Consular assistance
British Embassy contacts for Holy See (Vatican City): when someone dies abroad
Resident, British Embassy to the Holy See, Rome (separate from British Embassy Italy) handles cases in Holy See (Vatican City). A death must be registered with the local authorities in Holy See (Vatican City) before a body or ashes can leave the country. Consular staff will register the death with UK authorities, issue consular documents and give you a list of local funeral directors. They cannot meet any cost, arrange the repatriation, or authorise release of the body. If the person who died was not British, contact the embassy or consulate of their own country instead.
Emergency numbers
FCDO 24-hour line (from UK)
+44 (0)20 7008 5000Handling a death in Holy See (Vatican City)
British representation: Resident, British Embassy to the Holy See, Rome (separate from British Embassy Italy)
Authority that must release the body: Governatorato dello Stato della Città del Vaticano (Governorate of Vatican City State); Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State
Documentation language: Italian (working), Latin (official), various
Vatican deaths of non-citizens are extremely rare. The Governorate of Vatican City State handles civil registration. Italian is the working language: documentation requires certified English translation. British Embassy to the Holy See is separate from British Embassy Italy. Rome Fiumicino (FCO) is the departure airport.
Always verify numbers before calling
Embassy phone numbers change. Confirm current details at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/holy-see 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 Holy See (Vatican City)
What you need to know
What the British post in Holy See (Vatican City) can and cannot do
Resident, British Embassy to the Holy See, Rome (separate from British Embassy Italy) is the post that registers the death and can give you a list of local funeral directors. It cannot pay any repatriation cost, arrange the repatriation itself, release the body, or shorten a local timeline.
The full list of what consular staff can and cannot do applies in every country.
Death registration in Holy See (Vatican City)
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.
Typical timeline from Holy See (Vatican City)
What the Embassy can and cannot pay for
Consular staff in Holy See (Vatican City) cannot pay repatriation costs, funeral director fees, or any local charges, and cannot lend money to cover them.
They can give you a list of local funeral directors, contact next of kin, and help you reach an insurer. If there is no insurance and no family funds, they can explain what limited options exist.
What repatriation from Holy See (Vatican City) involvesNeed help bringing someone home from Holy See (Vatican City)?
We can take over the arrangements from wherever you are in the process, and bring your loved one home to the UK, Ireland or any other country. Send us the details and we will come back to you with a quote.