Consular assistance
British Embassy contacts for Spain: when someone dies abroad
If a British national dies in Spain, the Embassy is usually the first official body to contact. The local emergency number is 112. 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 Spain
+34 917 146 300Handling a death in Spain
Local emergency number: 112
Authority that must release the body: Forensic medical service (Instituto de Medicina Legal)
When a post-mortem is ordered: Post mortem ordered by Spanish forensic authorities if cause of death is unknown, unnatural, or suspicious
Effect on the timeline: Can delay repatriation by 1-4 weeks or more
Getting the report: Reports may take significant time to be released to next of kin
Documentation language: Spanish (Castellano) is the national language. Catalan in Catalonia and Balearics, Basque in Basque Country, Galician in Galicia, Valencian in Valencia.. English: Good in major tourist areas and coastal resorts. Limited in rural areas, inland cities, and smaller towns. Hospital staff in tourist areas often speak basic English.
Healthcare: Good public healthcare system. EHIC/GHIC may cover emergency treatment. Private healthcare also available. Hospitals in tourist areas will usually have English-speaking staff.
British community: ~300,000 registered UK residents in Spain. True number estimated at 750,000+ including unregistered, seasonal, and part-year residents.
Most common causes of British deaths here: Natural causes (large elderly expat population, particularly Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca); Road traffic accidents; Drowning (swimming pools, sea swimming, including alcohol-related); Alcohol-related incidents (particularly young tourists in Balearics); Falls (elderly population and balcony falls); Pre-existing medical conditions exacerbated by heat
Areas needing extra care: Balearic Islands: Mallorca, Ibiza (young tourist deaths from alcohol, balcony falls); Costa del Sol: Malaga province (large elderly expat community, natural causes); Costa Blanca: Alicante province (elderly expat community); Canary Islands: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote (tourist accidents, elderly residents); Barcelona and Madrid (tourist volume)
Always verify numbers before calling
Embassy phone numbers change. Confirm current details at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain 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 Spain
British Embassy
Madrid
Torre Espacio, Paseo de la Castellana 259D, 28046 Madrid
+34 917 146 300 Official websiteConsulate
Barcelona
Consulate
Malaga
Consulate
Alicante
Consulate
Las Palmas (Gran Canaria)
Consulate
Santa Cruz de Tenerife
VERIFY all consulate numbers before go-live. Consular presence may change. Check gov.uk for current list.
What you need to know
What the British post in Spain can and cannot do
The British post covering Spain 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 Spain specifically: Can delay repatriation by 1-4 weeks or more
The full list of what consular staff can and cannot do applies in every country.
Death registration in Spain
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 Spain
What the Embassy can and cannot pay for
Consular staff in Spain 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 Spain involvesNeed help coordinating repatriation from Spain?
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.