If someone dies in France
EU country with a fast funeral timeline — act promptly.
Reporting the death
A doctor issues the certificat de décès; the death is declared at the local mairie (town hall), normally within 24 hours.
The local death certificate
Acte de décès from the mairie; an EU multilingual standard form is available.
Bringing them home
Via a funeral director (pompes funèbres); within-EU transport is straightforward.
A local funeral
Burial or cremation available.
The embassy or consulate
The consulate can advise on repatriation and home-country registration.
True almost anywhere
- Check the travel/health insurance first — repatriation is expensive and is often covered.
- The death is registered where it happens; the local authority issues the death certificate.
- To use that certificate back home you usually need an official translation and an apostille/legalisation.
- The embassy or consulate can advise and liaise, but cannot pay funeral or repatriation costs.
- You generally choose between repatriating the body or ashes home, or a local burial/cremation.