How do you bring a loved one home from Azerbaijan?

Timeline

How long does repatriation from Azerbaijan take?

In most cases, repatriation from Azerbaijan takes 18-28 days. The fastest straightforward cases complete in 10-18 days. Complex cases involving a post-mortem, criminal investigation, or a remote location can extend to 28-50 days or beyond.

What makes a case complex?

• Autopsy and cause of death certification by the Republican Centre of Forensic Medical Expertise, Baku required for all unnatural deaths
• No Strasbourg Convention; full bilateral processing required
• Certified Azerbaijani legal translation of all official documents required
• Greater Caucasus mountain deaths require evacuation from high-altitude or rural areas before documentation
• Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone: deaths in or near this area involve additional authorities and unpredictable timelines

Documentation

What documents are required to bring a body home from Azerbaijan?

All of these documents must be in place before air transport can proceed. Your appointed repatriation coordinator will obtain most of them.

British Embassy

What does the British Embassy in Azerbaijan do when someone dies?

The British Embassy provides consular assistance, which includes giving you a list of local funeral directors, helping you notify relatives, and advising on local procedures. What the Embassy cannot do is pay for repatriation, organise the funeral director, or make arrangements on your behalf.

Getting started

How do you start the repatriation process from Azerbaijan?

Call a specialist repatriation company. Do not wait until all other steps are complete. A specialist can begin the process immediately, even before the local death certificate has been issued.

You will need to provide: the name of the deceased, the location of the body, your contact details, and the name and contact of the local hospital or authority holding the body.