When someone dies in Indonesia

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 Indonesia 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. 

If the person who died didn’t have any insurance, the next of kin may directly appoint a funeral director in Indonesia or in the UK.

If the person died due to a road traffic collision in Indonesia, the next of kin may be eligible to receive compensation from the local state-owned insurance company called Jasa Raharja. Further information regarding Jasa Raharja. 

Registering the death 

The death must be registered at the local registry office in Indonesia (Dinas Kependudukan dan Pencatatan Sipil), depending on where the death happened.

Your funeral director can normally do this for you. 

As the next of kin, you will need to provide a letter of authorisation to the funeral director. This will allow them to act upon your behalf, including representing you at the local registry office to get a death certificate. 

You will need information and documents about the person who has died, including their: 

• birth certificates, showing their place of birth and parents’ name 

• religion 

• official identity document (for example their British passport) 

• stay permit (if applicable)

• spouse’s details (if applicable) 

• proof of relationship to next of kin, such as a marriage certificate if the next of kin is the spouse, or a birth certificate if the next of kin is the child 

• death notification letter from hospital

In Indonesia, the next of kin is usually a family member who is named in the family card (Kartu Keluarga in Bahasa Indonesia) and in the legal will, such as: 

• spouse 

• adult child (i.e. over 18 years old) 

• parent 

• adult sibling (i.e. over 18 years old) 

• an adult with a sufficiently strong relationship to the deceased 

An ex-spouse, current unmarried partner, same-sex partner, or civil partner is not seen as next of kin in Indonesia. 

If there is a dispute over the next of kin, you can refer to a notary public or a lawyer for further advice. You can find a list of notaries public in Indonesia and a list of lawyers in Indonesia here. 

Getting a death certificate  

After registering the death, you will get a death certificate (‘Akta Kematian’ in Bahasa Indonesia). You can ask for an English version of the ‘Akta Kematian’ with an English translation. Indonesian death certificates do not show the cause of death. It’s worth asking for extra copies of the death certificate, as you might need them to show to people later.

It can take a few days for the local registry office to issue the death certificate. Your appointed funeral director will be able to help you communicate with the local registry office throughout the process.

Post mortems in Indonesia 

A post mortem is a medical examination of the body. There might be one in Indonesia if the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent.

A post mortem will be carried out with the consent/request from the next of kin. Police may order a post-mortem if it is needed as part of a legal investigation.  

Post-mortem examinations in Indonesia fall into two categories. A clinical (medical) autopsy is carried out to identify underlying medical conditions, assess medical treatment, or confirm the cause of death. A police (forensic) autopsy is conducted for legal and investigative purposes when a death is considered suspicious, sudden, unnatural, or the result of violence.

If the person died outside a hospital, the cause of death cannot be certified by a doctor, a post-mortem examination may be needed to establish the cause of death.

The next of kin is usually responsible for paying for a clinical post-mortem examination. However, travel or medical insurance may cover some or all of the costs. The total cost can vary depending on the hospital, the type of examination required, and any additional tests. Police-ordered forensic autopsies are often paid for by the Indonesian authorities, although the next of kin may still be asked to cover certain expenses in some cases. Be sure to ask for any expected costs before the examination takes place.

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. 

If organs are removed they will normally be returned before the person’s body is released for burial. In exceptional circumstances body parts may be kept without permission. This might happen if further investigation is needed. The next of kin will be told if this happens. 

If a clinical post-mortem examination is carried out, the hospital will issue a medical report with the cause of death. The report will be released to whoever requested the post mortem examination. Where the post-mortem is requested by the police, the report may only be released to any family with their approval. Funeral directors may request a copy of the report from the police on your behalf

Burying or cremating the body in Indonesia 

You need a local funeral director to arrange a burial or cremation in Indonesia. The exact rules on burials and cremations may be different depending on where you are in Indonesia. Your funeral director can give you advice.  

The next of kin has the right to decide when and where the burial or cremation will take place. Local authorities may require a Letter of No Objection from the British Embassy or Consulate before a burial or cremation can proceed. The next of kin can request one directly from the Embassy or Consulate or through their funeral director.

To issue a Letter of No Objection, the Embassy or Consulate will require the following documents:

• a copy of the deceased’s passport

• a copy of the passport or Valid ID of the family member reporting the death

• proof of the relationship between the reporting family member and the deceased (for example, a birth certificate or marriage certificate)

• details of the intended location of burial or cremation

• written confirmation or notification of the death issued by the hospital or the police

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 Indonesia.

When taking the person’s body to the UK from Indonesia you will need to:

• show an English copy of the death certificate (‘Akta Kematian’) from the local registry office

• obtain permission for the removal of the body, issued by the Port Health Authority or any other relevant authorities

• show the passport of the person who died

• notify the coroner in England or Wales if the cause of death was unknown, violent, or unnatural

The funeral director can help the necessary documents, the permissions from the local authorities, and speak to the coroner in the UK, as well as any airlines.

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 Indonesia. Your funeral director can normally help make all the necessary arrangements for you.

Bringing the ashes to the UK yourself 

If you are taking the ashes with you when you leave Indonesia, you will need to:  

• show the death certificate

• show the cremation certificate

• show the original passport or a copy of the passport of the person who died

• get any required permissions in advance, such as permission from the Port Health Authority

• follow local Indonesian regulations about leaving Indonesia with ashes - your funeral director can give you more information

• tell the airline in advance

It is not generally recommended to transport cremated remains yourself, as airline requirements may vary. Your Funeral Director can make arrangements on your behalf.

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. The postal service can be unreliable in Indonesia.  

Getting the person’s belongings back 

Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to you or the Indonesian police. 

If you bring the person’s body or ashes to the UK, you can ask your local funeral director to collect all the belongings and transport them together along with the death certificate and other documents.

If they were an Indonesian resident you may not be able to take the belongings as they may be part of their estate. Get legal advice if this happens.

Belongings may be kept as evidence if there is an investigation into the death. This may be returned when the court case is over. The status of when and where the belongings will be returned will usually be stated in the court order. You may also contact the investigator to obtain the information

Finding a Bahasa Indonesian translator 

You may need a translator to help you understand Indonesian rules or get documents translated. Check official translators in Indonesia. The embassy or consulate in Indonesia cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs. 

Finding an Indonesian lawyer 

You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Indonesian legal system when someone has died. Check English speaking lawyers in Indonesia. The embassy or consulate in Indonesia 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 

• see how to get help from the UK government abroad