1. Appearance of the legal next-of-kin (NOK). S/he should come to AIT to submit the request for the CRODA in person. Who is the next-of-kin? The order of priority is spouse, then child, then parent, then sibling.  This means that, if the deceased has a surviving spouse, s/he is the next-of-kin.  If not, then the next-of-kin is his/her child(ren).  You may not present yourself at AIT as the next-of-kin if there is someone else of higher priority than you.
   • The NOK will need to prove his/her relationship to the deceased by means of original or certified copies of documents like marriage certificates, birth certificates, or Taiwan household registration records. If you are submitting documents in Chinese, please also submit the Taiwan passports of both the deceased and the NOK.
   • If the legal NOK cannot be present, s/he can sign a Power of Attorney (POA) in English to authorize a proxy to submit the documents on their behalf. The proxy can be a person lower in the next-of-kin chain (e.g. an elderly spouse can grant a POA to a child) or a person completely outside the chain (e.g. the NOK, who lives in the U.S., can grant a POA to a family friend in Taiwan). The POA should be notarized, and a copy of the legal NOK’s passport should be attached.
   • If you are not at the highest priority for next-of-kin, you must provide death certificates or divorce certificate to show that the people who would have higher priority than you have predeceased or divorced (e.g. a daughter whose father has just died should bring her mother’s death certificate).
   • All children and all siblings are equal next-of-kin at their level of priority. Birth order and gender are not considered.
2. The original U.S. passport of the deceased and/or Certificate of Naturalization.
3. The original local death certificate in Chinese and English, or original Chinese and certified English translation.  In general, hospitals in Taiwan can issue a death certificate in English.
4. The completed application form, called death information sheet (PDF207KB). This form is also available in hard copy at AIT.
5. The original valid passport or other valid photo ID of the legal NOK.
6. Individuals whose names are to be listed on the CRODA should submit their valid passport and a proof of relationship to the deceased.

The processing time is 30 working days.

AIT can provide up to 10 signed original copies of the Consular Report of Death to the legal NOK.  Additional copies can be obtained subsequently by submitting signed, written request to the following address:

Department of State
Passport Vital Records Section
44132 Mercure Cir.
PO Box 1213
Sterling, VA 20166-1213

For more information on how to request a copy of Consular Report of Death Abroad, please visit the State Department’s Travel Website:  travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/abroad/events-and-records/death.html

If you are in Taipei area, please schedule an appointment online under “Passport Services” or walk in on every Thursday afternoon between 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm.

If you are in Kaohsiung area, please schedule an appointment online under “Request notarial and other services not listed above.”