Consular assistance
British Embassy contacts for Japan: when someone dies abroad
If a British national dies in Japan, the Embassy is usually the first official body to contact. This page lists the numbers you need and what the post can do.
Emergency numbers
FCDO 24-hour line (from UK)
+44 (0)20 7008 5000British Embassy in Japan
+81 3 5211 1100Always verify numbers before calling
Embassy phone numbers change. Confirm current details at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/japan 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 Japan
What you need to know
What the British post in Japan can and cannot do
The British post covering Japan 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.
In Japan specifically: Adds 7-21 days. Translation of Japanese documents adds further time. This is the most common source of extended timelines for UK families.
The full list of what consular staff can and cannot do applies in every country.
Death registration in Japan
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 Japan
What the Embassy can and cannot pay for
Consular staff in Japan 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 Japan involvesNeed help coordinating repatriation from Japan?
We can take over the arrangements from wherever you are in the process. Call us or leave your details and we will call you back.