A Consular Report of Death of Abroad is issued by a U.S. Embassy or Consulate to reflect the facts of the death abroad of a U.S. citizen.  The document is based on the local death certificate. It is used by insurance companies and other entities in the U.S. to determine the distribution of death benefits.  Please follow the link below to the Department of State’s website for additional information on Reports of Death Abroad.

Obtaining a Consular Report of Death Abroad (CRODA):

1. Obtain a Report of Death from the Vietnamese Government (e.g. from the hospital or the People’s Committee/Police Office of the Ward where the American citizen died).

2. Submit to the American Citizen Services Unit (ACS) of the U.S. Embassy or the U.S. Consulate General in Vietnam the following items: (1) Vietnamese Report of Death; (2) U.S. passport of the deceased; and (3) evidence establishing the legal representative, (i.e. ID card of the legal representative, marriage license if the legal representative is the spouse of the deceased, birth certificate if the legal representative is the child of the deceased) to obtain a diplomatic note or an official letter. Information on how to make an appointment and required documentation for building access is available on our website here.

3. Deliver the diplomatic note/official letter to the appropriate Vietnamese authority.  If the disposition of the remains is completed, you do not need to obtain the diplomatic note/official letter from our offices.  You only need to follow steps 4 and 5 below to obtain the U.S. Consular Report of Death Abroad.

4. Obtain the Vietnamese Extract of Death Certificate from the People’s Committee of the District or Province and have it translated into English (2 copies).

5. Take the Vietnamese Extract of Death Certificate and the notarized English translation to the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi or the U.S. Consulate General to obtain the U.S. Consular Report of Death Abroad. You are not required to make an appointment for this service.  Please walk in Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (except holidays).  For building access, you need to bring appropriate identification, such as your passport or national identification card

* For Ho Chi Minh City: You can mail all the documents to our office by Registered Mail or Express Mail Services Delivery to the American Citizen Services Unit (ACS) of the U.S. Consulate General, 4 Le Duan, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, HCMC.