Consular assistance
British Embassy contacts for the Marshall Islands: when someone dies abroad
Non-resident, British Embassy, Manila, Philippines handles cases in the Marshall Islands. A death must be registered with the local authorities in the Marshall Islands 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 the Marshall Islands
British representation: Non-resident, British Embassy, Manila, Philippines
Authority that must release the body: Vital Statistics Office (Republic of Marshall Islands), RMI Police Department
Documentation language: Marshallese, English
Areas needing extra care: Kwajalein Atoll is a US military installation: access restricted.
29 atolls and 5 isolated islands spread over 1.9 million km² of ocean. Air access only via Majuro or Kwajalein. Deaths on outer atolls require boat or light aircraft transfer to Majuro. Non-resident British Embassy Manila. Very limited mortuary infrastructure.
Always verify numbers before calling
Embassy phone numbers change. Confirm current details at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/marshall-islands 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 the Marshall Islands
What you need to know
What the British post in the Marshall Islands can and cannot do
Non-resident, British Embassy, Manila, Philippines 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 the Marshall Islands
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 the Marshall Islands
What the Embassy can and cannot pay for
Consular staff in the Marshall Islands 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 the Marshall Islands involvesNeed help bringing someone home from the Marshall Islands?
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.