Death is a difficult experience for family and friends of the deceased, but deaths occurring overseas often make the experience even more difficult. The consular section attempts to ease this difficulty by providing explanations of procedures and giving the family the information to make funeral arrangements. American Citizen Services can:
- Find and notify the Next-of-Kin of the deceased.
- Act as a liaison between Lao police, hospital and mortuary authorities.
- Arrange for the disposition and repatriation of the remains.
- Coordinate administrative and financial requirements.
- Assist in the collection and return of personal effects to the Next-of-Kin.
- Issue a ‘Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad’
For more information, please visit the State Department’s website.
Notification of Next-of-Kin
Notification of Next-of-Kin
The Lao authorities inform the Embassy upon the death of an American Citizen anywhere in Laos. We then find the Next-of-Kin of the deceased and contact that person as soon as possible. There are several important things that the Next-of-Kin must do in conjunction with the ACS Unit. These include:
- Returning a signed and notarized “Affidavit of Next-of-Kin”
- Choosing a method of disposition of remains.
- Arranging payment of mortuary and related expenses in Laos.
- Arranging the return of any personal possessions of the deceased.
Affidavit of Next-of-Kin and Letter of Instruction
To act on the family’s behalf, the Embassy must have a signed, notarized copy of a document called an “Affidavit of Next-of-Kin.” This form is critical because it shows us who is entitled to make decisions regarding the deceased. Families should first fax or scan and email us a completed copy, and then mail the original.
Next-of-Kin are established in the following order:
- legal spouse
- if no spouse, then all children
- if no children, then all parents
- if no parents, then all siblings
- if no siblings, then all grandparents.
Additionally, Next-of-Kin should fill out and sign a “Letter of Instruction” and scan and email us a copy. This letter will tell us exactly how to handle the deceased’s body.
Disposition and Repatriation of Remains
Please click here for a full report.
NOTE: CDC requirements for importing human remains depend upon if the body has been embalmed, cremated, or if the person died from a quarantinable communicable disease.
At this time, COVID-19 is a quarantinable communicable disease in the United States and the remains must meet the standards for importation found in 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 71.55 and may be cleared, released, and authorized for entry into the United States only under the following conditions:
- The remains are cremated; OR
- The remains are properly embalmed and placed in a hermetically sealed casket; OR
- The remains are accompanied by a permit issued by the CDC Director. The CDC permit (if applicable) must accompany the human remains at all times during shipment.
- Permits for the importation of the remains of a person known or suspected to have died from a quarantinable communicable disease may be obtained through the CDC Division of Global Migration and Quarantine by calling the CDC Emergency Operations Center at 770-488-7100 or emailing dgmqpolicyoffice@cdc.gov.
Please see CDC’s guidance for additional information.
Other Information
Financial Arrangements
The deceased’s family or legal representative must pay all expenses related to the disposition and transportation of remains and personal effects. Families without a personal representative in Laos must set up an Overseas Citizen’s Services Trust with the Department of State. American Citizen Services uses the money in this account to pay for expenses related to the wishes of the deceased’s family. By law, the Department of State cannot carry out instructions on the disposition of remains until we have received the required funds. Follow the link for instructions on setting up an Overseas Citizen’s Services Trust. After the mortuary and shipment fees have been paid, American Citizen Services will create an itemized account of the final costs, and will refund any additional money with a United States Treasury check.
Return of Personal Effects
The embassy can, in most circumstances, take charge of the deceased’s personal effects, if instructed to do so by the next-of-kin. We will conduct an inventory of the effects and send it to the next-of-kin. We can ship any items the family would like returned via FedEx or DHL. Items of little monetary or sentimental value, such as clothing, kitchenware and luggage, can be donated to a local charity by the embassy if the next-of-kin wishes us to do so.
In cases where the estate of the deceased is more than $1000, the Embassy requires more detailed legal documents, such as Letters of Testamentary and Letters of Administration before releasing money or effects to the next-of-kin.
Consular Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad
The “Consular Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad” is an official report, in English, that provides the essential facts concerning the death of a U.S. Citizen. It functions in much the same way as a death certificate issued in the United States and can be used to settle bank accounts, insurance policies and other estate matters. The report can only be issued after the Lao authorities have completed their documentation of the death, and may take several weeks to issue. American Citizen Services provides the next-of-kin with twenty free copies of the report. If necessary, families may pay for more reports.
The Embassy completes the report upon submission of the following:
- Original local death certificate issued by Hospital/village office/district office.
- Deceased’s original US passport, if available
- Affidavit of Next-of-Kin completed by Next of Kin(NOK). Please see the order of Next of Kin above.
- A copy of NOK’s valid passport or other valid ID
- Evidence of relationship of the deceased and the NOK(e.g. Marriage Certificate, Birth Certificate, etc.)
Note: The Embassy may require other documents, depending on individual circumstances. Please include an email address we can use to reach you. Although not required, it helps us contact you more easily in case we have further questions, and may speed up the issuance process.
Please submit these documents to the U.S. Embassy:
Monday to Thursday at 1PM-2PM(except Lao and American Holidays)
We will notify you via email or phone when the certified copies of the CRODA are completed. For further inquires, please contact the U.S. Embassy Vientiane at CONSLAO@STATE.GOV.
If you need additional copies of a CRODA after it has already been issued by the Embassy, please contact the U.S. Department of State’s Passport Vital Records Section.