What does the British Embassy in Canada do when someone dies?

The British Embassy can register the death, provide a list of approved local funeral directors, help trace next of kin, and offer consular assistance. They do not fund or coordinate repatriation.

What is the emergency phone number for the British Embassy in Canada?

The FCDO 24-hour consular assistance line is +44 (0)20 7008 5000. This line handles all emergencies for British nationals abroad.

Consular assistance

British Embassy contacts for Canada: when someone dies abroad

If a British national dies in Canada, the Embassy is usually the first official body to contact. This page lists the main and emergency numbers, explains what consular staff can and cannot do, and links to the resources you need.

FCDO 24/7 line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000

Emergency numbers

FCDO 24-hour line (from UK)

+44 (0)20 7008 5000

Always verify numbers before calling

Embassy phone numbers change. Confirm current details at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/canada before a trip. The FCDO 24-hour line (+44 (0)20 7008 5000) is the most reliable point of contact in an emergency.

Contact details

British Embassy and consulates in Canada

British High Commission

Ottawa

80 Elgin Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5K7

+1 613 237 1530 Official website

Consulate

Toronto

VERIFY

Consulate

Vancouver

VERIFY

Consulate

Montreal

VERIFY

Consulate

Calgary

VERIFY

VERIFY all numbers before go-live. Check gov.uk for current list.

What you need to know

What the British Embassy in Canada can do

Register the death of a British national under the Consular Deaths Act
Provide a list of local funeral directors who handle international repatriation
Help trace and notify next of kin
Issue emergency travel documents if a family member needs to travel
Liaise with local police, hospitals, or authorities if language is a barrier
Advise on the local death certificate process in Canada

Important limits

What the Embassy cannot do

Fund or pay for repatriation (that is the family's or insurer's responsibility)
Arrange or coordinate the repatriation itself
Release the body from a hospital or morgue
Override local death certificate processing timelines
Provide legal advice on liability or criminal matters

Death registration in Canada

The Embassy can register the death separately under UK law. This is optional and does not replace the local certificate, but some families find the UK death certificate useful for administrative purposes.