How do you bring a loved one home from Namibia?

Timeline

How long does repatriation from Namibia take?

In most cases, repatriation from Namibia takes 3 to 5 weeks. The fastest straightforward cases complete in 14 to 21 days. Complex cases involving a post-mortem, criminal investigation, or a remote location can extend to 5 to 8 weeks or beyond.

What makes a case complex?

• Deaths in extremely remote areas (Kaokoveld, Skeleton Coast Wilderness, Caprivi Strip/Zambezi Region)
• Self-drive safari road accidents far from Windhoek on gravel tracks with no mobile coverage
• Unnatural death requiring State pathologist and Magistrate's Court coroner process
• Limited State pathologist capacity in Windhoek

Documentation

What documents are required to bring a body home from Namibia?

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 Namibia 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 Namibia?

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.