City repatriation guide
Repatriation from Mahé, Seychelles
Specific guidance for arranging repatriation from Mahé. Local documentation contacts, airport cargo routes, and the typical process for cases originating in this area.
The Seychelles is a 115-island archipelago in the western Indian Ocean. Mahé, the main island, contains Victoria (the capital), the international airport, and all of the Seychelles’ medical and legal infrastructure. Deaths on the outer islands — Praslin, La Digue, Silhouette, and the more remote Outer Islands — require an inter-island transfer to Mahé before any documentation process can begin. Praslin and La Digue together see a substantial share of British visitors; both islands’ police forces refer unexplained deaths to Mahé for post-mortem.
What the British High Commission does — and does not do
The British High Commission Port Louis (Les Cascades Building, Edith Cavell Street, Port Louis, Mauritius) covers the Seychelles. There is no resident British consul in Victoria or on any Seychelles island.
The BHC can: Register the death in UK consular records. Advise on documentation requirements. Provide funeral director contacts.
The BHC cannot: Repatriate the body. Pay any costs. Instruct Seychellois authorities.
FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
What Seychellois law requires
Under the Seychelles Criminal Procedure Code (Chapter 54), sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths are reported to the Seychelles Police Force, and the case is referred to the Coroner’s Court where an inquest is required. Post-mortems are conducted by a Government Medical Officer or forensic pathologist at Seychelles Hospital (Mont Fleuri Road, Victoria, Mahé).
Death certificates are issued by the Civil Status Office (CSER), Seychelles.
The documentation chain
1. Seychelles Death Certificate. Issued by CSER following medical certification.
2. Coroner’s clearance (where applicable in sudden or unnatural deaths).
3. Police confirmation of no investigation (in straightforward cases).
4. International export permit. Issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs Seychelles.
5. Embalming certificate.
6. IATA cargo documentation.
Source: Seychelles Criminal Procedure Code, Chapter 54; Ministry of Health and Social Affairs Seychelles, International Repatriation of Deceased Persons, 2024.
Airport and cargo routing
Seychelles International Airport (SEZ), Victoria, Mahé, is the sole international departure point. SEZ has no direct service to London. Standard routing: SEZ to Dubai (DXB, approximately 4.5 hours) on Emirates then DXB-LHR; or SEZ to Doha (DOH) then DOH-LHR on Qatar Airways. Some cases route via Abu Dhabi (AUH). The funeral director selects the best available cargo option. For deaths on outer islands, the inter-island transfer to Mahé precedes all cargo arrangements.
Timeline from the Seychelles
- Hospital-certified natural death on Mahé: 10 to 18 days
- Outer-island transfer then documentation: adds 2 to 5 days
- Coroner’s inquest or police investigation: 21 to 35 days
Key local considerations
The Seychelles attracts a significant share of British honeymoon and luxury-holiday visitors. The deaths that occur here span a wide age range. Water-based activities — snorkelling, diving, boat excursions — are the primary accident category. The Seychelles’ small population means that forensic capacity at Seychelles Hospital is limited; complex cases requiring specialist forensic pathology may need to wait for external specialist involvement, adding to timelines.
For guidance on next steps, contact our team via our enquiry form or WhatsApp.
Information based on Seychelles Criminal Procedure Code (Chapter 54) and Ministry of Health and Social Affairs Seychelles. Last reviewed May 2026.
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