How do you bring a loved one home from Antigua and Barbuda?

Timeline

How long does repatriation from Antigua and Barbuda take?

In most cases, repatriation from Antigua and Barbuda takes 14 to 20 days. The fastest straightforward cases complete in 10 days. Complex cases involving a post-mortem, criminal investigation, or a remote location can extend to 25 to 35 days or beyond.

What makes a case complex?

• Deaths on Barbuda require emergency medical evacuation to Antigua by air (15-minute flight); Barbuda has no full hospital since Hurricane Irma (2017) devastated the island; the health centre has very limited capacity
• No resident British post, Honorary Consul in St John's; BHC Bridgetown is formal contact
• Hurricane season June to November may delay inter-island transfers or cargo flights

Documentation

What documents are required to bring a body home from Antigua and Barbuda?

All of these documents must be in place before air transport can proceed. Your appointed repatriation coordinator will obtain most of them.

British Embassy

What does the British Embassy in Antigua and Barbuda do when someone dies?

For British nationals, the British Embassy provides consular assistance, which includes giving you a list of local funeral directors, helping you notify relatives, and advising on local procedures. What the Embassy cannot do is pay for repatriation, organise the funeral director, or make arrangements on your behalf. If your loved one was a citizen of another country, contact that country's embassy or consulate instead.

Getting started

How do you start the repatriation process from Antigua and Barbuda?

Call a specialist repatriation company. Do not wait until all other steps are complete. A specialist can begin the process immediately, even before the local death certificate has been issued.

You will need to provide: the name of the deceased, the location of the body, your contact details, and the name and contact of the local hospital or authority holding the body.