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China Visit Guide

Living · Family

Death and repatriation

A sensitive but necessary page. We've kept it factual; for any specific situation contact your embassy directly.

Immediate steps

If a foreign national dies in China:

1. **The hospital** (or, in death-on-arrival, the police) issues a medical certificate of death. 2. **Notify the home-country embassy or consulate.** The embassy guides next-of-kin through the documentation. Embassy hours include emergency lines for after-hours. 3. **The local PSB** is informed. 4. **The body** is held at the hospital's morgue or a designated funeral facility while documentation is arranged.

Documentation required

  • Medical certificate of death issued by the hospital.
  • Police report (in cases of accident, suicide or unusual circumstances).
  • Notification of death (Zhi'er Tong Zhi) issued by the Civil Affairs department.
  • Home-country death certificate (often issued by the embassy based on the Chinese certificate).
  • Cancellation of the residence permit at the PSB.

Repatriation of remains

The body is normally repatriated through a specialist funeral / repatriation service. Steps:

1. **Embalming** at a Chinese funeral facility licensed for international shipment. 2. **Coffin** — a sealed metal coffin, plus an outer wooden case. Specifications vary by destination country and airline. 3. **Customs and quarantine** clearance — paperwork between Chinese and home-country authorities. 4. **Air freight** as cargo, accompanied by a designated representative or professional service.

Total time: 7–21 days from death to home arrival. Total cost: USD $8,000–$25,000 depending on country and service tier. Travel insurance and expat health insurance often include repatriation coverage; check policies in advance.

Cremation in China

If the family chooses cremation (in China rather than at home), the process is:

1. Cremation at a designated funeral facility (¥5,000–¥30,000 depending on city and service). 2. Ashes delivered to the family in an urn. 3. The ashes can be brought home as accompanied baggage with the death certificate documentation, or shipped (rules vary by airline and destination country).

Burial in China

Possible in some cities for foreign residents who request it, but expensive and uncommon. Cemetery space in tier-1 cities is in short supply; long waits and high prices. Most foreign-national families repatriate or cremate.

Estate and personal affairs

  • Bank accounts: Chinese banks freeze accounts on notification of death. The estate is unlocked through inheritance proceedings — bring death certificate, marriage/family certificates and either a probate document or court order.
  • Apartment lease: the landlord ends the lease; the estate is responsible for clearing personal effects.
  • Vehicles: Chinese vehicle registration is non-transferable to foreign next-of-kin. Sell through an agent.
  • Pets: arrange foster placement immediately if the deceased had pets.

What helps

  • Have a will that addresses your China assets specifically. A short Chinese-language will (matched against your home-country main will) handles the bank and lease side.
  • Keep emergency contacts and embassy details on a printed card in your wallet.
  • Pre-pay or hold funds for repatriation in your insurance policy or a designated account.
  • The embassy is the central coordinator; their consular staff have handled this many times.
Verified May 2026