Consular Report of Death Abroad India — How to Get the eCRODA (Form DS-2060)

What the CRODA Is and Why You Need It

The Consular Report of Death Abroad (Form DS-2060) is the primary federal document the US Department of State issues when an American citizen dies outside the country. For US banks, insurance companies, probate courts, and government agencies, it functions as the legal equivalent of a domestic death certificate.

Most US institutions accept the eCRODA as sufficient proof of death. Some probate courts also require the original Indian municipal death certificate with MEA apostille, but the CRODA is the document that unlocks the estate settlement process on the US side.

How to Apply

The next of kin or authorized representative completes the "Request for Consular Report of Death Abroad" fillable PDF and emails it to the ACS unit of the consular district where the death occurred. The application requires:

1. Original municipal death certificate with the cause of death clearly listed
2. Doctor's medical report detailing the clinical cause of death
3. Original US passport of the deceased (the consular officer must physically cancel it before the eCRODA can be released)
4. Scanned copy of the next of kin's ID — valid passport bio page or government-issued photo ID
5. Cremation or burial certificates and receipts from the local provider
6. Social Security Number of the deceased

The passport cancellation requirement is the step that most often causes delays. The original passport must be in the consular officer's hands — a photocopy or scanned image won't do. If the passport is with police as part of an investigation, or if it's been lost, the process requires additional verification steps.

Processing Time

The electronic eCRODA is issued within 5 to 10 business days from the consular district that handled the death. The digital document carries an encrypted electronic signature of the consular officer, a time/date stamp, and the digital seal of the US Mission in India.

Processing speed depends primarily on how quickly the family submits all required documents, especially the original passport. If the death is under police investigation, the passport may not be released until the investigation concludes.

What the CRODA Unlocks

With the eCRODA in hand, the executor or surviving spouse can:

• Open probate proceedings in the US
• File life insurance and accidental death claims
• Notify Social Security and apply for survivor benefits
• Freeze or access the deceased's US bank accounts
• File final federal and state tax returns

Without it, most US financial institutions will not act on a foreign death certificate alone — even with an MEA apostille.

The American Dies in India Family Emergency Guide includes the full application workflow, the email addresses for each consular district, and the exact document preparation checklist to avoid delays in CRODA processing.