Repatriation from Lanzarote, Spain

The timeline for repatriation from Lanzarote runs 7 to 14 days for physician-certified natural deaths and 14 to 28 days where the Juzgado de Instrucción is involved. This is consistent with Gran Canaria and the wider Canary Islands, though Lanzarote’s smaller Juzgado and Registro Civil offices in Arrecife can occasionally process more slowly during high season.

Lanzarote Airport (ACE), located 5 kilometres south of Arrecife, is the departure hub. Direct flights to UK airports — including London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, and Bristol — operate year-round with higher frequency in the winter holiday season (November to February).

What drives timeline variation

No Juzgado involvement (7–14 days): A death certified by an attending physician with a clear natural cause is registered at the Registro Civil in Arrecife. Certificate processing: 3 to 7 working days. Export documentation and cargo booking are prepared in parallel.

Juzgado de Instrucción Arrecife (14–28 days): Sudden, unattended, or traumatic deaths are referred to the Juzgado. A judicial autopsy is ordered and the body held until the court issues its release. On Lanzarote, the judicial forensic pathologist travels from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for autopsies, which can add 1 to 3 working days compared to mainland Spain. This is a consistent logistical feature specific to smaller Canary Islands.

Drowning and watersport deaths: The Atlantic-facing northwest coast of Lanzarote (Famara beach) has strong currents and is among Spain’s top windsurfing destinations but also its more dangerous swimming areas. Drowning deaths here always involve the Juzgado.

Source: Ministerio de Justicia España, Registro Civil, 2024; Cabildo de Lanzarote, 2024.

Lanzarote Airport cargo

British Airways does not operate direct ACE-LHR cargo. Cargo repatriations from Lanzarote typically route via Madrid Barajas (MAD) or Las Palmas Gran Canaria (LPA). The Lanzarote funeral director arranges connecting cargo or a domestic Binter Canarias transfer to Las Palmas where UK cargo capacity is greater. This adds approximately one working day.

Documentation required for export:

• Spanish death certificate (Registro Civil Arrecife certified copy)
• Juzgado release document where applicable
• Licencia de enterramiento / export authorisation
• Embalming certificate
• Freedom from infection certificate
• Airline cargo booking confirmation (ACE-MAD-LHR or ACE-LPA-LHR)
• Passport of the deceased

British consular contacts

The British Vice-Consulate in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Edificio Cataluña, Calle Luis Morote 6-3, Las Palmas) has jurisdiction over Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. For consular registration and documentary assistance, contact Las Palmas. FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

Key local considerations

Lanzarote has a large permanent British resident population, concentrated in Puerto del Carmen, Playa Blanca, and Costa Teguise. Local funeral homes in the tourist resort areas are experienced in UK repatriation documentation. The language barrier is generally lower here than in less-visited parts of Spain.

Winter is peak season for British visitors. The Registro Civil and Juzgado in Arrecife are small offices and high visitor volumes in December and January can extend processing slightly. Families should engage a reputable local funeral director immediately and not wait to make enquiries.

For guidance on next steps, contact our team via our enquiry form or WhatsApp.

Information based on Ministerio de Justicia España Registro Civil guidance and FCDO consular services documentation. Last reviewed May 2026.