Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Ecuador
This guide explains what happens after a death in Ecuador, 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
Ecuador is a country of geographic extremes. Deaths occur in the Andean highlands around Quito, on the Pacific coast near Guayaquil, in the Amazon basin, and on the Galapagos Islands 1,000 kilometres offshore. Location is the first variable that determines complexity.
Step 1: Notify the British Embassy Quito
The British Embassy must be notified on the day of death. Address: Naciones Unidas Avenida y Republica del Salvador, Edificio Citiplaza, Piso 14, Quito. Phone: +593 2 397 2200. FCDO 24-hour emergency: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
For deaths in Guayaquil, the Embassy in Quito still handles UK consular matters. There is no separate consulate in Guayaquil.
Step 2: Registro Civil death registration
Deaths are registered at the Registro Civil in the canton where the death occurred. The Acta de Defuncion is the official death certificate. Hospital deaths in Quito or Guayaquil are typically registered within 24 hours. For deaths in remote areas, registration follows once the body reaches a city with a Registro Civil office.
Step 3: Galapagos evacuation (if applicable)
For deaths on the Galapagos Islands, this is the first priority. Local police on San Cristobal, Santa Cruz, or Isabela island notify the Fiscalia on the mainland. The body must be evacuated to Guayaquil by commercial or charter flight before any mainland official process can begin. TAME and Avianca operate inter-island and mainland routes. Allow two to four days for evacuation.
Step 4: Fiscalia investigation and INML post-mortem
For all unnatural deaths, the Fiscalia General del Estado (Prosecutor’s Office) takes jurisdiction. A post-mortem is ordered at the Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal (INML) in Quito or Guayaquil. The body cannot be released for repatriation until the Fiscalia issues its release order.
In clear accident cases, the Fiscalia can process within 10 to 14 days. In cases with criminal elements, timelines extend significantly.
Step 5: Ministry of Health export permit
The Ministerio de Salud Publica issues the export permit. Required documents: Acta de Defuncion, Fiscalia release order, INML post-mortem report, embalming certificate, freedom from contagious disease certificate. Allow three to seven days for the permit once all documents are complete.
Step 6: Embalming
Embalming is required. Licensed mortuaries in Quito and Guayaquil carry out the procedure. Embalming cannot proceed until the Fiscalia has released the body.
Step 7: Routing to the UK
Ecuador has two main cargo airports: Quito UIO (highlands and northern Ecuador) and Guayaquil GYE (coast, Amazon approach, and Galapagos cases). American Airlines via Miami to Heathrow is the standard cargo route. Avianca via Bogota is an alternative. Allow one to two additional days for multi-leg cargo. Source: FCDO guidance on death in Ecuador; Ecuadorian Code of Criminal Procedure (COIP); Ministry of Health export regulations; British Embassy Quito 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 Ecuador 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 Ecuador 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 (Prosecutor's Office) investigation required for all unnatural deaths before body release
- Galapagos Islands deaths require air or sea evacuation to Guayaquil mainland before official processes begin
- Ministry of Health export permit; IESS (Social Security) involvement for some registered workers
- No direct UK flights; routing via Miami or Bogota required
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Ecuador 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 | Ecuador 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 Ecuador
Detailed information on the full repatriation process, embassy contacts, what affects the cost, cultural considerations, and more.
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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 Ecuador
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.
- Translators and interpreters, for certified translation of the death certificate and permits
- Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Repatriation from Ecuador · Frequently asked questions