Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from France to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
For families bringing someone home to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Key facts
Repatriation from France to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: what to expect
Repatriation from France to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines follows France's civil registration and export procedures. Most cases take 2-4 weeks.
- Key document: acte de deces (death certificate from the local mairie)
- Documentation takes 5-10 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- France is a Hague Apostille member (1960). This simplifies document authentication.
- Documentation is issued in French. Certified translation is required where needed.
The process
What happens after a death in France
Call 15 (SAMU), 17 (police), or 112 for emergency services. Death is registered at the local mairie (town hall) within 24 hours. The official death certificate is the acte de deces. The Procureur de la Republique (public prosecutor) takes jurisdiction for violent, suspicious, or unexplained deaths. France is a Hague Apostille Convention member since 1960. Death certificates are issued in French.
Step by step
Timeline: France to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Immediate steps after death. Report to local emergency services and contact a specialist at once.
Day of death. Contact the embassy or consulate of the person's own country.
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Acte de deces (death certificate from the local mairie) obtained from local mairie (town hall) or commune civil registration office.
Registration must occur promptly. The Procureur de la Republique takes jurisdiction for violent or suspicious deaths. A judicial investigation can significantly delay body release.
Local funeral director and civil registry
Embassy or consulate notified. Hague Apostille applies (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joined 1979).
Simultaneous with Step 1. Embassy provides list of local funeral directors.
Family or repatriation specialist
Embalming and preparation for international air transport.
After body released by authorities.
Licensed local funeral director
All export permits and authenticated documents obtained. The acte de deces is issued in French. Certified translation into the destination country's language is required for all non-French-speaking destinations.
Allow 5-10 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Paris Orly (ORY), Lyon Saint-Exupery (LYS), or other major French airport to Argyle International Airport (SVD), Saint Vincent.
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Funeral director in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines takes custody at the cargo terminal at Argyle International Airport (SVD). Civil Registry Department notified. Death certificate issued in English.
Within 24-48 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
When the body arrives in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
The funeral director in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines takes custody at the cargo terminal at Argyle International Airport (SVD). Death must be registered within three days with the Civil Registry Department (Registrar General), based at the High Court in Kingstown. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 27 October 1979. Death certificates are issued in English.
Consular support
Hague Apostille applies (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joined 1979).
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from France to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Hague Apostille applies (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joined 1979).
In a straightforward case, repatriation from France to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines takes 2-4 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 7-14 days. Complex cases involving criminal investigation or remote locations can take 4-8 weeks.
The core documents are: acte de deces (death certificate from the local mairie), embalming certificate, freedom from infection certificate, passport of the deceased, and all required export permits. The acte de deces is issued in French. Certified translation into the destination country's language is required for all non-French-speaking destinations.
The funeral director in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines takes custody at the cargo terminal at Argyle International Airport (SVD). Death must be registered within three days with the Civil Registry Department (Registrar General), based at the High Court in Kingstown. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 27 October 1979. Death certificates are issued in English. All documentation from France must be in order before the body is released for the funeral.
Yes. Cremation in France is an option in most cases, though local authorities must release the body before cremation can take place. You will need the death certificate, cremation certificate, and an export permit for the ashes. Ashes are simpler to transport than a body and carry lower cargo costs. Ask our team for specific guidance on your case.
No. There are no crematoriums anywhere in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. A body needing cremation must first be transported to a neighbouring island, such as Grenada, Barbados, or Saint Lucia. Embalming certificates are required either way.
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in France, 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 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from official government and embassy guidance and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Sources: Official guidance on a death in France (gov.uk) · France repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions