Consular assistance
British Embassy contacts for New Caledonia: when someone dies abroad
Non-resident, British Embassy, Paris, France handles cases in New Caledonia. A death must be registered with the local authorities in New Caledonia 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 New Caledonia
British representation: Non-resident, British Embassy, Paris, France
Authority that must release the body: Service de l'État Civil (Civil Registration); Gendarmerie nationale or Police nationale (non-natural deaths). New Caledonia has a special status: a sui generis collectivity with its own government (Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie).
Documentation language: French, Kanak languages
Remote Pacific location (approximately 18,900 km from UK. Non-resident British Embassy Paris. Documentation in French) certified English translation required. New Caledonia has a complex political situation regarding independence, with periods of civil unrest. Outer islands (Loyalty Islands, Isle of Pines) require inter-island Air Calédonie transfer to Nouméa. Mining and industrial sector means some expat workers present.
Always verify numbers before calling
Embassy phone numbers change. Confirm current details at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/new-caledonia 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 New Caledonia
What you need to know
What the British post in New Caledonia can and cannot do
Non-resident, British Embassy, Paris, France 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 New Caledonia
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 New Caledonia
What the Embassy can and cannot pay for
Consular staff in New Caledonia 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 New Caledonia involvesNeed help bringing someone home from New Caledonia?
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.