What to do if someone dies in Panama

When Someone Dies in Panama

Panama has a resident British Embassy in Panama City, English is widely spoken in the capital, and Tocumen International Airport is one of Latin America’s best-connected hubs. For Central America, these are genuine advantages.

The complication comes with deaths outside Panama City. Bocas del Toro requires water taxi transfer to the mainland. The Chiriqui Highlands require road transfer to David. The Darien Gap has no road at all.

Step 1: Immediate Notifications

1. British Embassy Panama City — first consular contact.
2. FCDO Emergency Travel Line: 020 7008 5000 (available 24 hours).
3. Your travel insurer (notify immediately).
4. Appoint a specialist UK repatriation company.

Step 2: Natural Death vs Unnatural Death

Natural deaths are registered at the Registro Civil. A Panamanian death certificate is issued and the process can proceed relatively quickly.

Unnatural deaths — accidents, drownings, violent deaths — go to the Instituto de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses (IMELCF). This is Panama’s forensic institute. IMELCF conducts the post-mortem and issues the forensic report required before the export permit can be applied for. Allow 4 to 6 weeks for unnatural deaths through IMELCF.

The main forensic hospital is Complejo Hospitalario Dr Arnulfo Arias Madrid (CHDAAM) in Panama City.

Step 3: Bocas del Toro

Bocas del Toro archipelago on the Caribbean coast attracts backpackers and adventure travellers. The islands have no bridge to the mainland.

Transfer options:

• Water taxi from Bocas Town to Almirante (mainland), then road to Changuinola or David.
• Small aircraft between islands and mainland airstrips.

The Bocas del Toro Hospital in Bocas Town has limited capacity. For any serious forensic requirement, transfer to David or Panama City is needed. Add 2 to 4 days for this transfer.

Step 4: Chiriqui Highlands (Boquete)

Deaths around Boquete require road transfer to David, approximately 40 minutes away. Hospital Chiriqui in David handles regional cases. David to Panama City is roughly 6 hours by road or 1 hour by air on Aeroperlas or Air Panama.

Step 5: The Darien Province

Deaths in the Darien Gap require helicopter evacuation. These are rare cases but among the most complex Panama presents. Panamanian border security and immigration authorities are involved in addition to the standard forensic and repatriation process.

Step 6: Documentation

1. Death certificate from the Registro Civil.
2. Police report.
3. IMELCF forensic release (unnatural deaths).
4. Post-mortem report from CHDAAM.
5. Ministry of Health export permit.
6. Embalming certificate to IATA standards.

All documentation is in Spanish. Certified translation into English is required for UK death registration, probate, and insurance purposes.

Step 7: Cargo Routing

Tocumen International Airport (PTY) connects to Miami (American Airlines, United), Madrid (Iberia), and Bogota (Copa Airlines, which connects onward). Options are better than most of Central America. The repatriation company books the most appropriate route based on cargo capacity.

Further Information

• Repatriation from Panama overview
• British Embassy Panama City — contact details