Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Venezuela
This guide explains what happens after a death in Venezuela, 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
5 to 8 weeks
FCDO 24hr helpline
+44 (0)20 7008 5000
When a British national dies in Venezuela, contact the British Embassy in Caracas and the FCDO Emergency Travel Line: 020 7008 5000. Venezuela’s economic and infrastructure crisis means this is a more complex case than most South American countries.
Step one: Notify the Embassy and FCDO
British Embassy Caracas: +58 212 319 5800 FCDO Emergency Travel Line: 020 7008 5000 (available 24 hours)
The British Embassy in Caracas operates with reduced staffing. Response times may be longer than at British posts in more stable environments.
Step two: Appoint a specialist
Venezuela requires a company with Latin America experience and specific knowledge of the Venezuelan administrative landscape. The CICPC forensic process, SAREN civil registry, and MPPS export permit system each involve separate institutions, and the chronic supply and capacity shortages mean delays are routine.
Step three: Understand the administrative chain
Venezuela has a multi-institution process for repatriation:
- CICPC (Cuerpo de Investigaciones Cientificas, Penales y Criminalisticas): investigates unnatural deaths and issues forensic documentation
- Registro Civil: death registration for natural deaths
- SAREN (Servicio Autonomo de Registro Nacional): civil registry documentation and certified copies
- MPPS (Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud), Ministry of Health, issues the export permit
Each of these institutions is operating under the pressures of Venezuela’s economic crisis. Delays at any stage are common.
The economic crisis context
Venezuela’s collapse since 2015 has created chronic shortages throughout the system. Hospitals face shortages of medicines and equipment. Administrative offices may lack basic supplies, power, or staffing. Embalming facilities can face shortages of chemicals and materials: confirm availability with your local funeral home before proceeding.
The practical currency in Venezuela is the US dollar. Payment for local services is typically in cash US dollars. UK families should confirm payment arrangements with their repatriation company.
Deaths outside Caracas
Maracaibo (Venezuela’s second city and oil industry hub): deaths require transfer to Caracas or use of Maiquetia airport facilities.
Remote oil field areas (Orinoco Belt): significant transfer distances; timing is unpredictable.
Canaima National Park (Angel Falls, tepuis): charter aircraft evacuation required. Extended timelines.
Border regions (Colombia, Brazil, Guyana): FCDO advises against all travel to these areas. Deaths here involve heightened complexity.
Air routing
Simon Bolivar International Airport (CCS) at Maiquetia. Most major carriers have suspended Venezuelan routes. Cargo connects via Bogota (Avianca/LATAM), Panama City (Copa Airlines), or Miami. No direct UK flights.
Timeline and cost
- Natural death in Caracas: 3 to 5 weeks
- Unnatural death or outside Caracas: 5 to 8 weeks
- Remote area or border region: 3 to 5 months
Further resources
- FCDO Venezuela travel advice (gov.uk)
- Repatriation from Venezuela to the UK: full country guide
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 Venezuela 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 Venezuela 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 certified translation
- Severely degraded healthcare and administrative infrastructure nationwide due to economic crisis
- Very limited international flight connections since major airlines withdrew Venezuelan routes
- Deaths in remote oil field areas (Maracaibo Basin, Orinoco Belt) requiring transfer to Caracas
- Political instability affecting government processes and British Embassy operations
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Venezuela 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 | Venezuela 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 Venezuela
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 Venezuela to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
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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 .
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Repatriation from Venezuela · Frequently asked questions