When a United States citizen passes away overseas:
We provide assistance to the family of a deceased U.S. citizen. In the event of the death of a U.S. citizen in the Netherlands, please use the ACS Navigator to contact us as soon as possible.
A Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad can be applied for, free of charge, and can be used to settle estate and other matters in the United States. It is a mandatory requirement of the Department of State.
The following documents and notification are required for the completion of a Report of Death of a United States Citizen Abroad:
- The most recent U.S. passport of the deceased.
- Original Dutch death certificate Overlijdensakte, (Dutch and/or international version, obtainable from the City Hall/Gemeentehuis). Note that a photo copy is not acceptable. We must receive an original death certificate, issued by the Dutch City Hall.
- If born outside the United States, as applicable: the original Certificate of Naturalization, the original Certificate of Citizenship, or the original Consular Report of Birth Abroad.
- The following form duly completed: Click here to open the Report of Death notification form (fillable Word document, 46Kb)
If the recipient of the Report of Death is in the Netherlands, in addition please submit:
An A4 (±23 x 33 centimeter) sized envelope addressed to the recipient of the Report of Death (most often the next of kin) with sufficient postage for sending the report, i.e.
- A trackable “waybill” from DHL express. This ‘waybill’ may be purchased online at https://my.dhlexpress.nl/pwa/shipment/package/. When prompted, please select “Mailbox Parcel”, and enter your personal information as the recipient. We recommend you check the option “E-mail Notification”, so you immediately receive the tracking information to follow your shipment after it has been sent. When asked for information about the sender, enter your own name and the mailing address for the U.S. Consulate General Amsterdam: John Adams Park 1, 2244 BZ Wassenaar. Please use your own e-mail address as sender and receiver so you receive all correspondence regarding your shipment. The cost of the trackable service begins at €3.95. Additional options, such as insurance, can be added for an additional fee but are not required. Once you receive your electronic waybill, affix it to the front of the envelope
- Alternatively, you may enclose an envelope as described above, with 5 regular PostNL “1” postage stamps. Please note this way the shipment is not trackable. Mailing is at your own risk.
If the recipient of the Report of Death is not in the Netherlands, the Consulate General will provide the postage instructions once the documents are ready for sending. The fee for mailing the Report of Death to the United States by DHL is approximately $45.
Notification and documents can be mailed to:
U.S. Consulate General
U.S. Citizen Services – CRODA
John Adams Park 1
2244 BZ WASSENAAR
The Netherlands
We recommend that the documents are mailed to us by registered mail, with a tracking code. The U.S. Consulate is not responsible for the loss of documents by PostNL.
Repatriation of remains to the United States
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.
For additional information please see:
