Repatriation from Australia to Solomon Islands

In a straightforward case, repatriation from Australia to Solomon Islands takes 2-4 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 10-14 days. Complex cases involving criminal investigation or remote locations can take 4-8 weeks.

The core documents are: death certificate (state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages registry), embalming certificate, freedom from infection certificate, passport of the deceased, and all required export permits. Death certificates are issued in English. No translation is required for English-speaking destinations. Certified translation may be required for non-English-speaking destinations. Source: FCDO Travel Advice Australia 2025.

The Canberra-based British embassy or high commission can register the death with UK authorities, provide a list of local funeral directors, and advise on documentation. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

The funeral director in Solomon Islands takes custody at the cargo terminal at Honiara International Airport (HIR). Connections to onward destinations run via Brisbane or Port Moresby. Death registration goes through the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, with the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force investigating non-natural deaths. Solomon Islands is not a Hague Apostille Convention member; documents require standard legalisation. English common law applies throughout, a legacy of British rule until 1978, so documentation is in English with no translation step. A death on any of the outer islands beyond Guadalcanal requires transfer to Honiara first. Cremation is not available; full body repatriation is required. All documentation from Australia must be in order before the body is released for the funeral.

Yes. Cremation in Australia is an option in most cases, though local authorities must release the body before cremation can take place. You will need the death certificate, cremation certificate, and an export permit for the ashes. Ashes are simpler to transport than a body and carry lower cargo costs. Ask our team for specific guidance on your case.

In some respects, yes. Solomon Islands was a British protectorate until 1978, and it retains English common law and English-language civil documentation, so a case here avoids the translation step that most Pacific corridors require. What it does not avoid is geography: the country spans roughly 900 islands, and a death outside Guadalcanal needs transfer to Honiara before the standard process can start, on top of the FCDO's advice to take increased caution in parts of Honiara since the 2021 unrest.