Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Dominica
This guide explains what happens after a death in Dominica, 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.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Dominica
Dominica is a Commonwealth nation with English common law, which makes it one of the more straightforward Caribbean repatriation processes for UK families. However, the island’s volcanic terrain and limited airport capacity mean that logistics require early specialist coordination.
Step 1: Contact the FCDO Immediately
Call 020 7008 5000 (24 hours). FCDO will register the death and connect you with the non-resident British High Commission in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Do not attempt to arrange anything locally without FCDO guidance. The BHC Bridgetown team handles all Dominica consular matters.
Step 2: Contact a UK Repatriation Specialist
Your travel insurer may have a nominated repatriation firm. If not, appoint a UK-regulated specialist before taking any other action. They will manage the local documentation process, embalming, export permit, and airline booking on your behalf.
Step 3: Get the Local Death Certificate
The Registrar General’s Office issues the official death certificate. Where death was not from natural causes, the Coroner’s Court must first issue a certificate of clearance. Your repatriation firm’s local contacts will coordinate this.
Step 4: Understand the Terrain
If your family member died away from Roseau or the main coastal settlements, their body will need to be transported by road through Dominica’s mountainous interior to Douglas-Charles Airport. Roads are narrow and steep in places. Build this into your expectations for the timeline.
Step 5: Arrange Repatriation to the UK
All repatriations route via Antigua (ANU) or Barbados (BGI) for connecting UK flights. Douglas-Charles Airport handles regional aircraft only.
What Documents Will You Need in the UK
- Certified translation of the death certificate (if any local documentation is not in English: unlikely in Dominica, but confirm)
- Consular death certificate from BHC Bridgetown
- Embalming certificate
- Freedom from infection certificate
Realistic Timeline
Most UK families can expect 7 to 21 days from death to arrival of remains in the UK in straightforward cases. Coroner involvement or deaths in remote interior areas will extend this.
For full country-specific detail, see the Dominica repatriation guide. For a general overview of the process, read what happens when someone dies abroad.
Source: FCDO guidance: When someone dies in Dominica. BHC Bridgetown consular services information. Dominica Registrar General’s Office procedural 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 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 Dominica 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 Dominica 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 Dominica 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 | Dominica 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 Dominica
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 Dominica to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in Dominica
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 Dominica
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 Dominica · Frequently asked questions