Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Brazil
This guide explains what happens after a death in Brazil, 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
14-28 days
FCDO 24hr helpline
+44 (0)20 7008 5000
The IML and the Certidão de Óbito
For any death outside a hospital, or where cause of death is not immediately certified by a treating physician, Brazil’s Instituto Médico Legal (IML) becomes involved. The IML is the state forensic medical service. IML examination is mandatory for deaths by violence, accident, or unexplained circumstances. In cities where the IML operates under high caseload (Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo in particular) the process can take from several days to three weeks.
The certidão de óbito (death certificate) cannot be finalised until the IML process is complete. All documentation is in Portuguese. Certified English translation is required for UK use.
Apostille: The Hague Convention Step
Brazil is a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention. This means documents intended for international use (including the death certificate) require apostillisation before they carry legal weight abroad. The apostille is issued by the Brazilian authority responsible for the document type and must be obtained before the death certificate is considered valid for UK purposes. This is an additional processing step that adds at least two to five days in normal conditions.
ANVISA (Brazil’s national health surveillance agency) must also issue clearance for the international transport of human remains. This is a separate step handled through ANVISA’s regional offices.
Carnival and Holiday Closures
Carnival in Brazil typically runs for four to six days in February or early March. During Carnival, government offices effectively close. The IML operates on reduced capacity for emergency functions only. The cartório (registry office), the apostille authority, and ANVISA all slow dramatically. A death that falls during Carnival week can face a delay of a full week beyond the normal timeline through no fault of anyone in the process.
Brazil has other significant national holidays throughout the year, including Tiradentes (April), Corpus Christi (June), and various regional observances. Check the calendar when estimating timelines.
Geography and Connections
Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world. Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo are the primary international cargo hubs, with connections to the UK via Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, and Frankfurt. A death in a major city is challenging but manageable within the system. A death in a smaller state capital (Manaus, Belém, Recife) involves additional internal transport to an international hub, adding time and cost. There are no direct cargo flights from Brazil to the UK.
Sources: FCDO Brazil guidance (updated November 2025); IML procedures by state; ANVISA RDC regulations on international transport of human remains; British Embassy Brasília guidance.
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 local emergency services (SAMU 192 or police 190). If death occurs in hospital, staff will initiate procedures. Contact British Embassy or Consulate.
Local emergency number: 190 (police), 192 (ambulance), 193 (fire)
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.
For British nationals, that is the British Embassy in Brasilia.
British nationals, FCDO 24hr: +44 (0)20 7008 5000
Appoint a local funeral director
A local funeral director in Brazil 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 Brazil requires specific paperwork before a body can be transported. Your local funeral director will handle most of this.
- Certidao de Obito (death certificate)
- Embalming certificate
- Freedom from infection certificate
- Consular mortuary certificate
- Passport of deceased
- Apostille on death certificate (Hague Convention)
- ANVISA health authorisation
Documentation typically takes 7-14 days total to complete.
Official support
British Embassy in Brasilia
The embassy can provide information and a list of local funeral directors, but they cannot arrange or pay for repatriation. Contact them early to register the death with consular services.
What the embassy can do
What the embassy cannot do
What to expect
How long does it take?
Factors that can extend the timeline
- IML post-mortem delays
- Criminal investigation
- Carnival/holiday period closures
- Remote locations
- Apostille processing
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Brazil 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 | Brazil 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 Brazil
Detailed information on the full repatriation process, embassy contacts, what affects the cost, cultural considerations, and more.
View full guideCremation in Brazil
If local cremation is the right choice for your family, our country guide covers the documentation, airline rules, and costs.
Cremation guideSend us the details
If you need someone to take over the arrangements, tell us what has happened. We arrange repatriation from Brazil to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in Brazil
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 Brazil
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 Brazil · Frequently asked questions