Deaths in Cambodia
Disclaimer: The information below is general and not definitive. Some of the information may not be relevant to your circumstances. The Australian Embassy in Cambodia cannot accept any responsibility for the ability or probity of the service provided listed, nor for any fees incurred.
If you require consular assistance, please contact the Embassy on +855 (0) 23 266 500 or email [email protected]. The Consular Section is open from 8am to 12pm and 1:30pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
For emergency consular assistance when the Embassy is closed, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra is available to help 24/7.
Contact the Consular Emergency Centre by calling the Embassy switchboard +855 23 266 500 and follow the prompts for emergency consular assistance. Alternatively, contact the CEC directly by dialling +61 2 6261 3305 (international call charges apply). Within Australia, the Consular Emergency Centre can be contacted on 1300 555 135.
Notification of a death
When an Australian citizen dies in Cambodia, the Australian Embassy in Phnom Penh is usually notified by a police officer, hospital or family member or friend.
If a next of kin has not already been informed, once Cambodian authorities confirm the death of an Australian in Cambodia, the Embassy and DFAT will try to locate a next of kin to notify them of the information and offer consular assistance.
For all deaths involving foreign nationals in Cambodia, Cambodian Forensic Police are required to conduct an investigation (even if the death is from natural causes). Police will usually then transport the deceased to a storage facility in Phnom Penh, due to there being no suitable cold storage facilities in the provinces. The Embassy is not always advised in advance of a transfer of a body to Phnom Penh.
The body will remain under the official custody of police until the next of kin can arrange a funeral.
Funeral arrangements
A next of kin will need to make a decision on funeral arrangements, or appoint someone to act on their behalf. The Embassy recommends that the next of kin engages a funeral director in Cambodia to assist with arrangements, which can include cremation, burial or repatriation of the body in accordance with the next of kin's wishes.
Funeral arrangements and costs are the responsibility of the next of kin. The funeral director will be able to explain the available options and costs. The funeral director's services normally include:
- Liaising with the Embassy to obtain official authorisation to take custody of the body for funeral arrangements
- Registering the death with local authorities and obtaining the death certificate on the next of kin's behalf
- Arranging personal belongings (including the passport) to be collected and returned to the family
If the Australian who has passed away has a Cambodian spouse, friend or family member, then they may be able to make the arrangements themselves rather than appoint a funeral director. Upon advice from the next of kin, the Embassy can provide authorisation letters to enable a Cambodian spouse, friend or relative to make arrangements (such as a cremation and ceremony) at their local temple.
Cremation
Cremation is common in Cambodia and is usually conducted at a Wat (local Buddhist temple). A funeral director can typically provide ashes to a next of kin in Cambodia or organise for the ashes to be shipped to family in Australia. Next of kin can also arrange to hand-carry the ashes from Cambodia to Australia. Local laws require a permission for cremation from the Ministry of Health and letters from the Embassy to facilitate the hand-carry or shipment of ashes to Australia.
Repatriation
Repatriating a deceased person from Cambodia to Australia is possible, however it can be expensive. If the deceased was covered by travel insurance, the insurer may be able to assist to organise a repatriation on the family's behalf. Documentation from the Embassy is required to repatriate a deceased person to Australia.
Burial
Burials are not common in Cambodia and can be difficult to arrange, however may be organised through a local funeral director. If next of kin wish to have their family member buried, they may also consider organising the body to be repatriated and buried in Australia.
List of funeral directors
Disclaimer: The names and contact details of service providers appearing in this list have been compiled by the Australian Embassy from publicly available information. The Embassy does not endorse any of the service providers appearing in this list, provides no guarantees as to its currency and does not accept any liability if you choose to engage one of these service providers.
Evergreen Funeral Services (EFS)
Phone: +85511430267 (phone and WhatsApp)
Email: [email protected]
Address: No. 110 Russian Boulevard, Phnom Penh (located at Tuek Thla Pagoda)
Website: https://www.efscambodia.com
Services: Cremation, shipment of ashes, embalming, repatriation of body, multi-faith services, registration of death
Pricing: EFS encourages families to contact them directly for information about pricing
John Allison Monkhouse Funerals and Repatriation Cambodia
Phone: +855 16 553 329
Email: [email protected]
Address: No. 156, Street 271, Chamkarmorn District, Phnom Penh (located at the Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital)
Services: Cremation, transportation, shipment of ashes, embalming, repatriation, registration of death
Pricing: Costs can be discussed directly with the funeral director via the details above
YIM Undertaker Funeral Service Cambodia
Phone: +855 12 957 024
Email: [email protected]
Address: Monireth Boulevard (Street 217), Sangkat Steung Meanchey, Khan Meanchey, Phnom Penh (located at Steung Meanchey Pagoda)
Services: Cremation, transportation, embalming, repatriation, storage, registration of death
Pricing: Costs can be discussed directly with the funeral director via the details above
Estimated costs
Costs are subject to change and based on individual circumstances. Families should seek quotations from funeral directors to confirm exact costs.
- Cremation and local release of ashes: approximately USD2000 to USD4000
- Cremation and shipment of ashes to Australia: approximately USD3000 to USD5000
- Repatriation of body to Australia: approximately USD10,000 to USD12,000
Storage facilities
Mortuary facilities are very limited in Cambodia, and it is recommended for a decision on funeral arrangements to be made as soon as possible following a death. If a death occurs outside of Phnom Penh, police will usually then transport the deceased to a storage facility in Phnom Penh due to there being no suitable cold storage facilities in the provinces. Mortuary facilities charge daily storage fees (typically around USD50-150 per day), and the cost of mortuary storage needs to be met by the next of kin.
Return of personal belongings
Personal effects (including the deceased's passport), are usually returned to the next of kin via the appointed funeral director. If next of kin are not located in Cambodia, the funeral director can usually arrange for the belongings to be shipped to Australia, depending on customs requirements. The cost of shipping is required to be met by the next of kin. Please note the Australian Embassy is unable to take responsibility for personal belongings.
Death certificates
A next of kin or funeral director will need to register a death with Cambodian authorities (usually at the local Commune/Sangkat office). A Cambodian death certificate, sometimes stating the cause of death, can be issued by Cambodian authorities at the request of the next of kin or funeral director.
In order to obtain a death certificate, the next of kin will need to provide personal documents for themselves and the deceased, and the Embassy is required to issue a supporting letter. The funeral director or next of kin can then apply for the official death certificate from local authorities.
The process for a death certificate to be issued can take several weeks from the date of death. Once it is available, the funeral director can usually send the official death certificate to next of kin overseas. The death certificate is issued in Khmer, however the funeral director can typically provide an official English translation for an extra cost.
Deaths of Australians overseas do not necessarily need to be registered in Australia. Next of kin can make enquiries with their State or Territory Births Deaths and Marriages Registry where the deceased was a resident. Most Australian jurisdictions can register a death that occurred overseas where the person was normally a resident of that jurisdiction.
If next of kin wish to obtain a death certificate for a death that occurred in Cambodia in previous years, this may be arranged through a funeral director or appointed representative for a fee. Next of kin should be aware that local Commune records are "closed" at the end of each calendar year and it can be a lengthy and costly process to obtain a death certificate for previous calendar years.
Autopsies
Official or government-provided autopsies are not available in Cambodia. Forensic Police typically conduct a physical examination of a deceased body at the scene, and if possible, draw a blood and urine sample which will undergo a basic toxicology screening.
If next of kin wish for the deceased to undergo an autopsy, it may be possible for next of kin to arrange the body to be transferred to a neighbouring country (such as Thailand). There will be additional costs for this, and next of kin should check with a funeral director for options.
Australian coronial referrals
Some Australian state or territory coroners will consider undertaking a coronial inquest into deaths of their citizens overseas. If next of kin wish to pursue this, they can contact their home state coronial authority for more information.
Legal matters
If next of kin have questions regarding estate or compensation matters, they should discuss this with a lawyer or directly with Cambodian authorities as these are private legal matters. Next of kin can refer to the Embassy's list of legal services for information on local lawyers.
The Australian Embassy cannot investigate deaths overseas. This is the responsibility of local authorities. We are unable to become involved in family or estate disputes, or locate Wills or insurance policy details.
How to prepare
Not many of us want to consider the possibility of our death while overseas, however some basic planning can make a difference. Smartraveller offers general advice on this topic for Australians overseas. Additionally, you can consider the following actions in Cambodia:
- Ensure your insurance policy covers the cost of funeral arrangements in the event of your passing.
- Complete the emergency contact section in the back of your Australian passport.
- Keep in regular contact with your next of kin, including family in Australia, and let them know your wishes in the event of your passing.
- Consider nominating a next of kin to be a decision-maker for funeral arrangements.
- Think about any belongings or local bank funds you want to be provided to next of kin and how this will happen.
- Consider contacting local funeral companies in advance for advice on their services and local procedures.
Additional information
For further information on what happens when an Australian passes away overseas, visit Smartraveller.