Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Kenya to Turkey
For families bringing someone home to Turkey. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Quick answer
Repatriation from Kenya to Turkey: what to expect
Kenyan nationals in Turkey include students, business professionals, and travellers. Kenya and Turkey have bilateral trade ties and growing diplomatic relations, with Turkey investing in Kenyan infrastructure and logistics. English and Swahili documentation from Kenya requires certified Turkish translation for Turkish civil registry purposes. The Turkish Embassy in Nairobi handles consular matters. (Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2025.)
- Key documents: Kenyan death certificate and Port Health clearance (freedom from infection)
- Documentation takes 7-21 days. All documentation and cargo departs from Nairobi.
- Turkey 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 Turkey
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Contact the embassy or consulate of the person's own country (citizens of Turkey: +90 312 292 2000).
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
Turkey funeral director takes custody. The receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In Turkey
When the body arrives in Turkey
The Turkish funeral director (cenaze firmasi) takes custody at Istanbul Airport (IST) or Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen (SAW) cargo terminal. A transit certificate (transit belgesi) must accompany the remains. The municipality (belediye) registers the death in the nufus mudurlugu (population directorate). The Turkish Ministry of Health clearance is required before burial or cremation. All foreign documents not in Turkish require certified Turkish translation. (Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2025.)
Consular support
Turkish Embassy in Nairobi can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to Turkey. Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs emergency line: +90 312 292 2000 (24 hours). The Turkish Embassy cannot pay for or arrange repatriation.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Kenya to Turkey
In a straightforward Nairobi case, repatriation from Kenya to Turkey 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 Turkey Embassy in Nairobi can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Turkey Embassy in Nairobi as soon as possible after the death.
The Turkish funeral director (cenaze firmasi) takes custody at Istanbul Airport (IST) cargo terminal. A transit certificate (transit belgesi) must accompany the remains. The municipality (belediye) registers the death. The Turkish Ministry of Health clearance is required. All foreign documents require certified Turkish translation. The receiving funeral director coordinates with local municipal authorities.
Yes. Cremation in Kenya and bringing the ashes home to Turkey is an option. You will need the local death certificate, cremation certificate, and Port Health clearance.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
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 Turkey.
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