Though the death of a loved one is a mournful time, it demands thoughtful actions for funeral ceremonies and arrangements. However, efforts double when the deceased lived away from their home country. Repatriation from foreign countries requires documentation, an identity card, consulate assistance, and high costs. If you are interested in this topic, this blog is for you. Scrolling down, you’ll learn how the repatriation of deceased from UAE is processed and the essential documents.
Repatriation of Deceased from UAE – A Comprehensive Guide
Transferring a dead body from one country to another refers to repatriation. This process becomes necessary when the deceased person lived in a foreign country and passed away. In this instance, the deceased’s family or relatives make necessary arrangements to bring the dead body back to the homeland. This process necessitates adherence to international laws, health norms, and legal regulations in the place where the deceased person died. This guide will provide a step-by-step process for repatriation from the UAE.
Essential Documents Required for Repatriation
The following documents are required to repatriate deceased from UAE. These documents guide the next-of-kin to move sequentially and transfer the dead body to the home country.
- Official Death Certificate – issued by local UAE Authorities
- Embalming Certificate
- Freedom from Infection Certificate
- No Objection Certificate
- Request Letter from Family or next-of-kin
- Passport and Identity Card
- Transport and Burial Permits
Starting with the Police Report and Death Notification
To apply for a death certificate, the police initial report and forensic reports are essential documents.
In the first place, it is essential to obtain the initial death notification.
If death occurs at home or in a public place, you should inform the local police at 999. After the initial investigation, the police will issue the death notification, required to apply for the death certificate.
When death occurs in a UAE hospital or clinic, relevant authorities are responsible to inform police and issuing a death notification.
Along with the death notification, you also need to take the following steps:
- Obtain forensic report/ medical death certificate
- Inform the deceased family, next-of-kin, employer, or sponsor in UAE
- Inform the deceased person’s embassy or consulate in the UAE
Death Certificate Requirements, Relevant Authorities, and Application Process
Next, to obtain a death certificate from the UAE, many authorities are working in different locations.
In Dubai – The primary issuer is the Dubai Health (DH) Department if death occurs in its corresponding hospitals or facilities. In other cases, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) (Preventive Medicine Department), located at Al Baraha Hospital, also issues death certificates to expatriates.
In Abu Dhabi, the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi issues these death certificates through its online portal TAMM.
Essential Documents
- Death Notification – Containing the QAID Number
- Deceased’s Passport and ID – original/ copy of both documents
- Residency Visa
- Burial Permit – issued by the UAE police
- Power of Attorney – When a person other than immediate family applies for a death certificate, a power of attorney is essential. This happens when the family does not live in the UAE, and they authorise an employer, sponsor, or someone near the ex-expatriate.
- Forensic Report – in case of a criminal record or any complexity
In the Northern Emirates – Emirate Health Services (EHS) issues the death certificates.
So, wherever you reside in the UAE, you can apply for the death certificate as per rules and regulations.
Applying for a Death Certificate in the UAE
When you have collected all the deceased’s essential documents, it will take just a few minutes to apply. Let us explore the step-by-step process:
- Go to the official website of Dubai Health (DH) or Emirates Health Services (EHS). Log in to the portal using UAE Pass.
- Submit the application, filling out all information tabs. Enter the QAID number issued by the UAE police on the death notification.
- Pay the death certificate fees, essential for applicants. If you are unable to submit the service fee, the application cannot be submitted successfully.
- Collect the death certificate electronically or physically from affiliated Public Health Centres. The death certificate is issued within 24 to 72 working hours.
Furthermore, the death certificate is issued in both English and Arabic versions.
Arabic Version – needed for UAE legal processes for repatriation
English Version – for international repatriation process, transport, cargo services, and embassy. However, an English Death certificate is valid only when it’s attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This process ensures the document’s validity and authenticity.
Embalmment, Coffin Seal, & Relevant Procedures
In this grief-stricken time, the deceased’s family has to make sensible decisions. Beyond legal issues, the embalming and repatriation are costly, and the family has to wait 10 to 15 days to return the body to the home country. In some cases, family members ask for local burials when they are unable to bear the UAE service fees for repatriation. The sponsors or next of kin do it on their behalf.
Far from cost and long waits, religious and cultural barriers demand repatriation. That is why family members ask for repatriation and embalming. However, Repatriation of human remains UAE is impossible without an embalmment certificate and services. As soon as you get the death certificate declaration and No Objection Certificate from the UAE police, immediately apply for embalmment. The embalming process involves the local Health services. Let us have a breakdown of the embalming process:
- Apply for the embalmment at UAE government-approved facilities or hospitals.
- Take the dead body to the authorised health centre for embalming services.
- As the embalming finishes, the municipal mortuary issues the embalming certificate. This certificate is mandatory for repatriation cargo and transfer services.
After embalming, the body is sealed in coffins hermetically. This process follows international laws and health standards. For repatriation of human remains and bodies, this process is mandatory.
Coordinating with the Deceased’s Embassy / Consulate
The embassy plays an outstanding role in the deceased repatriation process from the UAE. After obtaining the death certificate, it is essential to head towards the deceased’s embassy or consulate. The embassy is notified of the death, and the next procedures are requested.
- Cancellation of the deceased’s passport and visa
- Issuance of No Objection Certificate (NOC) -authorised by the Embassy
- Coordinating with the deceased’s family in the homeland
Without Visa cancellation and an Embassy-issued NOC, cargo services do not accept the dead body for repatriation. Moreover, some embassies work day and night for the welfare of their people, while in other countries, consulates provide moral and paperwork assistance. However, no embassy bears the charges of the repatriation, except immediate family members. In some cases, sponsors or employers bear the cost when they have pending payments of the deceased.
Additionally, after the legal paper work in embassy, it’s time to return to the UAE Police again. The police will issue three letters:
- A Body Release Letter – permitting hospital authorities to release the dead body
- A Letter to the Embalming Centre – permitting relevant facilities to start the embalming procedures
- A letter for Airport Authorities – a letter addressed to the airport authorities for smooth cargo and logistics operations
These permits are essential for international flights and body repatriation from UAE to other countries.
Cargo Arrangements & Airline Booking
Once all paperwork and essential documents are completed, family members or next-of-kin book the flight. Not all flights transport dead body from UAE, so it is wise to book aeroplane tickets in advance. In some cases, family members also choose the same flight for returning to their homeland. Their paperwork and flight tickets need to be handled separately.
In addition, the airline issues a bill to finalise the coffin shipment.
Before the final flight, the coffin passes through clearances including Criminal Investigation Department clearance, security, and customs clearance.
All formalities and paperwork must be completed before the final flight booking.
Conclusion
To sum up, Body repatriation via UA requires the deceased’s death certificate, ID proof, passport, visa, and some attestations. The procedure starts immediately after death. The deceased’s embassy and consulate support many processes for attestations, certificates, and more. In these trying times, the goal is to help the immediate family and hand over the deceased’s body to them as quickly as possible.
Sometimes, family members are helpless and need instant professional guidance. In the UAE, several Funeral Homes provide repatriation services from the ground up. Selecting a professional is a smart move if someone needs assistance in the repatriation of deceased from UAE. Choosing a professional is a wise decision. These companies use their professional connections to expedite and streamline the process.
FAQs
How long is the repatriation process?
Repatriation of a dead body from the UAE may take approximately 1 to 3 weeks. However, the process may shorten if all circumstances and criteria are met smoothly. It may be prolonged in case of complicated death conditions and paperwork. Embassies of some countries cooperate and try to transfer the dead body as soon as possible to the home country, while some embassies offer guidance and assistance. In such cases, next-of-kin or sponsors have to work harder for smooth repatriation.
What is the difference between expatriate and repatriate?
An expatriate is someone who lives abroad for work or other reasons, while a repatriate is someone who has returned to their home country.
What are the inheritance laws for expats in the UAE?
UAE inheritance laws for expatriates vary depending on whether the will was registered. Moreover, UAE inheritance laws also acknowledge cultural and religious restrictions. For Muslim expatriates, UAE authorities strictly regulate the Islamic inheritance rules under Shariah Law. Moreover, non-Muslims have broad freedom to inherit their assets and properties under the Federal Law Framework.