Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Tanzania to the United States
For families bringing someone home to the United States. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Quick answer
Repatriation from Tanzania to the United States: what to expect
Tanzanian nationals form part of the United States' East African diaspora, concentrated in cities including Minneapolis, New York, and Washington DC. Tanzania and the United States have bilateral diplomatic relations and development cooperation ties. Swahili documentation from Tanzania requires certified English translation for US Customs and state requirements. The US Embassy in Dar es Salaam handles consular matters. Tanzania to the United States is a consistent corridor for the East African diaspora. (US State Department, Bureau of Consular Affairs, 2025.)
- Key document: Death certificate from local authority (requires certified English translation if in Swahili)
- Documentation takes 7-10 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Deaths on Zanzibar may involve additional logistics for transfer to the mainland before air repatriation.
- Swahili-language documentation requires certified English translation for the United States acceptance.
Step by step
Timeline: Tanzania to the United States
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Contact the embassy or consulate of the person's own country (citizens of the United States: +1 (202) 501-4444).
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Death certificate from local authority (requires certified English translation if in Swahili) obtained.
Death must be registered with the Local authority registration office. Police and Coroner may be involved.
Local funeral director and registry
United States Embassy in Dar es Salaam 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 7-10 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo to the United States
Once all documentation complete. United States cargo terminal
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
United States funeral director takes custody. The receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
The process
What happens after a death in Tanzania
After a death in Tanzania, the family should contact the local emergency services on 112 and have the death formally certified. It is then registered with the Local authority registration office, and a local death certificate issued, which usually takes 7-10 days. Where a death is violent, suspicious or unexplained, the Police and Coroner takes jurisdiction and may order a post-mortem before the body can be released. Once the paperwork is complete, the body is embalmed, sealed in a zinc-lined coffin, and flown to the United States as air cargo, where a receiving funeral director takes custody. Most cases take 2-3 weeks from the death to arrival in the United States.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Tanzania to the United States
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Tanzania to the United States takes 2-3 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 10-14 days. Complex cases can take 4-8 weeks or longer.
Deaths on Zanzibar may involve additional logistics for transfer to the mainland before air repatriation.
The core documents are: Death certificate from local authority (certified English translation required if in Swahili), Police clearance (for unnatural deaths), Embalming certificate, Export permit, Freedom from infection certificate. Your repatriation coordinator handles obtaining these on your behalf.
The United States Embassy in Dar es Salaam can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the United States Embassy in Dar es Salaam as soon as possible after the death.
Violent, suspicious, or unexplained deaths require a post-mortem, which adds time. The body cannot be released until the authorities authorise it.
The US funeral director takes custody at the cargo terminal. US Customs clearance requires the foreign death certificate, transit or burial permit, and embalming certificate. State regulations govern burial or cremation. The receiving funeral director notifies the medical examiner or coroner as required.
Cremation in Tanzania is available. Bringing the ashes home to the United States is an option alongside full body repatriation.
In United States
When the body arrives in the United States
The US funeral director takes custody at the cargo terminal. US Customs clearance requires a transit or burial permit, the foreign death certificate, and an embalming certificate. State health department regulations apply and vary by state. The receiving funeral director notifies the medical examiner or coroner as required by state law. (US State Department, Bureau of Consular Affairs, 2025.)
Consular support
US Embassy in Dar es Salaam can assist US citizens and their families with consular registration of the death and provide a list of local funeral directors. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. State Department emergency line: +1 (888) 407-4747 (within the US) or +1 (202) 501-4444 (from overseas), 24 hours.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in Tanzania, 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 the United States.
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 Tanzania (gov.uk) · Tanzania repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions