Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Kenya to France
For families bringing someone home to France. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Key facts
Repatriation from Kenya to France: what to expect
Kenyan nationals in France include students, professionals, and a small diaspora community in Paris and other French cities. France and Kenya have bilateral diplomatic and trade ties, with France being a significant market for Kenyan exports including cut flowers, coffee, and tea. Kenya and France cooperate on development assistance and French language education. Swahili and English documentation from Kenya requires certified French translation for French civil registry purposes. The French Embassy in Nairobi handles consular matters.
- Key documents: Kenyan death certificate and Port Health clearance (freedom from infection)
- Documentation takes 7-21 days. All documentation and cargo departs from Nairobi.
- France Embassy in Nairobi can advise on documentation. They cannot fund repatriation.
The process
The repatriation process from Kenya
Contact emergency services (999 or 112). If death occurs outside hospital, police must attend. Death must be registered with the civil registrar at the district office. Deaths in safari areas require road or charter aircraft transfer to Nairobi.
Step by step
Timeline: Kenya to France
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Contact the embassy or consulate of the person's own country (citizens of France: +33 1 43 17 67 67).
Family or travel insurer
Death registered with civil registrar. Burial permit obtained.
Funeral director handles registration. Safari area deaths require transfer to Nairobi first.
Local funeral director and civil registrar
Embassy or consulate notified
Simultaneous with Step 1. The embassy or consulate can provide a list of local funeral directors.
Family or repatriation specialist
Embalming in Nairobi
Professional embalming facilities available in Nairobi. Limited outside the capital.
Licensed local funeral director
Port Health clearance and all export permits obtained
Allow 7-21 days. Port Health is an additional step specific to Kenya.
Local funeral director and Port Health
Air cargo from Nairobi Jomo Kenyatta International (NBO)
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
France funeral director takes custody. The receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In France
When the body arrives in France
The French funeral director (pompes funebres) takes custody at Charles de Gaulle (CDG, Paris) or another French international airport. The prefecture may require a permis d'inhumer (burial permit) or transport authorisation before burial or cremation can proceed. All foreign documents must carry a certified French translation. (French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, MAE, 2025.)
Consular support
French Embassy in Nairobi can advise on repatriation documentation requirements for France. French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs (MAE) emergency assistance: +33 1 43 17 67 67 (24 hours). The French Embassy cannot pay for or arrange repatriation.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Kenya to France
In a straightforward Nairobi case, repatriation from Kenya to France takes 10-14 days. Deaths in safari areas or remote locations add significant time for internal transfer. Most cases take 14-28 days. Complex cases can take 6-12 weeks.
Deaths in the Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, or other remote areas require road or light aircraft transfer to Nairobi before any documentation can begin.
The core documents are: Kenyan death certificate, Embalming certificate, Port Health clearance (freedom from infection certificate), Police report/clearance, and Passport of the deceased.
The France Embassy in Nairobi can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the France Embassy in Nairobi as soon as possible after the death.
The French funeral director takes custody at Charles de Gaulle (CDG) or another French airport. The prefecture issues a permis d'inhumer before burial or cremation. All foreign documents require certified French translation. The receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Yes. Cremation in Kenya and bringing the ashes home to France is an option. You will need the local death certificate, cremation certificate, and Port Health clearance.
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in Kenya, 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 France.
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 Kenya (gov.uk) · Kenya repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions