Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Eritrea
This guide explains what happens after a death in Eritrea, 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.
Eritrea is one of the world’s most closed states. The government controls all administrative, civil, and legal processes. There is no independent judiciary and no free press. International access to government processes is severely restricted. The British Embassy in Asmara maintains a resident presence but has genuinely limited capacity to influence domestic Eritrean decisions.
Families managing a death in Eritrea should understand two things from the start: the timeline is controlled by Eritrean authorities, not by the Embassy or a specialist firm. And communication about the status of a case will be limited and irregular.
First step
Call the FCDO Emergency Travel Line: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours). Then contact the British Embassy Asmara: +291 1 120004.
Do not travel to Eritrea unless absolutely necessary. FCDO advises against all but essential travel.
Who is affected by this route
The vast majority of repatriation cases from Eritrea involve UK nationals of Eritrean heritage: members of the substantial Eritrean diaspora community in the UK (concentrated in London) who have travelled to visit family. This is the primary use case and the Embassy has experience with it.
Cases involving non-diaspora UK nationals in Eritrea are rare. The country has very limited tourism and a restricted NGO presence.
The administrative process
- Physician certifies cause of death
- Regional Administration registers the death and issues the certificate: in Tigrinya script
- Ministry of Health reviews and begins export permit process
- National Security clearance (may be required: see below)
- Ministry of Health issues export permit
- Funeral director preparation
- Cargo via Asmara International Airport (ASM)
There is no mechanism to accelerate any of these stages through commercial channels. Communication about case status from Eritrean authorities is irregular.
National Security clearance
Eritrea’s national security apparatus may require a separate clearance before release of remains. This is not always predictable. Factors that may trigger this requirement:
- Dual nationality (Eritrean and British)
- The deceased had previously departed Eritrea without government authorisation (many diaspora members did)
- Death in a location near military or government facilities
- Any association with political activity or opposition
Families should be fully transparent with the FCDO and their specialist firm about the deceased’s background. This allows an accurate risk assessment upfront rather than encountering this requirement mid-process.
National Security clearance, when required, adds unpredictable time: from weeks to months.
Asmara airport and routing
Asmara International Airport (ASM) has very limited scheduled international service. Current routes include Cairo (EgyptAir) and Jeddah (Eritrean Airlines). Ethiopian Airlines service has been inconsistent since the 2018-2022 conflict period.
Cargo routing: Asmara → Cairo or Dubai → London. Limited departure frequency means cargo holding at ASM may add days between documentation clearance and actual departure.
What to tell families
The timeline for repatriation from Eritrea is not within anyone’s control except the Eritrean government. The realistic range is 28 to 90 days. Cases requiring National Security clearance may run longer.
Families should not make UK funeral arrangements until the export permit is confirmed. The temptation to book provisional arrangements is understandable but creates pressure that cannot be met.
Document checklist
| Document | Language | Issuer |
|---|---|---|
| Death certificate | Tigrinya | Regional Administration |
| Medical certificate | Tigrinya | Ministry of Health physician |
| Ministry of Health export permit | Tigrinya | Ministry of Health |
| Regional Administration clearance | Tigrinya | Regional Administration |
| National Security clearance | Tigrinya | National Security (if required) |
| Certified translations | English | Certified translator |
What to do first
FCDO: 020 7008 5000. British Embassy Asmara: +291 1 120004.
Engage a specialist firm with confirmed East African and diaspora repatriation experience. The firm’s primary value in Eritrea cases is accurate documentation management and maintaining communication channels with the Embassy over an extended timeline.
Sources: UK FCDO Eritrea travel advice (gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/eritrea, updated 2024); British Embassy Asmara; UK Home Office Country Policy and Information, Eritrea.
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 Eritrea 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 Eritrea 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 Eritrea 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 | Eritrea 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 Eritrea
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 Eritrea to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in Eritrea
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 Eritrea
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.
- Funeral directors, for arranging local care and preparation
- Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Repatriation from Eritrea · Frequently asked questions