Death of a U.S. Citizen in Nepal

When a loved one dies overseas, the experience can be difficult to manage for friends and family. The U.S. Embassy in Nepal works hard to ensure the next of kin understands the options and the procedures for handling a death case, and that everyone, including the deceased, is treated with the respect.

The following describes Nepalese law and customs on the disposition of remains.

A.   Maximum Period Before Interment

Burial is generally not permitted in Nepal, and it is not an option for deceased U.S. citizens.  There are no mortuary facilities in Nepal, and deceased foreigners must either be embalmed and shipped home or cremated here. The U.S. Embassy has two refrigerated mortuary drawers and as does the Kathmandu Teaching Hospital..

Because of the remoteness of many areas in Nepal, if an American citizen dies outside of Kathmandu, cremation will likely be the only available option, for the following reasons: long distances and poor roads from remote areas to Kathmandu increase the time a body has to decompose; there are no good storage facilities for bodies outside Kathmandu; long hours of daily power-outages during the dry season effectively cuts the ability of most available facilities to properly store the remains; many popular trekking areas cannot be reached in an adequate amount of time; and because of Nepalese religious and cultural beliefs, few people will actually handle a body, making transportation arrangements still more difficult.

B.   Embalming

There are no professional morticians in Nepal. The Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu provides embalming services with its Western-trained doctors. Embalming and preparation for shipment usually takes place in the mortuary facility at the Hospital, itself.

C.   Cremation

There are no crematoriums in Nepal, but funeral pyres are common; upon death, Hindus are cremated over a wood fire on the banks of a local river. Similar cremations are regularly arranged and attended by consular section employees for American citizens whose next of kin prefer cremation over shipment of remains. Religious services can be arranged in conjunction with the cremation. If the next of kin desires, the ashes of the deceased can be collected and shipped to them in an urn.

D.   Caskets and Containers

The Embassy stocks caskets, including one for a child. These are ordered from Bangkok. When the body of an American is to be shipped from Nepal, the casket is sealed in the presence of a consular officer with assistance from a local service provider. A Nepalese customs official must screen the casket at Tribhuvan International Airport and issue a Customs declaration.

E.    Exportation of Remains

Local requirements for the exportation of human remains are as follows:

   1. Embalmment of the remains.
   2. Doctor’s embalming certificate.
   3. Enclosure of the remains, as described in SectioncD above.
   4. Police Letter, if applicable.
   5. Customs Export Declaration.
   6. Consular officer’s affidavit regarding the shipment.
   7. Death certificate.

F.   Estimated Costs

All estimated costs are shown in their local dollar equivalent.

G.   Exhumation and shipment

Burials are not generally allowed in Nepal.

H.   Autopsies

Autopsies are generally required to be performed on the remains if the death did not occur by natural causes, but autopsies in Nepal are not up to Western standards. The Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu carries out provides autopsies, for which it charges US$950.00, in addition to the costs listed above. The hospital charges an additional fee of US$21.00 for each day the remains are stored in their facility.

I.   Remarks

Autopsy of remains is not mandatory in Nepal in natural death cases, unless the U.S. citizen’s death becomes a police issue, for instance if the death occurred due to an automobile accident or foul-play is suspected.  In cases in which the next of kin requests a waiver of the autopsy, police require a letter from the next of kin, along with a support letter from the U.S. Embassy.