Death in Thailand

The Dutch embassy in Bangkok has updated the information on the website about what to do in the event of a death in Thailand.

Has your partner, family member, boyfriend or girlfriend passed away in Thailand? Then the Thai authorities want to know to whom they can hand over the deceased. Depending on the situation, they ask the Dutch embassy to find out who the next of kin are. You can read here how this works and what you may need to arrange yourself.

Thai authorities inform embassy

Does a Dutch person die in a Thai hospital? Then the Thai authorities report the death to the Dutch embassy. This also happens if a Dutch person dies in Thailand as a result of a crime or accident. The Thai authorities ask the embassy for an authorization letter. It states to whom they may hand over the body.

Does a Dutch person die in a domestic circle and does the funeral take place in Thailand? Then the embassy will not always receive a notification of this. The funeral will then take place without authorization from the embassy.

Embassy requests official confirmation

The embassy asks the Thai authorities for a copy of the deceased's passport and an official confirmation of the death. This does not have to be a death certificate. Depending on what happened, the embassy may also get a police report or a hospital report.

Embassy or ministry informs next of kin

The embassy checks who the next of kin are and whether they are aware of the death. This may be the moment when you first receive notification of the death from the embassy. Are you in the Netherlands yourself? Then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will contact you.

Release of deceased to next of kin

The embassy must find out to whom the Thai authorities can release the body. For this purpose, the embassy is looking for the next of kin.

Was the deceased married to someone who has Thai nationality? Then that person is the first surviving relative. The husband or wife must present the marriage certificate along with proof of identity.

Are you the next of kin who may decide what to do with the deceased? Then you will receive a letter of authorization from the embassy (free of charge). With that you can ask the Thai authorities to release the body. You can then arrange a funeral in Thailand or have the deceased transferred to the Netherlands (repatriation).

Registering a death in Thailand

Will the embassy give you the letter of authorization for the release of the body? Then you can use this to register the death at the local district office (amphoe). You will then receive the Thai death certificate. Without an authorization letter, you usually cannot file a declaration or request a new copy of the death certificate.

Insurer assistance

Did the deceased have additional health insurance, travel insurance or funeral insurance? Then the insurer will help you further and take a lot of arranging work off your hands. The embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are then no longer involved. However, the embassy can still help with arranging documents.

Waiver: if you are unable or unwilling to arrange the funeral

Perhaps there are circumstances that make it impossible or unwilling to arrange the funeral yourself. You can then choose to have someone else do it. In that case, you must waive the body in a statement. You then authorize someone else to arrange the funeral. Can't do that? Then the Thai authorities will arrange the funeral. It is then not possible to take into account your wishes or those of the deceased.

Retrieving the deceased (repatriation)

Do you want to bring the deceased to the Netherlands for the funeral? This can be done through an international funeral company. AsiaOne is the main player in the Thai market. They usually work together with the Dutch funeral company Van der Heden IRU BV.

AsiaOne International Repatriation & Funeral Services

No.7, Chan Road Soi 46
Watprayakrai, Bangkolaem
Bangkok, 10120 Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2675-0501, +66 (0) 2675-0502
Fax: + 66 (0) 2675-2227

The embassy provides the funeral director (free of charge) with the letters needed to arrange the documents. The funeral director can then request the death certificate, have it translated and legalized. And the funeral director can request the passport and personal items of the deceased from the Thai authorities. The embassy arranges a temporary travel document (laissez-passer) with which the body may travel to the Netherlands.

When repatriating a body, the following documents are required:

• Laissez passer (LP) for the body. The embassy issues these for a fee. This LP contains the flight details.
• Certified copy of passport. The embassy issues these for a fee. The embassy invalidates the original passport after making the copy.
• Original, (to English) translated and legalized death certificate.

Sometimes there is not enough time for the deed to be legalized by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Then the Dutch embassy will make a certified copy of the deed and the translation. This deed cannot be used in the Netherlands for handling other practical matters. The funeral director will send you the translated and legalized death certificate later.

Transport of an urn to the Netherlands

After a cremation in Thailand, you can take the ashes in an urn with you or have it brought to the Netherlands. The following documents are required for this:

• Cremation certificate from the temple

• Laissez passer (LP) for an urn. The embassy issues these for a fee. This LP contains the flight details.
• Certified copy of passport. The embassy issues these for a fee. The embassy invalidates the original passport after making the copy.
• Original, (to English) translated and legalized death certificate.

The airline decides whether you can take the ashes on the plane yourself. Ask the airline about the possibilities.

Report a death in the Netherlands

You may have to report the death in the Netherlands to various organizations, such as the municipality where the deceased is registered. Or if the deceased received state pension or still paid tax in the Netherlands. When reporting a death, you must present a death certificate translated into English and legalized. It is often difficult to apply for this deed yourself in Thailand.

Applying for a death certificate from the Netherlands

You can apply for the deed for €131,00 from the Netherlands via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague.

Has the death been reported to the Dutch embassy before? Then you can request the deed via the DCV/CA department:

[email protected]
T: +31 (0)70 348 4770.

In all other cases you can request the certificate via the Consular Services Centre:

[email protected]
T: +31 (0) 70 348 4333.

After payment, it usually takes 2 to 3 months before the deed is ready. Depending on the situation, this can also take longer.

Have the death certificate translated and legalized yourself

Would you like to have the Thai certificate translated into English yourself? This is best done at the local translation agency at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Bangkok. It is unknown what the translation requirements are at the MFA branches in Songkhla, Chiang Mai and Ubon Ratchathani.

Legalization of the deed by MFA

For use in the Netherlands, the MFA must legalize the original death certificate together with the translation. Are you requesting legalization but are you not a family member with the same surname? Then the MFA will request an authorization letter from the embassy. This will give you permission to request legalisation. There is no charge for this authorization letter.

Having the death certificate translated and legalized at the MFA takes 2 working days. Expedited service is also available. If you bring the deed in the morning, you can pick it up the same day in the afternoon.

Read more about legalizing foreign documents

Legalization by Dutch embassy

After the MFA has legalized the deed, the Dutch embassy must legalize the deed. You can make an appointment online for this. You pay costs for legalizing 2 documents: the original deed and the translation. If you bring the deed in the morning, you can pick it up the same day in the afternoon.

Addresses Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand

Bangkok (Central Thailand), 2 locations:

Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs
123 Chaeng Wattana Road, 3rd Floor
Tung Song Hong, Laksi, Bangkok 10210
Tel: 02-575-1057 (up to 60) / Fax: 02-575-1054

Legalization Office at MRT Khlong Toei Station
Opening hours: 08:30 – 15:30 (Express service: 08:30 – 09:30)

Chiang Mai (Northern Thailand)

Government Complex Chiang Mai Province
Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs
Chotana Road Changpueak
Mueang Chiang Mai Province 50000
Tel: 053-112-748 (up to 50) Fax: 053-112-764
Opening hours: 08am-30pm

Ubon Ratchathani (North-East Thailand)

Ubon Ratchathani City Hall
Legalization Division, 1st Floor (located at the rear of Building East)
Chaengsanit Road Chae Ramae
Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Province 34000
Phone: 045-344-5812 / Fax: 045-344-646

Songkhlao (Southern Thailand)

Government Complex Songkhla Province
Legalization Division, Department of Consular Affairs
Ratchadamnoen Road
Mueang Songkhla Province
Tel: 074-326-508 (up to 10) / Fax: 074-326-511

Settling the inheritance

Are you an heir and do you want to claim your share of the inheritance? Then keep in mind that it is often difficult to access the bank account of the deceased. Thai banks are strict. Usually a Thai court must give permission to access the bank account. The court examines the family relationships and determines who is the official heir entitled to the bank balances.

The Dutch embassy never assists in arranging inheritances. It is therefore best to ask for advice from a Thai lawyer. View the list of Dutch and English speaking lawyers in Thailand.

Contact

Can't figure it out? We will help you.
Contact us

Want to know more?

• Death abroad