Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Portugal to DR Congo
For families bringing someone home to DR Congo. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Key facts
Repatriation from Portugal to DR Congo: what to expect
Repatriation from Portugal to DR Congo follows Portugal's civil registration and export procedures. Most cases take 2-4 weeks.
- Key document: certidao de obito (death certificate from the Conservatoria do Registo Civil)
- Documentation takes 5-10 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Portugal is a Hague Apostille member (1968). This simplifies document authentication.
- All Portuguese-language documentation requires certified translation where needed.
The process
What happens after a death in Portugal
Call 112 for emergency services. Death is registered at the local Conservatoria do Registo Civil within 48 hours. The official death certificate is the certidao de obito. The Ministerio Publico (public prosecutor) takes jurisdiction for violent, suspicious, or unexplained deaths. Portugal is a Hague Apostille Convention member since 1968.
Step by step
Timeline: Portugal to DR Congo
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. Certidao de obito (death certificate from the conservatoria do registo civil) obtained from Conservatoria do Registo Civil (Civil Registry), Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN).
Registration must occur promptly. The Ministerio Publico takes jurisdiction for violent or suspicious deaths. Body release requires formal clearance before repatriation can proceed.
Local funeral director and civil registry
Embassy or consulate notified. Notify the DRC Embassy in Portugal.
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 certidao de obito is issued in Portuguese. Certified translation is required for non-Portuguese-speaking destinations.
Allow 5-10 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo from Lisbon Humberto Delgado (LIS), Porto Francisco Sa Carneiro (OPO), or Faro (FAO) to N'djili International Airport Kinshasa (FIH) or Lubumbashi International Airport (FBM).
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Congolese funeral director takes custody at cargo terminal. ONEC notified. Full consular authentication required.
Within 24-48 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In DR Congo
When the body arrives in DR Congo
The Congolese funeral director takes custody at the cargo terminal at N'djili Airport Kinshasa (FIH) or Lubumbashi (FBM). Death is registered with the Office National de l'Etat Civil (ONEC). Documents are issued in French. The DRC is not a Hague Apostille Convention member; full consular authentication is required. All foreign-language documents require certified French translation. Infrastructure and security conditions vary significantly by region.
Consular support
DRC Embassy in Portugal: contact the Congolese Embassy or Consulate for documentation guidance. The DRC is not a Hague Apostille member; full consular authentication is required.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Portugal to DR Congo
DRC Embassy in Portugal: contact the Congolese Embassy or Consulate for documentation guidance. The DRC is not a Hague Apostille member; full consular authentication is required.
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Portugal to DR Congo takes 2-4 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 7-14 days. Complex cases involving criminal investigation or remote locations can take 4-8 weeks.
The core documents are: certidao de obito (death certificate from the Conservatoria do Registo Civil), embalming certificate, freedom from infection certificate, passport of the deceased, and all required export permits. The certidao de obito is issued in Portuguese. Certified translation is required for non-Portuguese-speaking destinations.
The Congolese funeral director takes custody at the cargo terminal at N'djili Airport Kinshasa (FIH) or Lubumbashi (FBM). Death is registered with the Office National de l'Etat Civil (ONEC). Documents are issued in French. The DRC is not a Hague Apostille Convention member; full consular authentication is required. All foreign-language documents require certified French translation. Infrastructure and security conditions vary significantly by region. All documentation from Portugal must be in order before the body is released for the funeral.
Yes. Cremation in Portugal 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.
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in Portugal, 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 DR Congo.
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 Portugal (gov.uk) · Portugal repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions