Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office¶
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is the UK government department responsible for British nationals abroad, formed in 2020 by the merger of the former Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development. The FCDO operates the network of British embassies, high commissions, and consulates worldwide and is the first point of UK government contact for any British national who dies overseas. [source: gov-uk/death-abroad-2026-05-02.html]
For families dealing with a death abroad, the FCDO consulate or embassy in the country where the death occurred provides:
- Advice on the local death-registration process and the documentation each country requires.
- A list of local funeral directors and repatriation specialists familiar with British nationals.
- Guidance on the UK registration of an overseas death (handled separately by the General Register Office).
- Help liaising with local authorities where there is a language barrier or unusual circumstance.
- Hardship grants in cases of genuine financial difficulty (means-tested; small amounts).
What the FCDO cannot do: pay for repatriation or funeral costs as a matter of course; arrange the repatriation directly (the family appoints a funeral director or repatriation company); arrange flights for family members; provide ongoing interpretation services. The FCDO is an advisor and intermediary, not a service provider.
24-hour emergency line for British nationals abroad: +44 20 7008 5000 (the published FCDO consular contact number). Country-specific consulate numbers are listed at gov.uk/world. For a serious incident — death, hospitalisation, arrest, missing person — call the consular line or the local embassy first; out-of-hours calls are routed to a duty officer. [source: gov-uk/death-abroad-2026-05-02.html]
Last verified: 2 May 2026 against gov.uk/after-a-death/death-abroad.