The following brief information is based on guidelines issued by the British Embassy. While they may apply equally to other foreign nationals, you are advised to check with your own embassy for accurate information.

There should be a Thai desk at your country’s foreign office or equivalent and a consular department at your embassy in Bangkok where you can seek advice. Your country may have an Honorary Consul based in Phuket who may be able to provide local assistance.

There are, however, usually limits to what your country’s representatives can and will do. They have considerable and effective liaison with the various official Thai departments and other players, and can give guidance and direct assistance with the mechanics involved. However, they will not normally render financial support and it is important to recognise that certain courses of action can be extremely expensive. Neither are they able to investigate directly the cause of death.

They will guide you in the choice of a local lawyer and/or interpreter to act on your behalf, if it is considered necessary.

Autopsies
Autopsies are only conducted at the request of the Royal Thai Police. The permission of the next-of-kin or their formally appointed representative (NOK) is not required. The autopsy report will be issued three months later. It will of course be written in Thai.

Mortuary Facilities
Most private hospitals and some government institutions have mortuary facilities. However, standards are not uniform so it is a good idea to avoid any lengthy delays.

Funeral Options
Following the death of a foreign national in Thailand, the NOK must decide whether to:

1. repatriate the deceased to the UK or
2. have a local cremation and the ashes repatriated to the UK or
3. have a local cremation and the ashes scattered in Thailand.

If the deceased was covered by travel insurance, it is important that NOK contact the insurance company without delay.

It is also worth noting that, if the deceased was travelling with a tour operator, that operator can be a valuable source of assistance and advice.

If a local burial or cremation takes place, there may be no coroner’s inquest carried out in your home country.

Repatriation
The repatriation option can be a very expensive procedure and most (if not all) embassies are not able to contribute, although they will provide facilitation services. In some circumstances repatriation may not be possible. Your embassy will advise if this is the case.

If the NOK do not live in their home country, note that international iuneral directors can organise repatriations to most countries in the world.

Local Cremation
Cremation is the norm in Thailand and is carried out at a wat (temple). In the major cities and resorts the crematoria are basic but enclosed. In parts of Northern Thailand, cremations may take place on a funeral pyre in the open air. If the NOK choose to have a local cremation and wish to take the ashes back to the UK themselves, they can do so with minimal bureaucracy.

Local Burial
As Thailand is a Buddhist country, burials take place very rarely – normally only for foreigners or non-Buddhist minorities. They can be very expensive and often difficult to organise. It is generally advised that, if the NOK wish to have the deceased buried, they should consider having the body repatriated and the funeral take place in their home country or place of residence.

Registration of the death
A local death certificate, citing the likely cause of death, will be issued in the Thai language, and is usually available within a day or two of death. If you wish to obtain a certified translation (you may need this – for example to assist in the liquidation of the deceased’s estate in your home country) you should contact the Thai desk at your country’s foreign office or the consular department at your embassy in Bangkok.

Deaths of foreign nationals overseas may not be automatically recorded in the home country’s register office. There may not even be an obligation for the death to be registered with your embassy. However, NOK may find that there are advantages in doing so. If you wish to register the death with the authorities in your home country, ask your embassy for the appropriate forms and procedures.

Return of Personal Effects
Personal effects are normally returned to NOK without any formalities. If personal effects need to be returned to the UK and NOK are not present in Thailand, your embassy may be able to assist with making arrangements by commercial means.

Summary
The death of a family member or loved one is a traumatic event, yet is accompanied by the need to cope with a whole raft of unfamiliar formalities. The stress is increased tremendously by being in a foreign country. Establishing quick contact with your country’s relevant authorities, or with the local tour company’s representative (if appropriate), will help to ease the burden and avoid going down blind alleys.

The above advice is offered in good faith. The publishers of Shop WINDOW on Lifestyle cannot accept any liability for errors or omissions. You are advised to check all information on procedures with the relevant representatives of your country’s government.