Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from the United Kingdom to the Ivory Coast
For families bringing someone home to the Ivory Coast. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Quick answer
Repatriation from the United Kingdom to the Ivory Coast: what to expect
British nationals in the Ivory Coast include development workers, NGO professionals, business contacts, and researchers. The British Embassy in Abidjan can assist British nationals after a death. British death certificates require certified French translation and authentication by the Ivorian Embassy in London. Ivory Coast is not a Hague Apostille Convention member; full consular authentication is required. French is the official language and all documents must be in French or accompanied by a certified French translation. (FCDO guidance: When someone dies in Cote d'Ivoire; Ivorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2025.)
- Key document: death certificate (in English)
- Documentation takes 3-7 days (coroner cases longer). Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Contact the Ivory Coast Embassy or High Commission in London for documentation requirements. They cannot fund repatriation.
- Death must be registered with the register office in England and Wales, National Records of Scotland, or the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) promptly.
- Ivory Coast Embassy in London can advise on documentation. They cannot fund repatriation.
Step by step
Timeline: the United Kingdom to the Ivory Coast
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Call 999 for emergency services. Contact the Ivory Coast Embassy or High Commission in London.
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Death certificate obtained.
Death must be registered with the register office in England and Wales, National Records of Scotland, or the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI). Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may delay this step.
Local funeral director and registry
Ivory Coast Embassy or High Commission in London 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 3-7 days (coroner cases longer). Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo to the Ivory Coast
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Ivory Coast funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
The process
What happens after a death in the United Kingdom
Call 999 for emergency services. Death is certified by a physician or, where necessary, the coroner. The death must be registered at the local register office in England and Wales within 5 days, or with the National Records of Scotland or GRONI in Northern Ireland. The coroner takes jurisdiction for sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths and must issue a removal order before the body can leave England and Wales. The United Kingdom is a Hague Apostille Convention member. Coroner cases add time: the coroner must be satisfied the body may leave before issuing the order for removal out of England and Wales.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from the United Kingdom to the Ivory Coast
In a straightforward case, repatriation from the United Kingdom to the Ivory Coast takes 2-4 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 10-14 days. Complex cases can take 6-12 weeks or longer.
Death must be registered with the register office in England and Wales, National Records of Scotland, or the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) promptly. Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may add time before the body can be released.
The core documents are: 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 Ivory Coast Embassy in London can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Ivory Coast Embassy in London as soon as possible after the death.
Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may trigger a post-mortem examination. This adds time: the body cannot be released until the authorities authorise it.
The Ivorian funeral director takes custody at Felix Houphouet-Boigny International Airport Abidjan (ABJ) cargo terminal. The local Centre d'Etat Civil at commune level registers the death and issues an acte de deces in French. Ivory Coast is not a Hague Apostille member; full consular authentication through the Ivorian Embassy in the origin country is required. For Muslim remains, Islamic law procedures apply and prompt burial is expected. All foreign-language documents require certified French translation. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required.
Cremation in the United Kingdom is widely available. A second medical certificate is required for cremation before the body can be removed. If the coroner is involved, a coroner's certificate replaces the second medical certificate. You will need the local death certificate, cremation certificate, and relevant export documentation. Your repatriation specialist can advise on the current position.
In Ivory Coast
When the body arrives in the Ivory Coast
The Ivorian funeral director takes custody at Felix Houphouet-Boigny International Airport Abidjan (ABJ) cargo terminal. Death registration is handled by the local Centre d'Etat Civil at commune level. Death certificates (actes de deces) are issued in French, the official language. For Muslim remains, which account for approximately 40 percent of the Ivory Coast's population, Islamic law procedures apply and prompt burial is expected. Ivory Coast is not a member of the Hague Apostille Convention; full consular authentication through the Ivorian Embassy or Consulate in the country of origin is required. All foreign-language documents require certified French translation. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for international air transport. (Ivorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2025; FCDO guidance: When someone dies in Cote d'Ivoire.)
Consular support
Ivorian Embassy or Consulate in London can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to the Ivory Coast. Ivory Coast is not a Hague Apostille Convention member; full consular authentication is required. The Embassy cannot pay for or arrange repatriation.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in the United Kingdom, 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 Ivory Coast.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from official government and embassy guidance, including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Frequently asked questions