Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Cabo Verde to the United Kingdom
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Repatriation from Cabo Verde to the United Kingdom: what to expect
Repatriation from Cabo Verde to the United Kingdom involves island logistics and consular support from Dakar, Senegal. There is no resident British Embassy in Cabo Verde. Most cases take 3-5 weeks from the date of death to arrival.
- Key document: death certificate from the Conservatória do Registo Civil
- Documentation takes 10-21 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- There is no British Embassy in Cabo Verde. The British Embassy in Dakar, Senegal covers consular matters.
- Island location means internal transfers between islands may be required before cargo can depart.
- Cabo Verde participates in the Hague Apostille Convention, which helps with document legalisation.
In United Kingdom
When the body arrives in the United Kingdom
The UK funeral director takes custody at the cargo terminal. All documentation must be in certified English translation. The coroner for the district is notified. Straightforward cases proceed directly to funeral arrangements.
Consular support
FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000. The British Embassy in Dakar can register the death and advise on local funeral directors. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation.
The process
What happens after a death in Cabo Verde
Call 132 (police) or 130 (ambulance). Death must be registered with the Conservatória do Registo Civil. Cabo Verde is an archipelago of ten islands, and if the death occurs on a smaller island, the body may need to be transferred to a main island before cargo flights to the UK are possible. This inter-island step adds time and logistical planning. A specialist with experience in Cabo Verde should be appointed on day one.
Step by step
Timeline: Cabo Verde to the United Kingdom
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. FCDO 24hr: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Certificate obtained from the Conservatória do Registo Civil.
Authorities notified if death is sudden or unexplained.
Local funeral director and registry
British Embassy Dakar notified.
Simultaneous with Step 1. Embassy provides guidance on local funeral directors.
Family or repatriation specialist
Internal island transfer arranged if required. Embalming and preparation.
After body released by authorities. Island transfer adds 2-5 days.
Repatriation specialist and local funeral director
All export documentation, apostille, and permits obtained.
Allow 10-21 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo to the United Kingdom from main island airport.
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
United Kingdom funeral director takes custody. Coroner notified.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Cabo Verde to the United Kingdom
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Cabo Verde to the United Kingdom takes 3-5 weeks. The fastest cases, where the death occurs on a main island, complete in 2-3 weeks. Where a post-mortem or inter-island transfer is required, the process can extend to 6-10 weeks.
There is no British Embassy in Cabo Verde. Consular support comes from the British Embassy in Dakar, Senegal. Call the FCDO 24-hour emergency line on +44 (0)20 7008 5000 immediately. Because Cabo Verde is an archipelago, the island where the death occurred determines the logistics. Deaths on smaller islands such as Brava or Santo Antão require additional steps before the body can reach an international cargo airport.
The core documents are: death certificate from the Conservatória do Registo Civil with certified English translation, apostille endorsement, embalming certificate, freedom from infection certificate, and the export permit. Your repatriation coordinator handles obtaining all these on your behalf.
The British Embassy in Dakar, Senegal, covers Cabo Verde and can register the death with UK authorities and provide guidance on local funeral directors. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. The FCDO 24-hour emergency line is +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
A post-mortem is required for sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths. The authorities must release the body before repatriation can proceed. In combination with any inter-island transfer, this can significantly extend the timeline.
The UK funeral director takes custody at the cargo terminal. All documentation must be in certified English translation. The coroner for the district is notified. Where paperwork is complete, straightforward cases proceed directly to funeral arrangements.
Cremation is available on the main islands of Cabo Verde. Transporting ashes to the UK requires the death certificate with certified translation and the cremation certificate. This is generally simpler than full body repatriation, though inter-island logistics may still apply if cremation facilities are not on the island where the death occurred.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
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If your loved one has died in Cabo Verde, please do not face this alone. Send us the details and we will explain what happens next and prepare a quote for bringing them home to the United Kingdom.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from official government and embassy guidance, including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Sources: FCDO: When someone dies in Cape Verde · Cabo Verde repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions