If the person who died had insurance, contact their insurance company as soon as possible. The insurance company should appoint a funeral director in Namibia and the UK. They may also cover the cost of bringing the person’s body to the UK (repatriation) and help with any medical, legal, interpretation and translation fees.
If you’re not sure if they had insurance, the next of kin will usually have to appoint a funeral director and will be responsible for all costs.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office cannot help with these costs. In addition, read the general guidance on what to do when someone dies abroad.
Registering the death
You will need to register the death with the local authorities in Namibia where the person died. Your funeral director can normally do this for you.
You do not need to register the death with the UK authorities. The local death certificate can usually be used in the UK for most purposes, including probate.
You will need the following information for you and the person who has died, such as:
- full names
- date of birth
- official identity document (for example British passport, driving licence or birth certificate)
Should you need further assistance, you should speak with your funeral director to help you register the death.
If the person who died suffered from an infectious condition, such as hepatitis or HIV, you must tell the local authorities, so they can take precautions against infection.
Getting a death certificate
After registering the death, you will get a death certificate
After reporting and registering the death, an application for a death certificate can be lodged at any Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Office . A death certificate will be issued free of charge on the same day as registration. Your funeral director should do this for you.
If you require a replacement copy death certificate, you can apply for these at your nearest Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security Office and paying the required fee.
Namibia death certificates do not give the cause of death. It’s worth asking for extra copies of the death certificate, as you might need them to show to people later.
Post mortems in Namibia
A post-mortem is a medical examination of the body by a forensic pathologist. Namibian law requires that a post-mortem examination be performed on the person who died if the cause of death is either unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent. This happens at a Police State mortuary and is free of charge.
Small tissue samples and organs may be removed for testing without the family’s permission. You will not automatically be told if this happens. If organs are removed, they will normally be returned before the person’s body is released.
Cultural or religious sensitivities may not be taken into account.
Small tissue samples and organs may be removed for testing without the family’s permission. You will not automatically be told if this happens.
Post mortem reports are available with in 24-48 hrs. Legal next of kin of authorised party must formally request the report. The request must include the following;
- proof of identity
- proof of relationship to the deceased
- death details (name, date, location)
- case number (if available)
If you have a lawyer they can apply for a copy.
Burying or cremating the body in Namibia
You need a local funeral directorto arrange a burial or cremation in Namibia. Your funeral director can give you advice on the available options as well as costs.
You should not have the person cremated abroad if you want a coroner in England and Wales to conduct an inquest into their death. The decision on when to hold an inquest is made by His Majesty’s Coroner. Please note, an inquest will usually only happen in certain situations, for example, when someone has died in suspicious, unnatural, and violent circumstances. If the person who died is cremated abroad, and only their ashes are brought home, there will not be an inquest.
If you repatriate the person who died to Scotland, the Procurator Fiscal may decide to call for a fatal accidents or injuries inquiry.
If you repatriate the person who died to Northern Ireland, there will not be a coronial inquest or further inquiry.
Please note, Procurators Fiscal and Coroners do not have jurisdiction in Namibia, nor do they seek to apportion blame to a named individual. You can find more information on Coroners and the Procurator Fiscal in the FCDO guide on death abroad.
Bringing the body to the UK
Your funeral director a be able to assist you for bringing the person’s body to the UK from Namibia. Your local funeral director will require the following documents when sending the person’s body to the UK from Namibia:
- death certificate
- passport of the person who died
Bringing the ashes to the UK yourself
If you are taking the ashes with you when you leave Namibia, you may be asked to show the the following documents to the airline:
- death certificate
- cremation certificate
- passport of the person who died
You should tell the airline in advance if you are carrying ashes.
Arranging for the ashes to be taken to the UK
Ask your funeral director for advice if you cannot take the ashes yourself. You may not be able to send them by post or courier.
Getting the person’s belongings back
Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to you or the Namibia police.
If you bring the person’s body to the UK, you can ask your local funeral director to collect all the belongings and transport them together.
If they were a Namibia resident you may not be able to take the belongings as they may be part of their estate. Get legal advice if this happens.
Belongings may be kept as evidence if there is an investigation into the death. This will only be returned when the court case is over.
Finding a Namibia lawyer
You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Namibia legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Namibia. The High Commission in Namibia cannot give you legal advice or pay for legal costs.
Telling the UK authorities
Although you do not have to register the death in the UK, when someone dies abroad you still need to tell the UK authorities. You can report the death to most UK government organisations in one go using the Tell Us Once service. Read general guidance on what to do when someone dies abroad to find out more.
Cancel a passport
The passport of the person who died should be cancelled with His Majesty’s Passport Office (HMPO). To do this, you need to complete a D1 form.
If you plan to repatriate the person who died to the UK, you will require their passport to do this. In these circumstances, you should cancel the passport after they have been repatriated.
Support organisations in the UK
In the UK, many organisations can help bereaved families. Some of these are listed in the guide coping with death abroad.
You can contact the FCDO if you still need advice:
