Services

Death Certificates

Notification
Usually the Embassy will be notified of the death of an American citizen by a relative, traveling companion, the China International Travel Services (CITS), the Public Security Bureau (PSB), or the foreign affairs office (Waiban) of a sponsoring organization of the deceased person's travel to China.

Checking Chinese Visa Requirements
If the deceased and the next of kin(NOK) were with a tour group, they probably were on a Group Visa, which the tour leader carries. If the NOK is to be left behind, he or she must be taken off the tour visa and issued an individual visa before the tour group departs. Have the Chinese tour agent to take the group visa, the passports of the deceased and anyone staying behind, and the official Chinese death certificate to the local Public Security Bureau (PSB) to have this done.

Disposition of Remains
The following companies can make all the necessary arrangements for disposition & shipment of remains.

• Medex Assistance Beijing: (8610) 6595-8510  fax: (8610) 6595-8509
• SOS International: (8610) 6462-9112/6462-9100  fax: (8610) 6464-9111
• World Access: (8610) 6441-4916  fax: (8610) 6441-4911
• Babaoshan Mortuary Home (embalming/cremation): (8610) 8825-7512 (Chinese only)

(Always instruct the morgue or the hospital to keep the remains in cold storage until officially notified as to how to dispose of the remains)

Official Death Certificates Issued by the Embassy
Embassy requires to see the passport of the deceased and the original death certificate issued by the hospital or the autopsy/police report issued by the local authorities before issuing the certificates. Six original death certificates will be issued after the deceased's passport is canceled and the original hospital death certificate is presented.


Documentation Required to Ship the Cremated Remains
The Consular Mortuary Certificate is not required in this case.  However, a translated Chinese death certificate and a cremation certificate, which states that the body has been cremated in accordance with local law and that the urn contains only the remains of the deceased, must accompany the cremains.