When Your Child Has Died Abroad

One of a series of leaflets published by The Compassionate Friends 6 Questions to Ask Yourself When Preparing to Travel to Where Your Child Died It can truly be overwhelming to have so much to think about when your mind is disturbed by the turmoil of grief. These questions might help prioritise your thoughts: Is there someone who can travel with me? It might make this terrible journey a little more bearable if you are able to arrange for a close family member or friend to accompany you, particularly if you have no partner, or if your partner needs to remain at home for any reason, such as taking care of other children. Where exactly should I be going? If your child died on an island or remote area, it is possible that their body may have already been transported onwards to the mainland or to a more central location. The local police may be able to provide this information. Do I need a visa? You can check the current entry requirements for the country you will be going to here: Foreign travel advice - gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice There may or may not be a possibility of getting a fast-track visa. It may be helpful to contact the consulate or embassy directly to ask about this. Do I need to work out how I will be communicating? Communication with home will be vital, with people at home desperate for news. You may also need to speak to a funeral director, your workplace, and so on. If you are travelling to Europe, this should not be too difficult, but going further afield can be more of an issue and end up very expensive. If you can, it would be helpful to try to sort things out before you leave. A friend might be able to help you. You might want to: