Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Ethiopia
This guide explains what happens after a death in Ethiopia, 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
21-35 days
FCDO 24hr helpline
+44 (0)20 7008 5000
A death in Ethiopia is one of the most logistically demanding repatriations a UK family will encounter. The combination of remote death locations, Amharic documentation, limited regional infrastructure, and a multi-authority process means specialist experience with East Africa is essential from the first contact.
Step 1: Notify the British Embassy Addis Ababa
The British Embassy in Addis Ababa must be notified on the day of death. Address: Comoros Street, PO Box 858, Addis Ababa. Phone: +251 11 617 0100. FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
The Embassy also covers Djibouti; specify Ethiopia clearly when calling. Consular staff register the death with UK authorities and advise on current Ethiopian government requirements.
Step 2: The regional transfer problem
This is the first and most urgent practical issue for deaths outside Addis Ababa.
Deaths in Lalibela require a domestic Ethiopian Airlines flight from Lalibela Airport (LLI) to Addis Ababa. Deaths in the Simien Mountains require road or light aircraft evacuation to Gondar (GDQ), then onward to Addis Ababa. Deaths in the Omo Valley require road transport to Jinka or Arba Minch, then domestic flights to Addis Ababa. Deaths in the Danakil Depression require evacuation: this is one of the most physically hostile environments on earth and evacuation logistics are complex.
Your specialist coordinates this transfer with local agents. The body cannot leave its location until the Federal Police have cleared the scene.
Step 3: Federal Police investigation
For violent, sudden, or unexplained deaths anywhere in Ethiopia, the Federal Police take jurisdiction. The body cannot be moved until the Federal Police have formally cleared it. In Addis Ababa, this process can be completed within 7 to 10 days for clear cases. In the regions, allow longer for the Federal Police to reach the location and complete their investigation.
Step 4: Death registration
Deaths are registered with the Addis Ababa City Administration civil registry or the relevant regional authority. Documentation is in Amharic (Ge’ez script). Certified translation into English is a specialist task: general East African language services typically do not cover Amharic. Your repatriation specialist sources this alongside the documentation process.
Step 5: Post-mortem and Ministry of Health export permit
For post-mortems ordered by the Federal Police, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa is the primary facility. The body must be in Addis Ababa before the post-mortem can be conducted.
Once the post-mortem report is complete and the Federal Police have issued a release, the Ministry of Health issues the export permit. Required documents: death certificate, Federal Police release, post-mortem report, embalming certificate, freedom from contagious disease clearance. Allow 5 to 10 days for the permit.
Step 6: Embalming
Embalming is required for international repatriation. Licensed mortuaries in Addis Ababa carry out the procedure. Do not proceed with embalming until the Federal Police have released the body.
Step 7: Routing to the UK
Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) is Ethiopian Airlines’ main hub and one of the busiest in Africa. The airline operates services to London Heathrow. Cargo booking proceeds once all export documentation is in place. Source: FCDO guidance on death in Ethiopia; Federal Police procedures; Ministry of Health export regulations; British Embassy Addis Ababa consular 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 Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia 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
- Federal Police investigation for unnatural deaths; capacity outside Addis Ababa is very limited
- Deaths in the regions (Lalibela, Simien Mountains, Omo Valley) require physical transfer to Addis Ababa
- Amharic documentation requires certified translation
- Ethiopian Airlines is a major hub airline but cargo documentation requirements are specific
- Ministry of Health and Federal Police both involved in export clearance
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Ethiopia 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 | Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia
Detailed information on the full repatriation process, embassy contacts, what affects the cost, cultural considerations, and more.
View full guideSend us the details
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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 Ethiopia
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
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Repatriation from Ethiopia · Frequently asked questions