Make an enquiry

Funeral repatriation guidance

Repatriation from Botswana

Timeline, process, and documentation for bringing a loved one home from Botswana.

Bringing someone home to a particular country? Find the guide for your route or send us the details. We arrange repatriation to any country.

Send an enquiry
14-21 days Typical timeline
8 days Best case

Need help now?

Send us the details

If your loved one has passed away in Botswana, send us the details any time and we will guide you through every step of bringing them home, wherever home is.

Send an enquiry

Expected timelines

How long does repatriation from Botswana take?

Timelines depend on circumstances. Here is an honest guide to what to expect.

Best case
8 days
Natural death, documentation issued without delay, no post-mortem required.
Typical case
14-21 days
Standard repatriation from Botswana. Most families experience this timeline.
Complex case
25-35 days
Post-mortem, inquest, criminal investigation, or logistically difficult location.

Factors that can extend the timeline

  • Department of Forensic Pathology at Princess Marina Hospital in Gaborone conducts post-mortems for unnatural deaths in the south; northern cases (Maun, Kasane) require transfer or local hospital post-mortem
  • No Strasbourg Convention; full export permit process required through the Ministry of Health
  • Remote bush camp deaths in the Okavango Delta or Chobe require helicopter or charter aircraft evacuation to Maun before documentation begins; Okavango Delta has no road access
  • Botswana is landlocked; all routing is via Johannesburg (South Africa) or Nairobi (Kenya)

Documentation

Documents required for repatriation from Botswana

All of these must be obtained before air transport can take place.

The process

Overview of the repatriation process from Botswana

We are here to help. Send us the details, any time

If your loved one has passed away in Botswana, please do not face this alone. Send us the details and we will explain what happens next and prepare a quote for bringing them home, wherever home is.

We respond within one hour, 24/7.

No obligation. Your details are kept strictly confidential.

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 · Embassy contacts: Botswana · Frequently asked questions

City guides

Repatriation from specific cities in Botswana

For guidance specific to where the death occurred, see our city-level pages.

Maun