Cremation and ashes transport
Cremation in and bringing ashes home
Cremation facilities are not available in Guinea-Bissau. Remains must be repatriated for cremation in the UK. This page sets out what requires, and what to check before you decide.
Cremation in
What applies in
Cremation facilities are not available in Guinea-Bissau. Remains must be repatriated for cremation in the UK.
Religious context: Mix of Islam (c.45%), indigenous beliefs (c.31%), Christianity (c.22%). Islamic burial timeline pressure may apply. Allow for local traditional funerary customs.
Weighing cremation abroad against bringing your loved one home intact? How families decide between the two.
Who must release the body
Conservatória do Registo Civil (Civil Registry), Polícia Judiciária
Documentation language
Portuguese; Crioulo
Airline guidance
Carrying ashes on the flight home
Routing out of : Most repatriations route via Dakar (Senegal) or Lisbon (Portugal) using TAP Air Portugal or Air Senegal. Dakar is the primary regional hub.
Departure airports: Osvaldo Vieira International Airport (OXB), Bissau
What affects the cost from
We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case. For the things that move it are:
- Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
- Whether Conservatória do Registo Civil (Civil Registry), Polícia Judiciária has to release the case first
- Translation, since documentation is in Portuguese; Crioulo
- Routing home. Most repatriations route via Dakar (Senegal) or Lisbon (Portugal) using TAP Air Portugal or Air Senegal. Dakar is the primary regional hub.
- Whether you carry the ashes yourself or need them shipped
Contact us with the details and we will give you a figure for your case. Source: FCDO guidance and funeral industry data
Considering full repatriation instead?
Some families decide they want their loved one brought home intact. The full guide sets out that process.
Full repatriation guide forTalk to us about cremation in
We deal with Conservatória do Registo Civil (Civil Registry), Polícia Judiciária and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.
Thank you. We have received your enquiry and will be in touch as soon as possible, usually within a few hours.