Exporting a Deceased Body in Nigeria By Yourself
- Any family member can apply to export a decedent’s body in person.
- You can find the address and contact details of Nigeria’s National Population Commission at the following link: Contact link
- Before this, the relative must have received a medical certificate from a licensed Nigerian physician indicating the cause and manner of death.
- The LGA will issue a National Population Commission Death Certificate, keeping the certificate as an acknowledgement of the death. If the death occurred in suspicious circumstances, the LGA might request an autopsy.
- The applicant must arrange for embalming the deceased after obtaining a Certificate to Death.
- You can choose a funeral home and arrange for embalming to take place with the deceased.
- If you are exporting, make sure to approach the appropriate personnel at the office.
- A Consular Mortuary Certificate will be required by the applicant. This can be done by contacting the Embassy/Consulate of the deceased.
- The applicant should then apply for and receive a Health Permit/Warrant to Burial Permit (in the event of death due to a contagious illness) from the local authority.
- A permit to import the body is required for reception in the country.
- You can find the address and contact information for the Federal Ministry of Health on the following page: Contact link
- You should have all necessary documents.
- The applicant must then arrange for transportation of the mortal remains by any applicable means.
- The applicant may seek assistance in arranging transport from Nigeria’s representative.
- A designated official will assist the person and will direct them to arrange the documents and get the required things done.
- Follow these instructions to complete all required processes and receive the documents.
- He/she can also help with getting quotes and other details. Follow the instructions and pay all fees.
- The responsible person must arrange for the receipt of the dead body/dead body from Nigeria.
- The deceased’s funeral service and burial/cremation should be planned. So, it will be easy to export a deceased/dead person from Nigeria.
Documents Required For Exporting a Deceased
- Hospital/Medical Practitioner will confirm death confirmation with a medical certificate.
- Nigerian Death Certificate obtained through the National Population Commission
- Embassy Mortuary Certificate
- Local Mortician Affidavit
- Health Permit/Warrant to Burial
- Additional documents (as needed)
Find Office Locations and Contacts
Port Health Services unit, Federal Ministry of Health
Federal Secretariat Complex,
Phase III, ShehuShagari Way
Central Business District
Abuja,
FCT – Nigeria.
Phone: +234 812 725 6638
Email: info@health.gov.ng
Website: Homepage link
Contact: Link
What are all the Eligibility
Anyone who is a relative or family member in Nigeria and wishes to export the body of a deceased relative or family member can apply.
Fees
The representative will explain the various costs and can be obtained at the appropriate offices.
Instructions
- To avoid rejections, applicants are asked to fill out the application form accurately and completely. All required documents must also be submitted.
- If a person is pronounced dead at a hospital or another location, under known medical circumstances or due to an accident, the process for obtaining a death certificate can be quite straightforward.
- The National Population Commission of Nigeria will only issue one death certificate.
- Nigerians have a standard practice of embalming all corpses before they are transported or buried, and this usually happens within 24 hours.
Requirements Information
- Names and postal addresses of the applicant
- Number of applicant’s identification card
- Contact details
- Name of the responsible person in host country
- Address and any other details required
- Passport number
- Bank details
You will need the document
If a Nigerian deceased person is from a foreign country, and his/her body must be repatriated to that country to be buried there, the responsible person must follow the procedure.
Information that might be of assistance
- An autopsy may be required if a person is found dead in suspicious circumstances. An autopsy may be required by the LGA or police if an accident is suspected but not proven to have caused the death.
- A morgue is a facility that is connected to a hospital and can take the body to a morgue for an autopsy.
- Because of the insufficient quality refrigerated transport in Nigeria, and the poor quality roads, Embalming is usually performed before in-country transportation. This leads to long transport times.