What to do following a bereavement in Cyprus

Next steps

During this challenging time, certain administrative tasks must be completed, and we are here to assist you through each step:

• Provide identification documentation such as the national identity document or passport of the deceased to the relevant authorities, whether they are the police, doctor, or the funeral director’s agent.
• The next of kin will need to provide specific details about the deceased, including parental names (if the deceased is registered in Cyprus and holds a Cypriot Identity card) and place of birth. Signing essential authorisations for the funeral process is also necessary. A copy of the declarant’s ID will be required for these proceedings.
• The funeral director will manage the registration in the Civil Registry and will subsequently acquire the National death certificates (5) on your behalf. These will be provided with a translation into English.
• Please be aware that due to data protection laws, the cause of passing will not be disclosed in the death certificates.
• Notifying the UK authorities. You do not have to register the death of a British national that occurs overseas with the UK authorities. You may, however, apply for a consular death registration. This is not mandatory and cannot be used instead of a death certificate from the country where the person died. If you wish to do this, you can find more information on registering a death and apply online. If the person dies in Cyprus and you need to notify UK organisations yourself, you can do that here: “What to do after someone dies“.

Different funeral customs

Funeral practices vary between different countries, and here are some notable differences in funeral customs between the UK and Cyprus:

• There is no cremation option in Cyprus.
• In Cyprus, funeral services are typically held at the graveside.
• The choice of graveyard may be restricted due to local council permissions.
• Graves are dug by cemetery employees, with limited control by the funeral director.
• Cemetery staff may be present near the grave during the service, which is a departure from the UK practice.
• Avalon’s exclusive partner in Cyprus is Archangel, who cover both the North and South of the island and arrange for the funeral director to visit the family, providing support and guidance throughout the process.

At Avalon, we extend our deepest condolences and are committed to assisting you in these difficult procedures. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or require further guidance.