Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Norway to Palau
For families bringing someone home to Palau. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Quick answer
Repatriation from Norway to Palau: what to expect
Repatriation from Norway to Palau follows Norway's civil registration and export procedures. Most cases take 2-3 weeks.
- Key document: dodsattest (death certificate from Folkeregisteret via Skatteetaten)
- Documentation takes 5-10 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Norway is a Hague Apostille member (1980). This simplifies document authentication.
- Documentation is issued in Norwegian. Certified translation is required where needed.
Step by step
Timeline: Norway to Palau
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. Dodsattest (death certificate from folkeregisteret via skatteetaten) obtained from Folkeregisteret (Norwegian Population Register), administered by Skatteetaten (Tax Administration).
Registration must occur promptly. The Norwegian Police Service investigates violent or suspicious deaths. Body release requires police clearance before repatriation can proceed.
Local funeral director and civil registry
Embassy or consulate notified.
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 dodsattest is issued in Norwegian. Certified translation is required for non-Norwegian-speaking destinations.
Allow 5-10 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo from Oslo Gardermoen (OSL), Bergen (BGO), or Stavanger (SVG) to Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR), near Koror.
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Funeral director in Palau takes custody at the cargo terminal at Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR), near Koror. Civil registration authority notified; Palau Police Department clearance confirmed for non-natural deaths.
Within 24-48 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
The process
What happens after a death in Norway
Call 112 (police) or 113 (ambulance) for emergency services. Death is registered with Folkeregisteret (Norwegian Population Register) via Skatteetaten. The official death certificate is the dodsattest. The Norwegian Police Service investigates violent, suspicious, or unexplained deaths. Norway is a Hague Apostille Convention member since 1980.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Norway to Palau
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Norway to Palau takes 2-3 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 7-14 days. Complex cases involving criminal investigation or remote locations can take 3-6 weeks.
The core documents are: dodsattest (death certificate from Folkeregisteret via Skatteetaten), embalming certificate, freedom from infection certificate, passport of the deceased, and all required export permits. The dodsattest is issued in Norwegian. Certified translation is required for non-Norwegian-speaking destinations.
The funeral director in Palau takes custody at the cargo terminal at Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR), near Koror. Death registration is handled by Palau's civil registration authority, with the Palau Police Department investigating non-natural deaths. Palau has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 17 October 2019 (in force 23 June 2020), which simplifies authentication for documents arriving from other member states. Embalming capacity exists in Koror but is limited in volume. Cremation is not available; full body repatriation is required. All documentation from Norway must be in order before the body is released for the funeral.
Yes. Cremation in Norway 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.
Yes, it is recent: Palau acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention on 17 October 2019, with the Convention entering into force there on 23 June 2020. That means documents apostilled in Norway are now recognised in Palau without the older, slower legalisation chain through embassies and foreign ministries.
In Palau
When the body arrives in Palau
The funeral director in Palau takes custody at the cargo terminal at Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR), near Koror. Death registration is handled by Palau's civil registration authority, with the Palau Police Department investigating non-natural deaths. Palau has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 17 October 2019 (in force 23 June 2020), which simplifies authentication for documents arriving from other member states. Embalming capacity exists in Koror but is limited in volume. Cremation is not available; full body repatriation is required.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in Norway, 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 Palau.
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 Norway (gov.uk) · Norway repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions