Consular assistance
British Embassy contacts for Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha: when someone dies abroad
HM Government of Saint Helena (British Overseas Territory: no separate consulate required) handles cases in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. A death must be registered with the local authorities in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha 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 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
British representation: HM Government of Saint Helena (British Overseas Territory: no separate consulate required)
Authority that must release the body: Saint Helena Coroner; Saint Helena Police Service
Documentation language: English
Areas needing extra care: None.
Extremely remote. Very limited flight frequency from Saint Helena. Ascension requires military clearance. Tristan da Cunha has no air access whatsoever.
Always verify numbers before calling
Embassy phone numbers change. Confirm current details at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/st-helena-ascension-and-tristan-da-cunha 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 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
What you need to know
What the British post in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha can and cannot do
HM Government of Saint Helena (British Overseas Territory: no separate consulate required) 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 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
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 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
What the Embassy can and cannot pay for
Consular staff in Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha 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 Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha involvesGuides for Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
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