Citizen Services
Death of a U.S. Citizen in Colombia
The death of a loved one can be especially traumatic if it occurs in a foreign country. Consular personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá and the U.S. Consular Agency in Barranquilla stand ready to assist family members when an American dies in Colombia. We can provide the following services as needed:
- Notification to family members
- Coordination of burial or cremation arrangements in Colombia
- Coordination of return of remains to the United States
- Delivery of funds from family members to a funeral home in Colombia
- Issuance of an Embassy report of death that can be used to settle the deceased person’s affairs in the United States
- Communication with Colombian authorities concerning the cause of death
Regrettably, the Embassy cannot offer funds to pay for burial, cremation, or the return of remains to the United States. When an American dies in Colombia and there are no funds available from family members or friends, the Colombian government ordinarily takes responsibility for disposition of the remains.
Please see Visiting and Contacting Us for instructions on notifying us of the death of a loved one in Colombia.