When someone dies in Brazil
The process when a British national dies in Brazil, including registering the death, funerals and cremations, and bringing the person’s body to the UK.
Documents
Details
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 Brazil 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 Brazil registry office, called Cartório de Registro Civil. Your funeral director can normally do this for you.
You will need information and documents about the person who has died, including their:
- declaration of death “declaração de óbito”, issued by a doctor or medical facility in Portuguese
- birth certificate, showing their place of birth and parents’ names
- official identity document (for example their British passport)
- spouse’s details (if applicable)
- marriage certificate (if applicable)
- divorce papers (if applicable)
Getting a death certificate
After registering the death, you will get a death certificate (Certidão de Óbito). Brazilian death certificates state the cause of death. This is usually issued by a doctor or medical facility.
When someone dies in Brazil from natural causes, the official death certificate (Certidão de Óbito) is usually issued promptly after the death is registered at the local registry office (Cartório de Registro Civil). If an autopsy is needed, the death certificate will only be issued after the initial forensic report.
It’s worth asking for extra copies of the death certificate (Certidão de Óbito), as you might need them to show to people later.
Post mortems in Brazil
A post mortem (autopsy) is a medical examination of the body.
Under Brazilian law, an autopsy is obligatory if a person dies from a violent or sudden incident, or outside of a hospital. The judicial police pathologists are responsible for carrying out autopsies in these cases. If a person dies in a hospital or from an illness lasting more than 24 hours, an autopsy is not obligatory. Autopsies are a public service, so you should not be charged a fee.
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. You will not automatically be told if this happens.
Organs that are removed may not always be returned before the body is released for burial. In some regions of Brazil, especially in smaller towns and rural areas, organs may be retained for further analysis and buried locally, unless the family specifically requests their return. If organs are suspected of being infected, they will be incinerated.
Any autopsy report will be made available to the family in Portuguese. The result of the autopsy can take up to a few weeks, but this deadline can vary depending on the location.
Burying or cremating the body in Brazil
You need a local funeral director to arrange a burial or cremation in Brazil. The exact rules on burials and cremations are different depending on where you are in Brazil
If the death was violent, accidental, or the cause is unknown, you’ll need legal permission for cremation. A funeral director can help start this process.
Cremation also requires a judge’s approval. While this can sometimes happen quickly, even within 24 hours, it will be delayed if a post-mortem examination (autopsy) is needed due to a suspicious or violent death. Your funeral director can give you advice.
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 Brazil.
When taking the person’s body to the UK from Brazil you will need to:
- death certificate, issued by a local notary
- embalming certificate
- Federal Police authorisation document
- show the passport of the person who died
Bringing the ashes to the UK
Ask your funeral director about the rules for bringing ashes to the UK. There are different rules depending on where you are in Brazil.
Cremated ashes can be carried by anyone authorised by the next of kin. A funeral director (undertaker) can arrange delivery to a nominated person or directly to the next of kin. Brazilian aviation rules allow ashes to be carried in either hand luggage or checked baggage.
Bringing the ashes to the UK yourself
If you are taking the ashes with you when you leave Brazil you will need:
- a death certificate, issued by a local notary
- a cremation certificate (certificado de cremação)
- to ensure the ashes are in a secure, sealed, non-metallic urn
- to follow local Brazil regulations about leaving Brazil with ashes - your funeral director can give you more information
- to tell the airline in advance
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.
Getting the person’s belongings back
Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to you or the Brazilian police.
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 together.
If they were a resident in Brazil, you may not be able to take the belongings as they may be part of their estate. Personal belongings are typically stored at the deceased’s home. Collection can be arranged directly between the family and the landlord. Local authorities cannot store private belongings or create an inventory Get legal advice if this happens. 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 Portuguese translator
You may need a translator to help you understand Brazilian rules or get documents translated. Check official translators in Brazil. The embassy or consulate in Brazil cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs.
Finding a Brazilian lawyer
You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Brazilian legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Brazil. The embassy or consulate in Brazil 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
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