Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from the Netherlands to Kenya
For families bringing someone home to Kenya. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Key facts
Repatriation from the Netherlands to Kenya: what to expect
The Netherlands and Kenya maintain active bilateral ties through trade, development cooperation, and horticulture exports, with Dutch investment significant in Kenya's flower and vegetable export sectors. The Netherlands maintains an Embassy in Nairobi. When a Kenyan national dies in the Netherlands and their family wishes to repatriate remains to Kenya, the death is registered with the local gemeente (municipal civil registry). Kenya is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention; foreign documents require full consular legalisation through the Kenyan High Commission or Embassy in the country of origin. (Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs, 2025; Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2025.)
- Key document: akte van overlijden (death certificate) (in Dutch)
- Documentation takes 3-5 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Death must be registered with the gemeente (municipal civil registry) promptly.
- Kenya Embassy in The Hague can advise on documentation. They cannot fund repatriation.
The process
What happens after a death in the Netherlands
Call 112 for emergency services. Death is certified by a physician. The akte van overlijden is registered with the local gemeente (municipal civil registry office). The officier van justitie (public prosecutor) takes jurisdiction for violent or unexplained deaths. The Netherlands is an EU member and Hague Apostille Convention member (joined 1960).
Step by step
Timeline: the Netherlands to Kenya
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. Akte van overlijden (death certificate) obtained.
Death must be registered with the gemeente (municipal civil registry). Violent or unexplained deaths (officier van justitie) may delay this step.
Local funeral director and registry
Kenya Embassy in The Hague 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 Kenya
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Kenya funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In Kenya
When the body arrives in Kenya
The Kenyan funeral director takes custody at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Nairobi (NBO) cargo terminal. The Civil Registration Department (CRD) under the Registrar General handles death registration. Ministry of Health clearance is required before final disposition. Kenya is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention; foreign documents require full consular legalisation through the Kenyan High Commission or Embassy in the country of origin. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for international air transport. English is Kenya's official language, which simplifies documentation from English-speaking origin countries. (Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs, 2025.)
Consular support
The Kenyan High Commission or Embassy in The Hague can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to Kenya. Kenya is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention; foreign documents require full consular legalisation through the Kenyan High Commission or Embassy in the country of origin. The High Commission cannot pay for or arrange repatriation.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from the Netherlands to Kenya
In a straightforward case, repatriation from the Netherlands to Kenya takes 3-5 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 14-21 days. Complex cases can take 6-12 weeks or longer.
Death must be registered with the gemeente (municipal civil registry) promptly. Violent or unexplained deaths (officier van justitie) may add time before the body can be released.
The core documents are: akte van overlijden (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 Kenya Embassy in The Hague can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Kenya Embassy in The Hague as soon as possible after the death.
Violent or unexplained deaths (officier van justitie) may trigger a post-mortem examination. This adds time: the body cannot be released until the authorities authorise it.
The Kenyan funeral director takes custody at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Nairobi (NBO) cargo terminal. The Civil Registration Department (CRD) registers the death. Ministry of Health clearance is required before final disposition. Kenya is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention; foreign documents require full consular legalisation through the Kenyan High Commission or Embassy in the country of origin. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required.
Cremation in the Netherlands 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.
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in the Netherlands, 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 Kenya.
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 the Netherlands (gov.uk) · the Netherlands repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions