How do you bring a loved one home from Madagascar?

Timeline

How long does repatriation from Madagascar take?

In most cases, repatriation from Madagascar takes 5–8 weeks. The fastest straightforward cases complete in 3–5 weeks. Complex cases involving a post-mortem, criminal investigation, or a remote location can extend to 3–5 months or beyond.

What makes a case complex?

• French and Malagasy documentation requiring certified translation
• Deaths in remote national parks or reserves accessible only by small aircraft or poor roads
• Limited forensic pathology capacity even in Antananarivo
• Complex unnatural death cases requiring government approval for export

Documentation

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

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 Madagascar 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 Madagascar?

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.