In the majority of repatriation cases, identity is straightforward: the deceased had a passport, was registered at a hotel, and died in a medical setting where they were known. Identity is confirmed by the local authorities, the British Embassy checks their records, and repatriation proceeds.
But in a minority of cases, identity is uncertain. The person may have died in a remote area without documents. They may have been involved in a multi-casualty accident. Their appearance may have changed significantly due to the circumstances of death. Or they may have died at sea.
When this happens, the identification process must be completed before repatriation can be authorised. This article explains how it works.
Why Identification Must Be Confirmed Before Repatriation
No country will issue an export permit for human remains without a confirmed identity. The export permit process requires a death certificate, and a death certificate requires a named individual. If identity cannot be confirmed locally, the process stalls until it is resolved.
More practically, the UK coroner at the receiving end will also require satisfactory evidence of identity before releasing the body for a UK funeral. Even if a UK family is certain they know who the person is, that certainty must be supported by documentary evidence acceptable to both the country of death and the receiving UK jurisdiction.
Methods of Identification
Passport and Document Match
The first method and fastest method is visual identification matched to a passport or other identity document. Where documents are found with the body and the photograph is a clear match, most countries will proceed on this basis supplemented by a family member’s formal identification.
Formal Family Identification
A family member or close friend who knew the deceased well can be asked to make a formal visual identification. This is typically done at the local mortuary in the presence of a police or judicial officer. The family member signs a formal statement confirming the identity. This method is used widely across Europe and much of the world but is not available where the condition of the body makes visual identification impossible.
The British Embassy can sometimes facilitate remote identification using photographs, though this depends on the local authority’s procedures.
Fingerprint Comparison
Where the deceased’s fingerprints are on record (for example, on a biometric passport, on a national identity system, or on UK police records), fingerprint comparison can be used. UK biometric passports issued after 2006 do not store fingerprints in a form accessible to foreign authorities, but UK Border Force and police records may contain prints from previous interactions.
The Embassy should be asked to enquire whether fingerprint records are available and accessible. The process of obtaining and comparing records between countries takes time but is more conclusive than visual identification where the body is in poor condition.
Dental Record Comparison
Dental records are one of the most reliable methods of forensic identification. The deceased’s UK dentist holds clinical records including charts, X-rays, and treatment history. These records can be requested by the family and transmitted to the forensic pathologist in the country of death for comparison with the deceased’s teeth.
To use this method:
- Identify the deceased’s dentist in the UK
- Request release of the clinical records citing the emergency circumstances (GDPR permits disclosure for vital interests)
- Transmit the records to the UK repatriation company, who will forward them to the local authorities
This process can take several days if the dentist needs to be located and records retrieved from archives.
DNA Comparison
DNA is the most definitive method of identification. A DNA sample from the deceased is compared with a reference sample from a biological relative. The reference sample can be taken from a parent, child, or full sibling. The closer the biological relationship, the more informative the comparison.
DNA comparison requires:
- A DNA sample collected from the deceased by the local forensic authority
- A reference sample collected from a UK relative (a cheek swab, typically taken by a UK police Family Liaison Officer or at a GP surgery)
- Laboratory analysis, which takes between five and ten working days in most cases
Police Family Liaison Officers (FLOs) are trained to assist families in exactly this situation. If a UK police force is not already involved, contact the relevant force (where the family lives in the UK) and ask to speak to the Family Liaison Officer department. They have established channels with international policing bodies including Interpol for managing cross-border identification cases.
The Role of the UK Coroner
When an unidentified body is repatriated to the UK, or when there is any doubt about identification, the UK coroner for the district where the body is received has jurisdiction. The coroner can order a further formal identification process and, if necessary, an inquest.
For suspected UK nationals who die abroad but are not identified, the coroner can also open an inquest in absentia, which can have legal significance for the estate. A UK solicitor with experience in cross-border estate administration can advise.
What Families Should Do
If you are aware that identification may be uncertain:
- Report the missing person to the police immediately in the UK and ensure the report is flagged to the relevant overseas authorities via Interpol or through the FCDO
- Locate dental records and preserve them
- Identify which relatives are willing to provide reference DNA samples if needed
- Do not publicly share information about the death or the identification process until it is confirmed, as this can sometimes interfere with the official process
Contact a UK repatriation company that has experience of disputed or uncertain identification cases. The process differs materially from a standard repatriation, and experience of the specific country’s forensic authority process matters.
Sources: Interpol, Disaster Victim Identification Guide, interpol.int, 2018. Home Office, Forensic Science Regulator: Identification Standards, gov.uk, 2023. General Dental Council, Access to Patient Records, gdc-uk.org, 2024. Coroners and Justice Act 2009, s.1(7) — definition of jurisdiction. FCDO, When Someone Dies Abroad: Identification, gov.uk, accessed May 2026. National Policing Improvement Agency, Family Liaison Officer Guidance, 2012 (reissued 2022).