Most families who contact us about Eritrea are part of the UK’s substantial Eritrean diaspora, largely based in London, either visiting relatives or supporting relatives who live there permanently. It’s worth saying plainly at the outset: Eritrea is one of the most closed administrative environments in the world, and that single fact governs everything else about how a case unfolds.
A government that controls every step
Eritrea has no independent judiciary and no free press. The People’s Front for Democracy and Justice, the ruling party, oversees essentially every administrative decision, including how a case like this proceeds. The British Embassy in Asmara is a resident mission, which helps, but its capacity to influence a domestic Eritrean timeline is limited in ways that surprise families used to more responsive systems elsewhere.
Call the FCDO Emergency Travel Line first: 020 7008 5000, available at any hour. The Embassy in Asmara can be reached on +291 1 120004.
What the process actually involves
A physician certifies the cause of death, the Regional Administration registers it, and the Ministry of Health reviews the case before issuing an export permit. For non-natural deaths, additional Ministry of Health clearance applies, and, in some cases, a further review by National Security. There is no fee to expedite any of these steps and no formal appeals process if a case stalls.
National Security, and when it applies
This clearance isn’t routine for a natural death. It has, however, come up for dual Eritrean-British nationals, for people who left Eritrea previously without official authorisation, and in cases with any political dimension. Being fully honest with the FCDO and the specialist firm handling the case, from the very first call, gives everyone the best chance of an accurate timeline.
Getting home
Asmara International Airport has very limited scheduled international service: Cairo with EgyptAir, Jeddah with Eritrean Airlines, and Dubai connections are the current options. Ethiopian Airlines previously served Asmara, but that service has been unreliable since the Eritrea-Ethiopia conflict period of 2018 to 2022. Low departure frequency means cargo can sit in Asmara for days simply waiting for the next available flight.
What we tell families honestly
A specialist firm cannot shorten an Eritrean timeline through the usual relationships that help elsewhere. What it can do is get the documentation right the first time and stay in steady contact with the Embassy and Eritrean authorities, so nothing stalls for a reason that was avoidable. Don’t make UK funeral arrangements until the export permit is confirmed and in hand.
Read next of kin rights when someone dies abroad for how UK family authority works alongside a foreign administrative process, or see repatriation from Eritrea to the UK for the full picture.
Contact Repatriate Service on +44 7703 577246 at any hour, or use the enquiry form below.