How do you bring a loved one home from Saint Lucia?

Timeline

How long does repatriation from Saint Lucia take?

In most cases, repatriation from Saint Lucia takes 18 to 25 days. The fastest straightforward cases complete in 12 days. Complex cases involving a post-mortem, criminal investigation, or a remote location can extend to 28 to 40 days or beyond.

What makes a case complex?

• No resident British diplomatic post, Honorary Consul in Castries; British High Commission Bridgetown coordinates; adds one layer of communication
• Victoria Hospital Castries has limited forensic pathology capacity; complex cases may require requesting external specialist assistance
• Coroner inquest mandatory for all unnatural deaths; the process is well-established but adds time

Documentation

What documents are required to bring a body home from Saint Lucia?

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 Saint Lucia 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 Saint Lucia?

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.