Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from France to Cabo Verde
For British families. 24/7 support, every step handled.
Key facts
Repatriation from France to Cabo Verde: what to expect
Repatriation from France to Cabo Verde follows France's civil registration and export procedures. Most cases take 2-4 weeks.
- Key document: acte de deces (death certificate from the local mairie)
- Documentation takes 5-10 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- British Embassy in Paris can advise. They cannot fund repatriation.
- France is a Hague Apostille member (1960). This simplifies document authentication.
- Documentation is issued in French. Certified translation is required where needed.
The process
What happens after a death in France
Call 15 (SAMU), 17 (police), or 112 for emergency services. Death is registered at the local mairie (town hall) within 24 hours. The official death certificate is the acte de deces. The Procureur de la Republique (public prosecutor) takes jurisdiction for violent, suspicious, or unexplained deaths. France is a Hague Apostille Convention member since 1960. Death certificates are issued in French. The British Embassy in Paris can assist British nationals. (FCDO Travel Advice France 2025; French Ministry of Justice civil registration procedures 2025.)
Step by step
Timeline: France to Cabo Verde
Immediate steps after death. Report to local emergency services and contact a specialist at once.
Day of death. FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Acte de deces (death certificate from the local mairie) obtained from local mairie (town hall) or commune civil registration office.
Registration must occur promptly. The Procureur de la Republique takes jurisdiction for violent or suspicious deaths. A judicial investigation can significantly delay body release.
Local funeral director and civil registry
Embassy or consulate notified. Notify the British Embassy Lisbon, Portugal. Hague Apostille applies (Cabo Verde joined 2010).
Simultaneous with Step 1. Embassy provides list of local funeral directors.
Family or repatriation specialist
Embalming and preparation for international air transport.
After body released by authorities. IATA P650 requirements apply.
Licensed local funeral director
All export permits and authenticated documents obtained. The acte de deces is issued in French. Certified translation into the destination country's language is required for all non-French-speaking destinations.
Allow 5-10 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), Paris Orly (ORY), Lyon Saint-Exupery (LYS), or other major French airport to Amilcar Cabral International Airport (SID), Sal Island, Cabo Verde's main international gateway.
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Funeral director in Cabo Verde takes custody at the cargo terminal at Amilcar Cabral International Airport (SID), Sal Island. Conservatoria do Registo Civil notified. Death certificate issued in Portuguese.
Within 24-48 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In Cabo Verde
When the body arrives in Cabo Verde
The funeral director in Cabo Verde takes custody at the cargo terminal at Amilcar Cabral International Airport (SID) on Sal Island. Death is registered with the local Conservatoria do Registo Civil (Civil Registration Office), under the Direcao-Geral dos Registos, Notariado e Identificacao. Cabo Verde has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 13 February 2010. Death certificates are issued in Portuguese.
Consular support
There is no resident British embassy in Cabo Verde. The British Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal, covers Cabo Verde and can advise on documentation. Hague Apostille applies (Cabo Verde, member since 2010).
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from France to Cabo Verde
In a straightforward case, repatriation from France to Cabo Verde takes 2-4 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 7-14 days. Complex cases involving criminal investigation or remote locations can take 4-8 weeks.
The core documents are: acte de deces (death certificate from the local mairie), embalming certificate, freedom from infection certificate, passport of the deceased, and all required export permits. The acte de deces is issued in French. Certified translation into the destination country's language is required for all non-French-speaking destinations. Source: FCDO Travel Advice France 2025.
The Paris-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 Cabo Verde takes custody at the cargo terminal at Amilcar Cabral International Airport (SID) on Sal Island. Death is registered with the local Conservatoria do Registo Civil (Civil Registration Office), under the Direcao-Geral dos Registos, Notariado e Identificacao. Cabo Verde has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 13 February 2010. Death certificates are issued in Portuguese. All documentation from France must be in order before the body is released for the funeral.
Yes. Cremation in France 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.
No. Cabo Verde has no cremation facilities anywhere in the archipelago. Embalming facilities exist on only three of its ten islands: Praia, Mindelo, and Espargos on Sal. Death certificates are issued only in Portuguese, so certified translation is required for UK use.
We are here to help, any time of day or night
If your loved one has passed away in France, please do not face this alone. Our team will guide you through every step of bringing them home.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) guidance, official embassy contacts, and professional repatriation experience. Updated July 2026.
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · France repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions