How do you bring a loved one home from Trinidad and Tobago?

Timeline

How long does repatriation from Trinidad and Tobago take?

In most cases, repatriation from Trinidad and Tobago takes 14 to 20 days. The fastest straightforward cases complete in 10 days. Complex cases involving a post-mortem, criminal investigation, or a remote location can extend to 25 to 35 days or beyond.

What makes a case complex?

• Deaths on Tobago require inter-island transfer to Trinidad by Caribbean Airlines shuttle (20 minutes flight) or fast ferry; Tobago Regional Hospital has limited forensic capacity
• Coroner inquest is mandatory for all unnatural deaths in Trinidad and Tobago; this adds time but the process is well-established
• Large UK diaspora connection: some deaths involve complex family dynamics between UK-resident and Trinidad-resident family branches that can complicate authorisation

Documentation

What documents are required to bring a body home from Trinidad and Tobago?

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 Trinidad and Tobago 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 Trinidad and Tobago?

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.