Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Germany to Eritrea
For families bringing someone home to Eritrea. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Quick answer
Repatriation from Germany to Eritrea: what to expect
Germany is home to one of the largest Eritrean communities in Europe, with tens of thousands of Eritrean nationals resident in cities including Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Stuttgart, many with refugee or asylum status. When an Eritrean national dies in Germany and their family wishes to repatriate remains to Eritrea, the death is registered with the local Standesamt (civil registry). The Sterbeurkunde is issued in German and requires translation before submission to Eritrean authorities. The Eritrean Embassy in Berlin can advise on documentation requirements for the National Statistics and Evaluation Office (NSEO). Eritrea is not a Hague Apostille Convention member; full consular authentication is required.
- Key document: Sterbeurkunde (death certificate) (in German)
- Documentation takes 3-5 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Death must be registered with the local Standesamt (civil registry) promptly.
- Eritrea Embassy in Berlin can advise on documentation. They cannot fund repatriation.
Step by step
Timeline: Germany to Eritrea
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Call 112 for local emergency services, and contact the embassy or consulate of the person's own country.
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Sterbeurkunde (death certificate) obtained.
Death must be registered with the local Standesamt (civil registry). Violent or unexplained deaths (Staatsanwaltschaft) may delay this step.
Local funeral director and registry
Eritrea Embassy in Berlin notified
Simultaneous with Step 1. Embassy provides a list of local funeral directors.
Family or repatriation specialist
Embalming and preparation.
After body released by authorities.
Licensed local funeral director
All export documentation and permits obtained.
Allow 3-5 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo to Eritrea
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Eritrea funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
The process
What happens after a death in Germany
Call 112 for emergency services. Death is certified by a physician and registered with the local Standesamt (civil registry). The Sterbeurkunde is issued in German. Police and the Staatsanwaltschaft (public prosecutor) take jurisdiction for violent or unexplained deaths. Germany is an EU member and Hague Apostille Convention member.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Germany to Eritrea
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Germany to Eritrea takes 4-8 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 3-5 weeks. Complex cases can take 10-16 weeks or longer.
Death must be registered with the local Standesamt (civil registry) promptly. Violent or unexplained deaths (Staatsanwaltschaft) may add time before the body can be released.
The core documents are: Sterbeurkunde (death certificate) with certified translation where required, embalming certificate, export permit, freedom from infection certificate, and passport of the deceased. Your repatriation coordinator handles obtaining these on your behalf.
The Eritrea Embassy in Berlin can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Eritrea Embassy in Berlin as soon as possible after the death.
Violent or unexplained deaths (Staatsanwaltschaft) may trigger a post-mortem examination. This adds time: the body cannot be released until the authorities authorise it.
The Eritrean funeral director takes custody at Asmara International Airport (ASM) cargo terminal. The National Statistics and Evaluation Office (NSEO) under the Ministry of Health registers the death; death certificates are issued in Tigrinya, Arabic, or English. All foreign documents require translation before submission to Eritrean authorities. Eritrea is not a Hague Apostille Convention member; full consular authentication is required. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required. A specialist with experience of Eritrean procedures is essential.
Cremation in Germany is widely available. You will need the local death certificate, cremation certificate, and relevant export documentation. Your repatriation specialist can advise on the current position.
In Eritrea
When the body arrives in Eritrea
The Eritrean funeral director takes custody at Asmara International Airport (ASM) cargo terminal. Death registration in Eritrea is handled by the National Statistics and Evaluation Office (NSEO) under the Ministry of Health. Death certificates are issued in Tigrinya, Arabic, or English; foreign documents require translation into one of these languages. Eritrea is not a Hague Apostille Convention member; full consular authentication of all foreign documents is required. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for international air transport.
Consular support
The Eritrean Embassy or Consulate in Berlin can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to Eritrea. Eritrea is not a Hague Apostille Convention member; full consular authentication is required for all foreign documents. The Embassy cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the National Statistics and Evaluation Office (NSEO) in Eritrea for civil registration queries.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in Germany, 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 Eritrea.
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 Germany (gov.uk) · Germany repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions