Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Bolivia
This guide explains what happens after a death in Bolivia, who to contact, and how to arrange for your loved one to be brought home, to the UK, Ireland or any other country. Facts for British nationals come from FCDO and government sources. Every situation is different, and if you would like us to take over the arrangements, send us the details.
Typical timeline
14-21 days
FCDO 24hr helpline
+44 (0)20 7008 5000
Bolivia’s geography defines everything about repatriation from the country. It is landlocked and sits at extreme altitude. These two facts shape every logistical decision your specialist will make.
Step 1: Notify the British Embassy La Paz
The British Embassy must be notified on the day of death. Address: Avenida Arce 2732-2754, La Paz. Phone: +591 2 243 3424. FCDO 24-hour emergency: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
Step 2: SERECI death registration
Deaths are registered at SERECI (Servicio de Registro Civil) in the municipality where the death occurred. The Acta de Defuncion is the official document. For hospital deaths in La Paz or Santa Cruz, registration proceeds through the hospital. For deaths in tourist areas such as the Uyuni Salt Flat or Tiwanaku, registration follows transfer to the nearest town with a SERECI office.
Step 3: Fiscalia and FELCC investigation (unnatural deaths)
For all unnatural, violent, or suspicious deaths, the Fiscalia General del Estado (Prosecutor’s Office) and the FELCC (Fuerza Especial de Lucha Contra el Crimen) take jurisdiction. This includes deaths from altitude sickness (soroche). Bolivian law treats soroche deaths as unnatural because the cause of death requires medical and legal confirmation.
The Fiscalia orders a post-mortem at the Instituto de Investigaciones Forenses (IDIF). There are IDIF facilities in La Paz and Santa Cruz. The body cannot be released until the Fiscalia issues its release order.
Step 4: Altitude considerations for La Paz operations
La Paz sits at 3,600 metres and its airport (El Alto) at 4,061 metres. At this altitude, embalming chemicals behave differently, cold storage performance varies, and aircraft cargo capacity is reduced due to lower air density. Your specialist’s local agents will use mortuaries experienced with these altitude-specific constraints. Most international cargo routes via Santa Cruz Viru Viru (VVI), which is at 416 metres and has better cargo infrastructure.
Step 5: Ministry of Health export permit
The Ministerio de Salud y Deportes issues the export permit. Required documents: Acta de Defuncion, Fiscalia release order, IDIF post-mortem report, embalming certificate, freedom from contagious disease clearance. Allow five to seven days for the permit.
Step 6: Routing to the UK
Bolivia is landlocked. No international flights operate directly to the UK. From Santa Cruz (VVI), LATAM connects to Lima (LIM) or São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), both of which have direct or well-connected cargo services to Heathrow. Copa Airlines via Panama City is an alternative from Santa Cruz. Allow one to two transit days for multi-leg cargo routing. Source: FCDO guidance on death in Bolivia; Bolivian Code of Criminal Procedure (NCPP); SERECI registration; British Embassy La Paz guidance (2023).
First things first
What to do in the first 24 hours
The immediate period after a death abroad is disorienting. Here are the steps in the order they normally need to happen.
Contact local emergency services
Contact the embassy or consulate
Tell the embassy or consulate of your loved one's own country as soon as possible. It can register the death, give you a list of local funeral directors and explain what the local authorities will need.
British nationals, FCDO 24hr: +44 (0)20 7008 5000
Appoint a local funeral director
A local funeral director in Bolivia will take care of the body, arrange embalming, obtain the necessary documents, and coordinate with airlines. The embassy can recommend accredited directors. You can also contact a specialist UK repatriation company, who will coordinate with a local partner on your behalf.
Contact your travel insurer
If your loved one had travel insurance with repatriation cover, contact the insurer immediately. They will often have an emergency assistance line and may appoint their own funeral director. Many policies cover the full cost of repatriation, subject to the limit set out in the policy schedule.
Gather the required documents
Repatriation from Bolivia requires specific paperwork before a body can be transported. Your local funeral director will handle most of this.
What to expect
How long does it take?
Factors that can extend the timeline
- Fiscalia investigation required for all unnatural deaths before body release
- Altitude sickness deaths at La Paz (3,600m), Lake Titicaca, or Uyuni require FELCC investigation
- Instituto de Investigaciones Forenses (IDIF) handles post-mortems in La Paz or Santa Cruz
- No direct UK flights; routing via Sao Paulo (LATAM) or Lima (LATAM/Copa) required
- Documentation in Spanish throughout
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Bolivia alone. Our cost page sets out the ranges repatriation firms publish, each named and dated. What you pay turns on the specifics of the case.
| Where the death happened | Distance to the departure airport, and any island or overland transfer, changes the freight arrangement |
| Whether a post-mortem is ordered | An investigation holds the release and adds mortuary time |
| Documentation required | Bolivia paperwork, translation, and any legalisation step |
| Coffin and preparation | Airline and destination rules dictate what is needed |
| Flight availability | Direct services cost less to arrange than multi-leg cargo routing |
| Insurance | Whether a policy covers repatriation, and up to what limit |
Send us the details and we will give you a figure for your case, with no obligation.
Full repatriation guide for Bolivia
Detailed information on the full repatriation process, embassy contacts, what affects the cost, cultural considerations, and more.
View full guideSend us the details
If you need someone to take over the arrangements, tell us what has happened. We arrange repatriation from Bolivia to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in Bolivia
Send us the details and we will explain what happens next and prepare a quote for bringing your loved one home, to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) guidance, official embassy contacts, and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Official lists for Bolivia
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.
- Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Repatriation from Bolivia · Frequently asked questions