Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Zambia
This guide explains what happens after a death in Zambia, 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
Zambia is a Commonwealth country with no direct UK flights. The process broadly follows the East/Southern African model: police investigation, DPP authorisation, hospital post-mortem, and Ministry of Health export permit. Victoria Falls deaths on the Zambian side add a national park authority step.
Step 1: Notify the British High Commission Lusaka
Address: 5210 Independence Avenue, Lusaka. Phone: +260 211 423 200. FCDO 24-hour emergency: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
Step 2: Registrar General’s Office: death registration
Deaths are registered at the Registrar General’s Office under the Births and Deaths Registration Act. Hospital deaths in Lusaka process quickly through the hospital registration system. Deaths in provincial areas or at tourist sites require the certificate to route through regional offices, adding time.
Step 3: Zambia Police Service investigation (unnatural deaths)
For unnatural deaths, the Zambia Police Service Criminal Investigations Department investigates. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) must authorise the post-mortem order and the release of the body. Post-mortems are conducted at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka. No embalming or transfer can proceed until DPP authorisation is received.
Step 4: Victoria Falls deaths (Zambian side)
Deaths at Victoria Falls or in the Victoria Falls National Park on the Zambian side require Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZWA) certification of what occurred before the Zambia Police can formally begin their investigation. Common activity deaths include white-water rafting accidents on the Zambezi rapids, bungee jumping injuries, and micro-light flight accidents. Confirm which side of the border applies: Zimbabwean side deaths follow Zimbabwean procedures entirely.
Step 5: Ministry of Health export permit
The Ministry of Health issues the export permit. Required documents: Registrar General’s death certificate, DPP release authorisation, UTH post-mortem report (if conducted), embalming certificate, freedom from contagious disease clearance. Allow five to eight working days for the permit.
Step 6: Routing via Johannesburg or Nairobi
Zambia has no direct UK flights. From Lusaka Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), the main cargo routing options are via Johannesburg O.R. Tambo (British Airways, South African Airways) or Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta (Kenya Airways). Your specialist’s local agent will advise on current schedules. Source: FCDO guidance on death in Zambia; Births and Deaths Registration Act (Zambia); British High Commission Lusaka 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 Zambia 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 Zambia 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
- Zambia Police Service investigation required for unnatural deaths
- Director of Public Prosecutions authorises post-mortem and release
- No direct UK flights; routing via Johannesburg or Nairobi adds transit time
- Deaths at Victoria Falls (Livingstone side) require involvement of Zambia Wildlife Authority
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Zambia 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 | Zambia 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 Zambia
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 Zambia to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in Zambia
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 Zambia
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 Zambia · Frequently asked questions