Thai authorities normally notify the U.S. Embassy when a U.S. citizen dies in Thailand. The American Citizens Services unit contacts the next-of-kin of the deceased as soon as possible. Next-of-kin is established in the following order:

1. legal spouse
2. if no spouse, then all children
3. if no children, then all parents
4. if no parents, then all siblings
5. if no siblings, then all grandparents.

It is the responsibility of the next-of-kin to:

• If the deceased had a Last Will & Testament, send it to the American Citizens Services unit by email or fax.
• If the deceased did not have a Last Will & Testament but had substantial personal effects and a number of next-of-kin, send notarized Affidavits of Next-of-Kin (PDF 63KB) to the American Citizens Services unit by email or fax. Next-of-kin in Thailand may have affidavits notarized at the American Citizens Services unit of the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok or the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai free of charge.
  For Bangkok: Contact: Bangkok Contact Form
  Fax: +66-2-205-4103
  For Chiang Mai: Contact: Chiang Mai Contact Form
  Fax: +66-53-234-472
• Make arrangements for the disposition of remains and personal effects of the deceased, often with the assistance of a Thai funeral home.
• Pay for mortuary and related expenses.

The Thai forensic institute or hospital may require a letter of instruction from the U.S. Embassy to release remains of a U.S. citizen into the custody of the next-of-kin or designated representative.The American Citizens Services unit can produce a letter of instruction upon receipt of explicit written guidance in the form of a legal will or a signed and notarized Affidavit of Next-of-Kin (PDF 63KB) in some cases.

When a U.S. Citizen dies in Thailand, the body is usually preserved until instructions are received from the next-of-kin regarding the disposition of remains. There are normally two options:

• Cremation in Thailand and interment or scattering of ashes in Thailand, the United States or other location
• Embalming in Thailand and air shipment to the United States or other location for burial

Please note that embalming and mortuary services in Thailand may not meet U.S. standards. Families are advised to consult with a funeral director in the United States about the advisability of viewing remains and conducting an open-casket funeral.

Funeral Homes in Thailand:

• Northern Thailand (PDF 168KB)
• Bangkok and other parts of Thailand (PDF 136KB)

The next-of-kin or legal representative of the deceased is responsible for paying all funeral home expenses and costs associated with shipping the remains and any personal effects. In most cases, the next-of-kin is able to make payment arrangements directly with a funeral home.

Funeral Homes in Thailand–Price Lists

• Amar International (PDF 706KB)
• AsiaOne (PDF 1MB)
• EverCare (PDF 446KB)
• Siam Funeral Co., LTD (PDF 1MB)

In order to determine the cause of death, the medical examiner on the scene may recommend an autopsy when a U.S. citizen dies outside of a hospital setting. Autopsies are normally performed free of charge by the Forensic Institute at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok or by another forensic institute within 24 hours of receiving the remains. Thai autopsy reports take at least 45 business days to produce and may fall short of the standard expected in the United States.  Next-of-kin should discuss with their Thai funeral home the cost of obtaining a copy of the autopsy report.

Autopsies are not typically performed on U.S. citizens who die in hospitals, except at the request and expense of the next-of-kin. Hospitals are normally able to provide a cause of death, which is required for issuance of a Thai death certificate.

Next-of-kin are advised to be flexible regarding dates for funeral ceremonies in the United States. It takes time to perform an autopsy, embalm or cremate the body, prepare remains for shipment, and produce the necessary documents. Please allow 10 or more days from the date of death for remains to arrive in the United States.

Funeral homes in Thailand can assist with itemizing and returning personal effects of the deceased to the next-of-kin or designated representative.

The U.S. Embassy and Consulate issues an administrative document called a Consular Report of Death Abroad that provides essential facts about the death, disposition of remains, and custody of the personal estate of a deceased U.S. citizen. The Consular Report of Death Abroad is based on the Thai death certificate and may be used in legal proceedings in the United States as proof of death.

In order to issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad, the American Citizens Services unit must first receive all of the following:

• The original Thai death certificate
• An English translation of the Thai death certificate, certified by a professional translator (Note: Most funeral homes in Thailand include the cost of translation in their service packages.)
• The original U.S. passport of the deceased

The American Citizens Services unit will send the following documents to the next-of-kin:

• Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad (A maximum of 20 copies are provided free-of-charge; additional certified copies may be ordered from the Department of State for a fee.)
• The original Thai death certificate and English translation
• The deceased’s canceled U.S. passport

For more information, please refer to the Department of State website.

American Citizens Services (ACS)
U.S. Embassy Bangkok
95 Wireless Road
Bangkok 10330 THAILAND
Telephone from USA: 011-66-2-205-4000
Telephone from Thailand: 02-205-4000
Fax: +66-2-205-4103
Contact: Bangkok Contact Form

U.S. Consulate Chiang Mai
387 Witchayanond Road, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
Tel: (66) 53-107-777
Fax: (66) 53-234-472
Contact: Chiang Mai Contact Form