When someone dies in Andorra

Contacting the insurance company

If the person who died had insurance, contact their insurance company as soon as possible. Read the general guidance on what to do when someone dies abroad if you’re not sure if they had insurance.

The insurance company should appoint a funeral director in Andorra and the UK. They may also cover the cost of bringing the person’s body to the UK (repatriation) and help with any medical, legal, interpretation and translation fees.

Registering the death

The death must be registered at the local Andorra registry office. Your funeral director will normally do this for you.

You will need information and documents about the person who has died, including their:

• birth certificate, showing their place of birth and parents’ names (if applicable)
• religion
• official identity document (for example, their British passport)
• spouse´s details (if applicable)
• marriage certificate (if applicable)
• divorce papers (if applicable)
• home address

Getting a death certificate

After registering the death, you will get a death certificate (certificat de defunció) which will have the cause of death. The funeral home can provide you with a translation of the certificate and with the Hague Apostille. There is a fee for the translation. You will be given several copies. It’s worth asking for extra copies of the death certificate, as you might need them to show to other people later.

Post mortems in Andorra

A post mortem is a medical examination of the body. There might be one in Andorra if the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent.

Cultural or religious sensitivities may not be taken into account. Small tissue samples and organs may be removed for testing without the family’s permission. In Andorra you may not be automatically told if this happens.

If organs are removed they will normally be returned before the person’s body is released for burial. In exceptional circumstances body parts may be kept without permission. This might happen if further investigation is needed. The next of kin will not necessarily be informed told if this happens.

Post mortem reports are not usually given to the next of kin. If you have a lawyer they can apply for a copy. If you need to appoint a lawyer, see our list of English speaking lawyers.

Burying or cremating the body in Andorra

You need a local funeral director to arrange a burial or cremation in Andorra.

You should not have the person cremated abroad if you want a coroner in England and Wales to conduct an inquest into their death. In Scotland, a further investigation may still be possible.

Bringing the body to the UK

Ask your funeral director about options for bringing the person’s body to the UK from Andorra.

When taking the person’s body to the UK from Andorra your funeral director will be responsible for ensuring that all the necessary documents are in place and local requirements have been met.

• copy of the death certificate which has been issued by the civil registry
• burial or cremation licence
• literal death certificate from the Ministry of Andorra
• provide a special casket for transporting the person’s remains
• certificate regarding the sealing of the casket
• the passport of the person who died
• “Salvo conducte” -Sanitary document authorising the repatriation of the remains to the UK
• embalming document
• court’s authorisation (in cases where a post-mortem has been carried out)
• medical certificate (in case of natural death)

Bringing the ashes to the UK

Ask your funeral director about the rules for bringing ashes to the UK.

Bringing the ashes to the UK yourself

If you are taking the ashes with you when you leave Andorra you will need to:

• show the death certificate
• show the cremation certificate
• follow Andorran regulations about leaving Andorra and transiting through Spain or France with ashes - your funeral director can give you more information.

You may also have to tell the airline in advance - ask your funeral director for more information.

Arranging for the ashes to be taken to the UK

Ask your funeral director for advice if you cannot take the ashes yourself. You may not be able to send them by post or courier. Ashes can be shipped by air freight, although this can be expensive. Ask your funeral home for advice.

Getting the person’s belongings back

Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to you, to the Andorran police or the court if the death is judicial.

If you bring the person’s body to the UK, you can ask your local funeral director to collect all the belongings and transport them (this will incur an extra cost).

If the person was a resident in Andorra you may not be able to take the belongings as they may be part of their estate. Get legal advice if this happens.

Belongings may be kept as evidence if there is an investigation into the death. This will only be returned when the court case is over.

Finding a Catalan translator

You may need a translator to help you understand Andorran rules or get documents translated. Check official translators in Andorra. The Honorary Consul or the British  Consulate in Barcelona cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs.

Finding a lawyer in Andorra

You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Andorran legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Andorra. The Honorary Consul or the British Consulate in Barcelona cannot give you legal advice or pay for legal costs.

Telling the UK authorities

Although you do not have to register the death in the UK, when someone dies abroad you still need to tell the UK authorities. Read general guidance on what to do when someone dies abroad to find out what to do.

Contacting the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)

You can contact the FCDO if you still need advice:

• in the UK call +44 (0)20 7008 5000
• see how to get help from the UK government abroad