Repatriation from Fortaleza, Brazil

Fortaleza is the capital of Ceará state (CE) and the fourth largest city in Brazil, on the north-east Atlantic coast. It is the main hub for British visitors to north-east Brazil, most of whom arrive on direct charter flights (TUI, Jet2, and seasonal operators fly direct from Manchester, Birmingham, and Gatwick) for beach holidays in Ceará. The primary destinations are the city beaches (Meireles, Iracema), Canoa Quebrada (230km east), Morro Branco and Jericoacoara (300km west of Fortaleza — Brazil’s most famous dune and kitesurfing destination).

Deaths in Jericoacoara and the Ceará beach resorts require emergency services and forensic pathology from Fortaleza, as no permanent forensic capacity exists in the resort areas. This means the body must be transferred to Fortaleza for any investigation or documentation that cannot be completed locally — adding time and complexity.

Consular coverage

The British Consulate Recife (Rua da Aurora No.1048, Boa Vista, Recife, Pernambuco 50050-200) covers north-east Brazil including Ceará and Fortaleza. The British Embassy Brasília handles national-level matters.

British Consulate Recife: +55 81 3423 3388. FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

What Brazilian and Ceará law requires

Lei No. 6.015/1973 (Registros Públicos) and Código Civil Brasileiro: Deaths must be registered at a Cartório de Registro Civil in the municipality where the death occurred. The Certidão de Óbito (death certificate) is issued by the Cartório.

Secretaria de Segurança Pública e Defesa Social do Ceará (SSPDS-CE) and Delegacia de Homicídios e Proteção à Pessoa (DHPP): Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths are investigated by the Civil Police (Polícia Civil) of Ceará and the relevant Delegacia (police station). The Delegado (police delegate) may determine that a forensic examination is required.

PEFOCE (Perícia Forense do Estado do Ceará, Av. Bezerra de Menezes 1895, São Gerardo, Fortaleza): The Ceará State Forensic Institute conducts forensic post-mortems, ballistics, toxicology, and other forensic analysis. This is the primary forensic facility for all of Ceará state, including deaths brought in from the beach resorts.

ANVISA and Secretaria da Saúde do Ceará (SESA-CE): International transport of human remains requires authorisation from SESA-CE and compliance with ANVISA (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária) regulations. Embalming must comply with Brazilian standards for international transport.

Source: Lei No. 6.015/1973 Registros Públicos (Brazil); 2024.

Medical coverage

Hospital Geral de Fortaleza (HGF, Av. Padre Antônio Tomás 2975, Papicu) is the main public hospital and trauma centre. Hospital de Messejana Dr. Carlos Alberto Studart Gomes is the cardiac and respiratory centre. Private hospitals used by insured foreign visitors include Hospital do Coração (Aldeota), Hospital Unimed Fortaleza (Aldeota), and Hospital São Camilo e São Luís (Centro). The PEFOCE conducts all forensic post-mortems independently of the hospital system.

The documentation chain

1. Certidão de Óbito from Cartório de Registro Civil, Fortaleza. 2. Polícia Civil / DHPP investigation report (in sudden/violent deaths). 3. PEFOCE forensic post-mortem (if ordered by the Delegado or Ministério Público). 4. Polícia Civil release of the body. 5. SESA-CE and ANVISA international transport authorisation. 6. Embalming certificate (to Brazilian international standard). 7. IATA cargo documentation — FOR (Fortaleza Pinto Martins International Airport) to LHR.

Fortaleza Pinto Martins International Airport (FOR) has seasonal direct charter services to UK airports (Manchester, Birmingham, Gatwick) via TUI, Jet2, and other operators during the peak winter sun season (October to April). Year-round, cargo routes via São Paulo (GRU, Guarulhos International Airport) or Lisbon (LIS) for connecting LHR services.

Timeline from Fortaleza

• Natural death, expected, hospital: 14 to 28 days
• Police and forensic investigation, uncomplicated: 21 to 42 days
• Complex case, or death in a resort area requiring transfer: 6 to 12 weeks

For repatriation guidance, contact our team via our enquiry form or WhatsApp.

See also the Brazil repatriation guide and repatriation from Rio de Janeiro.

Information based on Lei No. 6.015/1973 Registros Públicos (Brazil). Last reviewed May 2026.