What to do if someone dies in Guinea-Bissau

What to Do When Someone Dies in Guinea-Bissau

Learning that a loved one has died in Guinea-Bissau is a serious situation that requires prompt, coordinated action. Guinea-Bissau has no resident UK diplomatic presence. The British Embassy in Dakar, Senegal holds non-resident consular responsibility for British nationals who die there. Distance, limited institutional capacity, and Portuguese-language documentation mean that acting quickly and engaging the right professional support makes a significant difference to outcomes.

Your First Calls

1. Contact the FCDO The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office operates a 24-hour emergency line: 020 7008 5000. Call as soon as you are able. The FCDO will confirm consular coverage and connect you with the British Embassy in Dakar.

2. Contact the British Embassy, Dakar The British Embassy in Dakar, Senegal holds non-resident consular responsibility for Guinea-Bissau. Tel: +221 33 823 7392.

3. Contact a specialist repatriation firm Given the absence of a resident UK diplomat in Bissau, engaging a specialist immediately is the most important step. A repatriation firm will handle local documentation, coordinate with Bissau authorities, arrange embalming and storage, and manage transport logistics.

4. Contact your travel insurer If the deceased had travel insurance, notify the insurer as early as possible. Most policies require prompt notification. The insurer may appoint their own assistance company, or may work with a repatriation firm you have already engaged.

Local Authorities and Documentation

In Guinea-Bissau, death certification is handled by the Conservatória do Registo Civil (Civil Registry) in the relevant district. The Polícia Judiciária is the relevant authority if there is any question of unnatural or unexplained death.

The export of human remains requires an export permit issued by the Ministério da Administração Territorial. This requires the death certificate, embalming certificate, and freedom from infection certificate to be in place first.

All documentation is in Portuguese. Certified English translations are required before UK authorities will accept any documents.

Document Checklist

Death in a Remote or Border Area

Deaths near the Senegalese Casamance border or the eastern border with Guinea present additional challenges. Access may be restricted and local authority capacity limited. A specialist repatriation firm with experience in the region is essential in these circumstances; attempting to coordinate directly with local authorities from the UK is not realistic.

Costs and Travel Insurance

Repatriation from Guinea-Bissau involves specialist embalming, local transport, documentation, and air freight. These costs are substantial. Travel insurance with repatriation cover is designed to meet these costs. If the deceased had no insurance, the FCDO can provide guidance but cannot fund repatriation — costs fall to the family.

Contact the repatriation firm directly for current cost guidance. We do not publish price estimates on this site as costs vary significantly by case.

After Repatriation: UK Death Registration

Once the body has been returned to the UK, the death must be registered with the local registrar. If the death is referred to an HM Coroner, a post-mortem or inquest may be required before the body is released for burial or cremation. The British Embassy in Dakar will issue a consular death registration that supports the UK process.

Further Reading

• Repatriation from Guinea-Bissau to the UK — full process guide
• What happens when someone dies abroad — overview of the full repatriation process
• Bringing ashes home from Guinea-Bissau — if cremation abroad is being considered

Sources: FCDO Travel Advice for Guinea-Bissau (gov.uk, accessed May 2026); FCDO Consular Services guidance.