Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Chad
This guide explains what happens after a death in Chad, 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.
Chad has been governed by the Transitional Military Council (CMT) since April 2021, following the death of President Idriss Déby in combat. His son Mahamat Idriss Déby leads the CMT. There is no resident British Embassy: consular coverage comes from the British Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon. FCDO advises against all travel to much of the country.
First step
Call the FCDO Emergency Travel Line: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours). British Embassy Yaoundé, Cameroon: +237 222 220 545.
Do not travel to Chad’s northern, eastern, or southern border regions. For N’Djamena cases, do not travel without FCDO guidance: all-but-essential advisory applies.
British Embassy Yaoundé: non-resident coverage
No British Embassy in Chad. All consular services come from the British Embassy in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The Embassy registers the death for UK purposes and advises on current processing conditions in N’Djamena.
Civil registration
Chad uses French civil law. The attending physician certifies cause of death in French. The état civil issues the acte de décès (death certificate) in French.
For non-natural deaths, the Police Nationale Tchadienne must attend. The Tribunal correctionnel issues judicial clearance. Under transitional military authority, these steps can be slower and less predictable than under a civilian government. Allow 10 to 20 days for the judicial stage in straightforward N’Djamena cases.
Ministry of Public Health export permit
Once civil registration and judicial clearance are complete, the Ministry of Public Health issues the export permit. A licensed funeral director embalms and prepares the body. All documents require certified English translation.
Document checklist
| Document | Language | Issuer |
|---|---|---|
| Death certificate (acte de décès) | French | État civil |
| Medical certificate | French | Attending physician |
| Tribunal correctionnel order | French | Examining magistrate |
| Police Nationale clearance | French | Police Nationale Tchadienne |
| Ministry of Public Health export permit | French | Ministry of Public Health |
| Certified translations | English | Certified translator |
Routing
Hassan Djamous N’Djamena International Airport (NDJ):
- Ethiopian Airlines to Addis Ababa (ADD): most reliable UK cargo route
- Air France direct N’Djamena-Paris CDG
- Royal Air Maroc to Casablanca (CMN)
Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa is the most consistent option for UK-bound cargo.
Conflict zones: not accessible
Northern Chad (Tibesti, Borkou): FCDO against all travel. Eastern Chad (Sudan border): armed conflict spillover, large displaced population. Lake Chad region: Boko Haram/ISWAP active. Southern border (CAR border): armed group activity. Cases in all these areas are not achievable by standard civilian means.
What to do first
FCDO: 020 7008 5000. British Embassy Yaoundé: +237 222 220 545.
Engage a specialist firm with Central African Francophone experience and current transitional-era N’Djamena contacts. All management is done remotely.
Sources: UK FCDO Chad travel advice (gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/chad, updated 2024); British Embassy Yaoundé.
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 Chad 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 Chad 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?
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Chad 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 | Chad 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 Chad
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 Chad to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in Chad
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 Chad
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 Chad · Frequently asked questions