

You must follow the laws of the country where the person died. You can find every country's rules and procedures on GOV.UK.

You can also register the death in Scotland but you do not have to do this. Find out how to register a death at National Records of Scotland.

Burials and cremations

Find out about burials and cremation abroad on GOV.UK.

If you want to move the body to Scotland you must contact Health Improvement Scotland.

Find out how to move the body to another part of the UK on GOV.UK.

Moving ashes

You do not need a permit to bring ashes to the UK. You can usually take them on a plane with you or put them in the hold as part of your luggage, but you should:

• tell the airline in advance that you’re planning to bring them on the plane
• take the cremation certificate with you

If you need more help

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has advice and support on deaths abroad on GOV.UK.