What should I do if a Chinese person dies in the UK? The whole process of death registration and inheritance

When registering, reporters will ask: full name, date and place of birth, occupation, address, and marital status. Bring the deceased's passport, BRP or eVisa information, and NHS number (bring it with you if you have it).

💡 Buy multiple copies of the death certificate at once. Banks, insurance companies, landlords, pension funds, and domestic notarization all require original copies. It is more expensive and slower to purchase them individually afterwards. Experience points are 5–8.

When you register, you will get the Tell Us Once code and notify HMRC, DWP, local councils, DVLA and other departments at once, saving you a dozen calls. Be sure to use it on the spot, it has an expiration date.

2. The death of a Chinese citizen in the UK: what consular assistance can and cannot do

The consular protection department of the Chinese Embassy and Consulates in the UK can: assist in contacting family members in the country, issue or guide the application of relevant certification documents, provide information on local funeral and body transportation channels, and assist family members in expedited communication when necessary to apply for visas to come to the UK.

But it must be clear that it cannot do anything: it will not bear funeral expenses, body transportation expenses, and medical debts; it will not handle inheritance distribution on your behalf; it cannot interfere with the progress of Coroner's investigation. These must be handled by the family themselves or by professionals.

On the other hand, if a British Chinese dies abroad , you can contact the consular assistance department of the British Foreign Office (FCDO), and you can choose to register an overseas death at FCDO and get a British death certificate. The record will be transferred to the General Register Office - bank and inheritance procedures in the UK will be much smoother.

3. Will the body be returned to the country or buried in the UK? Calculate the costs first

Repatriation of remains requires a professional funeral company to handle embalming, sealing the coffin, airline documents, exit permission, etc. The cost usually starts in the thousands of pounds, depending on the city and route. The cost of transporting ashes is much lower, but requires a cremation certificate and supporting documents.

Check two things immediately: whether the deceased’s travel insurance or study abroad insurance includes a clause for the transportation of remains (many do, but the case must be reported within the specified time limit); whether the employer’s group insurance or union benefits cover it. The money you can save in this step is often more than all the subsequent efforts combined.

If domestic relatives want to participate in inheritance, documentation is the biggest pitfall. The good news is that China will join the Hague Additional Certificate Convention (Apostille) from November 7, 2023. Death certificates and Probate documents issued by the United Kingdom plus Apostille (apostille) can be used in China . There is no need to go through double consular authentication, and the time has been shortened from months to weeks. Same goes for reverse.

6. British visa status: Don’t ignore this step for accompanying family members

The eVisa/BRP status of the deceased must be notified to the Ministry of Interior for cancellation. What’s more critical is the accompanying family members: dependent visas that are dependent on the main applicant will be affected by the death of the main applicant. Don’t wait for to expire before processing .

A path that many people don’t know: If the British or permanent resident partner of a spouse visa holder dies, there is a permanent residence application channel of Bereaved Partner under the current immigration rules, and there is no need to add up to 5 years again. This rule has saved many families, and it is worth consulting a lawyer as soon as possible to confirm the applicable conditions.

If you are calculating the permanent residence timeline for your family, or are worried that changes will interrupt the continuity of residence, you can use the 永居计算器 APP to sort out the entry and exit records for each day. It is always better to have an idea than guessing. Click the menu bar at the bottom of this official account to use it.

The last word of truth: people who have real estate, accounts, and children in the UK, please write a valid British will. A will of a few hundred pounds can save your family tens of thousands of pounds and two years of suffering. This article is for reference only. Please consult a licensed attorney for specific questions.

[Data source] gov.uk/after-a-death; gov.uk/applying-for-probate; gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-when-someone-dies-abroad