Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Panama
This guide explains what happens after a death in Panama, 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
3 to 4 weeks
FCDO 24hr helpline
+44 (0)20 7008 5000
When Someone Dies in Panama
Panama has a resident British Embassy in Panama City, English is widely spoken in the capital, and Tocumen International Airport is one of Latin America’s best-connected hubs. For Central America, these are genuine advantages.
The complication comes with deaths outside Panama City. Bocas del Toro requires water taxi transfer to the mainland. The Chiriqui Highlands require road transfer to David. The Darien Gap has no road at all.
Step 1: Immediate Notifications
- British Embassy Panama City: first consular contact.
- FCDO Emergency Travel Line: 020 7008 5000 (available 24 hours).
- Your travel insurer (notify immediately).
- Appoint a specialist UK repatriation company.
Step 2: Natural Death vs Unnatural Death
Natural deaths are registered at the Registro Civil. A Panamanian death certificate is issued and the process can proceed relatively quickly.
Unnatural deaths (accidents, drownings, violent deaths) go to the Instituto de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses (IMELCF). This is Panama’s forensic institute. IMELCF conducts the post-mortem and issues the forensic report required before the export permit can be applied for. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for unnatural deaths through IMELCF.
The main forensic hospital is Complejo Hospitalario Dr Arnulfo Arias Madrid (CHDAAM) in Panama City.
Step 3: Bocas del Toro
Bocas del Toro archipelago on the Caribbean coast attracts backpackers and adventure travellers. The islands have no bridge to the mainland.
Transfer options:
- Water taxi from Bocas Town to Almirante (mainland), then road to Changuinola or David.
- Small aircraft between islands and mainland airstrips.
The Bocas del Toro Hospital in Bocas Town has limited capacity. For any serious forensic requirement, transfer to David or Panama City is needed. Add 2 to 4 days for this transfer.
Step 4: Chiriqui Highlands (Boquete)
Deaths around Boquete require road transfer to David, approximately 40 minutes away. Hospital Chiriqui in David handles regional cases. David to Panama City is roughly 6 hours by road or 1 hour by air on Aeroperlas or Air Panama.
Step 5: The Darien Province
Deaths in the Darien Gap require helicopter evacuation. These are rare cases but among the most complex Panama presents. Panamanian border security and immigration authorities are involved in addition to the standard forensic and repatriation process.
Step 6: Documentation
- Death certificate from the Registro Civil.
- Police report.
- IMELCF forensic release (unnatural deaths).
- Post-mortem report from CHDAAM.
- Ministry of Health export permit.
- Embalming certificate to IATA standards.
All documentation is in Spanish. Certified translation into English is required for UK death registration, probate, and insurance purposes.
Step 7: Cargo Routing
Tocumen International Airport (PTY) connects to Miami (American Airlines, United), Madrid (Iberia), and Bogota (Copa Airlines, which connects onward). Options are better than most of Central America. The repatriation company books the most appropriate route based on cargo capacity.
Further Information
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 Panama 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 Panama 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
- Spanish documentation requiring consular translation
- Deaths in the Bocas del Toro archipelago requiring island transfer
- Unnatural death requiring Instituto de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses (IMELCF) process
- Deaths in Chiriqui Highlands with limited road access
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Panama 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 | Panama 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 Panama
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 Panama to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in Panama
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 Panama
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 Panama · Frequently asked questions