Death of an American Citizen Abroad

The Report of Death

The Embassy prepares a Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad for every civilian American who dies in Turkey.  This certificate is based on the Turkish death certificate and is valid for use in the United States.  In addition, a consular mortuary certificate is prepared if the remains are to be shipped to the United States. Unless the legal Next of Kin is in Turkey or another person is chosen as provisional custodian, the Embassy acts on behalf of the executor as the provisional custodian of the estate of any civilian American.

Because the Report of Death can only be issued after Turkish authorities complete their documentation of the death, we will need a day or two after the Turkish authorities complete their work before we can issue the Report of Death.  Signed and certified copies will be sent to the Next of Kin and the original will be sent to the Department of State for permanent filing.

Some U.S. insurance companies, other agencies, and courts in the U.S. request information on our legal authority to issue such reports. That authority is contained in 22 U.S. Code 4196; 22 Code of Federal Regulations 72.1.

Twenty copies of the Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad will be provided to the Next of Kin free of charge. If in the future you find you need additional copies, they can be obtained for a fee of $30 for the first certified copy and $20 for each additional certified copy. Please send a signed and notarized written request including all pertinent facts of the occasion of death along with a copy of the requester's valid photo identification to the office below.

U.S. Department of State
Passport Vital Records Office
1111 19th Street NW, Suite 510
Washington, DC 20522-1705

For more details on how to make a request, please click here.