If you’re the next of kin or you've been appointed by the next of kin you can apply online to get a letter from the British Embassy Bangkok so that a Thai local authority or hospital will release a body for burial, cremation or repatriation.

In Thailand the next of kin is defined as the spouse, a child over 20 or a parent.

If you are not next of kin you will need their written authorisation that you can make funeral arrangements on their behalf. It should include the following text:

‘(Date)

I (name), as the (relationship to deceased) of (deceased name) (British passport number: 00000000) authorise a representative to:

• have the deceased’s body released into their care
• arrange the funeral
• collect the death certificate and other official documents
• arrange for personal belongings to be returned to my care in the UK

This representative is (name of representative) (company name).’

The letter to release a body can only be collected at the British embassy or posted to an address in Thailand.

Before you start

If you are the next of kin you’ll need:

• your passport or Thai ID
• proof of your relationship to the person who died, such as a marriage or birth certificate
• a proof of death, such as a death confirmation from a local hospital, or police report from local police - if you have a death certificate from a local district office (Amphur) you can use this instead
• your email address and phone number
• the UK passport of the person who died if you have this

If you've been appointed to act on behalf of the next of kin you'll need:

• your company address and phone number – if you are a funeral director
• the next of kin's passport
• proof of the next of kin's relationship to the person who died, such as a marriage or birth certificate
• a proof of death, such as a death confirmation from a local hospital, or police report from local police - if you have a death certificate from a local district office (Amphur) you can use this instead
• written authorisation from the next of kin
• the next of kin’s email address and phone number
• the UK passport of the person who died if you have this