What to do if someone dies in Ethiopia

A death in Ethiopia is one of the most logistically demanding repatriations a UK family will encounter. The combination of remote death locations, Amharic documentation, limited regional infrastructure, and a multi-authority process means specialist experience with East Africa is essential from the first contact.

Step 1: Notify the British Embassy Addis Ababa

The British Embassy in Addis Ababa must be notified on the day of death. Address: Comoros Street, PO Box 858, Addis Ababa. Phone: +251 11 617 0100. FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 1908 516666.

The Embassy also covers Djibouti; specify Ethiopia clearly when calling. Consular staff register the death with UK authorities and advise on current Ethiopian government requirements.

Step 2: The regional transfer problem

This is the first and most urgent practical issue for deaths outside Addis Ababa.

Deaths in Lalibela require a domestic Ethiopian Airlines flight from Lalibela Airport (LLI) to Addis Ababa. Deaths in the Simien Mountains require road or light aircraft evacuation to Gondar (GDQ), then onward to Addis Ababa. Deaths in the Omo Valley require road transport to Jinka or Arba Minch, then domestic flights to Addis Ababa. Deaths in the Danakil Depression require evacuation — this is one of the most physically hostile environments on earth and evacuation logistics are complex.

Your specialist coordinates this transfer with local agents. The body cannot leave its location until the Federal Police have cleared the scene.

Step 3: Federal Police investigation

For violent, sudden, or unexplained deaths anywhere in Ethiopia, the Federal Police take jurisdiction. The body cannot be moved until the Federal Police have formally cleared it. In Addis Ababa, this process can be completed within 7 to 10 days for clear cases. In the regions, allow longer for the Federal Police to reach the location and complete their investigation.

Step 4: Death registration

Deaths are registered with the Addis Ababa City Administration civil registry or the relevant regional authority. Documentation is in Amharic (Ge’ez script). Certified translation into English is a specialist task — general East African language services typically do not cover Amharic. Your repatriation specialist sources this alongside the documentation process.

Step 5: Post-mortem and Ministry of Health export permit

For post-mortems ordered by the Federal Police, St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College in Addis Ababa is the primary facility. The body must be in Addis Ababa before the post-mortem can be conducted.

Once the post-mortem report is complete and the Federal Police have issued a release, the Ministry of Health issues the export permit. Required documents: death certificate, Federal Police release, post-mortem report, embalming certificate, freedom from contagious disease clearance. Allow 5 to 10 days for the permit.

Step 6: Embalming

Embalming is required for international repatriation. Licensed mortuaries in Addis Ababa carry out the procedure. Do not proceed with embalming until the Federal Police have released the body.

Step 7: Routing to the UK

Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) is Ethiopian Airlines’ main hub and one of the busiest in Africa. The airline operates services to London Heathrow. Cargo booking proceeds once all export documentation is in place. Source: FCDO guidance on death in Ethiopia; Federal Police procedures; Ministry of Health export regulations; British Embassy Addis Ababa consular guidance (2023).