Death. Not really a nice subject, but certainly a subject that requires careful consideration and perhaps a moment of reflection. Especially when you live abroad or are planning to emigrate to Spain. If you do not think about this properly, do not arrange your funeral insurance properly or do not have anything recorded, you will saddle your survivors with very difficult choices or even sky-high costs that they may not be able to pay.
Spanish authorities
You must also report the death to the local authorities, the Spanish government and the Dutch embassy to report. It can of course be difficult for a tourist to report this to the local government, but do not forget that the staff of, for example, a hotel or campsite are always ready to help you with this.
Steps to register a death in Spain
As you have read, there are several procedures that you must undertake in Spain in the event of death. Some things are also arranged differently in Spain than here in the Netherlands. Below we will explain the previously mentioned steps one by one.
Registration of death
It death case must be reported to the Spanish authorities. Think of the town hall. When you have done this, you will receive 2 documents. Please note: these are very important! They are needed for the repatriation of the body. One of the documents is the death certificate and the second document is a laissez-passer for deceased persons.
Laissez-passer
As explained in step 1, you should get the laissez-passer from the Spanish authorities. Sometimes this is not possible and the Dutch embassy be enabled, because the original home country is of course the Netherlands.
If it is necessary to involve the embassy, you should have the following documents ready: extract from the death register, doctor's certificate and a statement of preparations for repatriation. You will also receive these documents from the Spanish authorities, but it is also possible that this is arranged via the undertaker.
Repatriation for holidaymakers
If the deceased has travel insurance, then everything is arranged via the insurance alarm center, as previously indicated. The Dutch embassy supports these alarm centers and offers help where necessary. All costs are also covered by the insurance.
If the deceased is not insured and the fellow travelers or family members still want to repatriate the deceased, the costs for this will be borne by the survivors and all administrative matters must also be arranged by them.
Do you live in Spain?
The information mentioned above is the procedure when you die during your holiday in Spain, but what should you do if you live in Spain? First of all, you should of course report this to the police as soon as possible. You can do this by calling the general telephone number 092 to call. In the event of an accident or crime, it is better to call 112. Also ask the police immediately to consult a doctor, because if they do not, you must do this yourself. A doctor must determine the death so that a death certificate can be issued.
A Spanish judge
In the case of the death of a foreigner in Spain, it is often the case that a judge must also establish the death. This must be done before the body is collected. In this way, any suspicious circumstances are examined and the death is officially registered. In this way, the judge can also draw up a death certificate.
Registering the death
You must also register the death in the Registro Civil (the population register) at the town hall within 24 hours. Finding a local town hall should not be a problem. This is where the death certificate is drawn up, the certificate of defunction and you will receive this immediately. This document contains the date, time and place of death. Anyone can do this for the deceased, but usually it is friends or family members.
Funeral director
After registration you will receive a permit to bury the deceased. You should then contact a funeral director as soon as possible (tanatorio/funeral arias) so that they can collect the body and preserve it.
Please note that you will need the necessary identification papers of the deceased. Think of his/her passport. If you do not have this, the deceased will not be taken. Make sure that this is arranged properly, because only then can the body be buried and you will avoid problems.
Funeral director
Once you have contacted the undertaker, the funeral arrangements can begin. In Spain, it is mandatory to bury or cremate the body within 24 to 48 hours, but in special cases this can be extended. Think of family members who have to fly over from the Netherlands for the funeral.
If all goes well, the deceased has already recorded his/her wishes and the undertaker can carry them out. If not, the next of kin can discuss their wishes with the undertaker.
Burial or cremation?
The question of whether you want to be buried or cremated is quite complicated. Not everyone knows what he/she wants. Unfortunately, death is a given and a choice must ultimately be made. When the surviving relatives have to make this choice, it is much more difficult, because what did the deceased actually want?
In Spain, the majority of the deceased are buried. This is due to the fact that a funeral in Spain is quite traditional and is often organized in combination with a religious service.
Cremations in Spain
Cremation in Spain is less popular. This is because it is still relatively unknown and that is why people do not want cremation. The unknown sounds scary to them of course. It does happen more and more often, but due to low demand there are also few crematoria.
Funeral insurance
Finally, you should of course also consult the current insurance policies of the deceased. Check carefully whether he/she also had a funeral insurance or a similar insurance in the Netherlands, because if this is the case, they can also help you during this period. They can also be of good service to you if you choose to organize a funeral in the Netherlands as well. Some of these insurances pay out a certain amount of money.
Check everything carefully, because this can be very useful when extra costs are incurred in Spain. These extra costs can then also be covered.
In Spain you also need to check and arrange a number of things for the deceased. Did he/she receive a pension? Then you need to contact his/her pension fund so that this can be adjusted. Finally, do you want to check whether the deceased had made a will? Then you can Registro Últimas Voluntades del Ministerio de Justicia consult.
Repatriation of the deceased
Does the deceased or perhaps the surviving relatives wish that the remains be repatriated to the Netherlands? This must also be reported to the doctor who draws up the death certificate. The deceased will then be transferred to the country of birth. Otherwise, the deceased cannot be buried in the Netherlands. The passport or laissez-passer must also remain with the body, because otherwise the non-repatriation by plane cannot take place.
Furthermore, a deceased person can also be cremated in Spain so that only the ashes need to be transferred to the Netherlands. However, a special certificate must then be requested.
If the deceased was insured for repatriation, not only will the costs be covered by the insurance, but all administrative work will also be carried out by them.
