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Landscape in the Gambia
“Reliable, professional, a reasonable price, and most important of all, my brother arrived exactly on time.”
Gezimon Trustpilot
Our funeral ambulance on an airport apron, a plane behind it

By air, arranged end to end

Routes this far go by air. We book the flight, prepare the papers the airline asks for, and our partners receive your loved one at the other end.

Everything in the estimate

  • The paperwork at both ends
  • Collection
  • Hygienic treatment
  • A sealed coffin
  • Transport, by road or by air
  • One specialist, start to finish
A written quote on a desk

One price, in writing, before anything moves

Before anything is booked you have an itemised quote in writing, and nothing is added to it afterwards, so you can plan without surprises.

In the families’ own words

“We were so worried about the process of getting my mum safely back home to Slovakia, but every detail was handled with care, compassion and professionalism.”
Sofia BartkovaUK to Slovakia
“Our loved one died on holiday in Egypt and what felt impossible was made possible. They kept us informed every step, translated everything, and their reps in Egypt worked so hard for us.”
NatEgypt to UK
“Their pricing was competitive and the process was incredibly fast. What stood out most was the attentive and caring staff who spoke Italian fluently.”
GenovesiUK to Italy
Two of our team at the front desk of our office

One specialist, from the first call to the last

The same person holds your case, deals with the offices at both ends and tells you when each step is done, so you never have to explain it twice.

Rated excellent, 4.8 out of 5

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Repatriation to and from Gambia

£4,500

Estimated, all inclusive

Enquire now, no obligation
  • Usually 2 to 7 days
  • Agreed in writing
  • We answer any hour

  • Our fees, and one specialist from the first call to the last
  • Collection from the hospital or mortuary
  • Hygienic treatment, and care until your loved one travels
  • A sealed coffin that meets the route’s requirements
  • All the paperwork required
  • Transport by road in our own refrigerated funeral ambulances, or by air where the road is not possible

When your loved one needs an urgent collection, usually from a home: the estimate covers collection from a hospital or mortuary. Tell us where they are on the first call and the written quote includes it, with any of the costs specific to Gambia that apply.

The estimate for any country, in either direction, and what it covers.

Work out an estimate for another countryWork out an estimate for another country

How body repatriation works, step by step

Four steps between Gambia and the UK, and we do all of them. You hear from us at each one, not only at the end.

  1. The first call

    You tell us where your loved one is, in Gambia or in the UK. We tell you the cost and what happens next, at any hour.

  2. The paperwork

    The death certificate, the permit to travel and the papers the carrier needs. We obtain them in Gambia and here.

  3. Care and transport

    Hygienic treatment and a sealed coffin. Most routes travel by road in our own vehicles, by air only where the distance calls for it.

  4. Arrival

    By road, we drive on to the funeral director you have chosen, or to ours. By air, collection at the destination is an optional extra.

The papers we obtain for you

This is the set most routes need. Where a country asks for something else, we tell you before we quote, and we obtain that too.

  • Out of England permission

    From the coroner, when the death happened in England.

  • Free from infection certificate

    Confirms there is no infectious disease, for the carrier and the receiving country.

  • Funeral director’s declaration

    Our signed declaration for the transport.

  • Embalming certificate

    Where the route or the receiving country requires one.

  • Apostille

    Where the receiving country asks for one.

  • Translations

    Certified, where a document is not in the receiving country’s language.

Procedures change from time to time, so this list may lag behind them. We keep up with every change and confirm what your case needs on the first call.

What we need from you

  • The death certificate

    Or the coroner’s interim certificate, where there is an inquest.

  • Their passport

    Or a copy to begin with. We tell you if the original is needed.

  • Your permission for us to act

    A short form we send you to sign, so we can deal with the offices for your family.

What we need from you

  • Their passport, or a copy

    Whatever you have to hand. We tell you what else is needed.

  • Any papers you already hold from Gambia

    A death certificate or a hospital letter, if you have one. If not, we obtain it.

  • Your permission for us to act

    A short form we send you to sign, so we can deal with the offices for your family.

Repatriation between Gambia and the United Kingdom

The whole route in plain terms, in both directions, written for someone reading it for the first time.

Repatriation from The Gambia to the United Kingdom

Bringing a loved one home from The Gambia is a long-haul repatriation that draws together the Gambian civil-registry formalities, the certificates needed for international air transport, and the receiving arrangements in the UK. Many families are visiting, working or retired in The Gambia when a death occurs, and the distance and paperwork can feel daunting from home. We coordinate the whole process from the UK, working with a local funeral director, so the family does not have to deal with Gambian offices or the airline directly. If you are at the very start of this, our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms.

English is the official language of The Gambia and documents are issued in English, so no translation is needed for the UK. The documents are legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Gambia's High Commission before they are relied on here, and we manage that legalisation as part of the service.

The process in The Gambia

A death is registered with the Registry of Births and Deaths in Banjul, which issues the death certificate. Registration is based on the medical certificate of death from the hospital or mortuary. Where a death is sudden, unnatural or of unknown cause, the coroner at the local Magistrates' Court may order a post-mortem, and a local funeral director carries out the hygienic treatment (embalming) and preparation. On that basis the Gambian civil-registry death certificate is issued, together with a certificate of hygienic treatment and a certificate giving permission to move your loved one to the UK. Our local funeral director arranges registration, preparation and the export formalities under authorisation from the next of kin.

Preparation and transport

For international carriage your loved one receives hygienic treatment and is placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin suitable for the funeral in the UK. The route from Banjul is made by air to a UK airport. Airlines carry your loved one by air, with the documents accompanying them, under strict rules, so we make sure the paperwork is complete and legalised before the flight is booked, to avoid delays at the terminal, and we stay with them through to the receiving funeral director in the UK.

Bringing your loved one into the UK

On arrival in the UK, the family can arrange the funeral. A burial can generally proceed on the legalised Gambian death certificate. For a cremation in England and Wales, the coroner must first give authority using the Cremation Form 6, once satisfied that no further investigation is needed (in Scotland, the procurator fiscal; in Northern Ireland, the coroner). You can read more about the coroner's role in England in our resource centre. The Gambia is a predominantly Muslim country and many Gambian families in the UK wish to observe an early burial; where the wish is to bring a loved one home, we arrange the repatriation with respect for religious observance while meeting the requirements for international transport.

Timelines and what affects them

A repatriation from The Gambia usually takes 2 to 7 days from first contact, over a distance of roughly 4,500 km. The timing depends on how quickly the Registry issues the death certificate, the legalisation of the documents, the hygienic treatment and preparation, and the availability of a suitable flight from Banjul. Where the police or a coroner in The Gambia are involved and a post-mortem is ordered, release can take longer.

This estimate is counted from when the death is registered, and our team does everything possible to complete the repatriation sooner.

Costs and financial support

We confirm a firm, fixed quote at first contact. The figure depends on where in The Gambia the death occurred, the airport routing, and local funeral-home and legalisation fees. A UK estate, travel insurance or a life-insurance policy may cover part of the cost, and we help you check what the policy covers.

Authorities involved

  • Registry of Births and Deaths, Banjul: registers the death and issues the death certificate.
  • Hospital or mortuary: issues the medical certificate of death on which registration is based.
  • Coroner at the local Magistrates' Court: oversees any post-mortem where a death is sudden, unnatural or of unknown cause.
  • Local funeral director: carries out hygienic treatment and handles the export formalities under the family's authorisation.
  • UK coroner / procurator fiscal: where a cremation is planned in England and Wales, authorises it via Cremation Form 6 (in Scotland, the procurator fiscal; in Northern Ireland, the coroner).

Documents required

  • Gambian civil-registry death certificate: issued by the Registry of Births and Deaths in Banjul (in English; no translation needed).
  • Medical certificate of death: from the hospital or mortuary, confirming the cause of death.
  • Certificate of hygienic treatment: confirming preparation to international transport standard.
  • Certificate giving permission to move your loved one to the UK: the export authorisation.
  • Coroner's authority (Cremation Form 6): only where a cremation is planned in England and Wales.

Repatriation from the United Kingdom to The Gambia

When someone dies in the UK and is to be returned to The Gambia for burial, the process brings together the UK coroner's formalities, the requirements of the Gambian authorities, and a long-haul flight to Banjul. Because The Gambia is a predominantly Muslim country, families usually wish to hold the burial as soon as your loved one arrives, and we work to move the paperwork and the transport forward without delay. We manage the whole process on both sides so the family does not have to deal with UK offices in English. Our repatriation hub sets out the essentials if you are at the start.

Taking a loved one out of England and Wales follows a set UK procedure; the requirements of the Gambian authorities then set the standard for the documents that must accompany your loved one and for the way the coffin is prepared.

Telling the coroner: taking a loved one out of England and Wales

Before a loved one can be taken out of England and Wales, the law requires that the coroner for the district be given at least four clear days' notice (the Removal of Bodies Regulations 1954). The coroner then issues an acknowledgement, the "out of England" notice, confirming there is no objection to removal, and can release your loved one sooner where satisfied that no further enquiries are needed. We give this notice and obtain the acknowledgement on the family's behalf. In Scotland the equivalent authority is the procurator fiscal; in Northern Ireland, the coroner.

Arriving in The Gambia: the receiving formalities

Your loved one travels after hygienic treatment (embalming), placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin, accompanied by the UK death certificate, the coroner's out-of-England acknowledgement, and certificates of hygienic treatment and freedom from infection. Those documents are legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Gambia's High Commission before departure. On arrival at Banjul, a local funeral director receives your loved one and handles the local formalities for the burial. We prepare the document file and coordinate directly with the receiving family or funeral director so no one is left to arrange matters from a distance.

Preparation and transport

Your loved one receives hygienic treatment and is placed in a sealed transport coffin suitable for international carriage. The route is made by air to Banjul on a scheduled service, generally connecting through a European or West African hub. Our team collects your loved one from the UK hospital, mortuary or funeral director, completes the airline's requirements for carrying a coffin, and stays with them through to the receiving family or funeral director in The Gambia.

Timelines and what affects them

A repatriation from the UK to The Gambia usually takes 2 to 7 days from first contact, over a distance of roughly 4,500 km. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner (which can sometimes be shortened at the coroner's discretion), the legalisation of the documents through the FCDO and the High Commission, and flight availability to Banjul. Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation, the timeline can be longer. We press to keep the interval as short as the process allows, mindful of the wish for an early burial.

This estimate is counted from when the death is registered, and our team does everything possible to complete the repatriation sooner.

Costs and financial support

We confirm a firm, fixed quote at first contact. The figure depends on the flight routing to Banjul, the legalisation fees, and any UK funeral-home and mortuary fees. A UK estate, a life-insurance policy, a community fund or your loved one's own arrangements may cover part of the cost, and we help you check what the policy covers.

Authorities involved

  • UK coroner (or procurator fiscal in Scotland): must be given at least four clear days' notice before your loved one is taken out of England and Wales, and issues the "out of England" acknowledgement.
  • UK registrar: registers the death and issues the death certificate that accompanies your loved one.
  • Embalmer / UK funeral director: carries out hygienic treatment and preparation to international transport standard and provides the sealed transport coffin.
  • Airline and Gambian customs at Banjul: set the conditions for carrying a coffin and clear your loved one on arrival.
  • Receiving family or funeral director in The Gambia: takes your loved one into their care for the burial.

Documents required

  • UK death certificate: issued by the registrar once the death is registered.
  • Coroner's "out of England" acknowledgement: after at least four clear days' notice.
  • Hygienic treatment certificate: confirming preparation to international transport standard.
  • Free from infection certificate: confirming no public-health risk in transit.
  • Sealed transport coffin: as required for international carriage to The Gambia, with the documents legalised through the FCDO and The Gambia's High Commission.

Questions families ask us about bringing someone home from Gambia

Your loved one travels with the Gambian civil-registry death certificate from the Registry of Births and Deaths in Banjul, a certificate of hygienic treatment, and a certificate giving permission to move your loved one to the UK. The documents are legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Gambia's High Commission.

Gambian documents are in English, so no translation is needed. We obtain and legalise everything on your behalf.

Usually 2 to 7 days from first contact, over a distance of roughly 4,500 km. This mainly reflects the distance and the legalisation of the documents.

The timing depends on how quickly the Registry issues the death certificate, the hygienic treatment and preparation, and the availability of a suitable flight from Banjul. Where the police or a coroner are involved and a post-mortem is ordered, release can take longer.

No. We coordinate directly with a local funeral director in Banjul, the Registry of Births and Deaths and the airline, so the family does not need to travel or deal with Gambian offices.

The process is arranged remotely on the basis of a simple written authorisation from the next of kin.

Yes. We understand that many Gambian families wish to observe an early burial in line with Islamic tradition, and we work as quickly as the formalities allow. Where the wish is to bring a loved one home to the UK, international air transport requires hygienic treatment and a freedom-from-infection measure, which we arrange with care and respect for religious observance.

We can also liaise with your mosque and funeral director in the UK so the burial can follow soon after arrival.

The quoted price covers the Gambian documentation and legalisation, hygienic treatment, a sealed transport coffin, the export certificate, air transport to the UK and handover to your funeral director. We put a firm price in writing on the first call, and that is the figure on the invoice.

Questions families ask us about repatriation to Gambia

Before removal, the coroner must be given at least four clear days' notice and issues an "out of England" acknowledgement. Your loved one then travels after hygienic treatment, in a sealed, transport-standard coffin, accompanied by the UK death certificate and certificates of hygienic treatment and freedom from infection.

The documents are legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Gambia's High Commission before departure. We complete the coroner notification and the legalisation on the family's behalf.

Usually 2 to 7 days from first contact, over a distance of roughly 4,500 km. The distance to Banjul, the legalisation of the UK documents, and flight availability are the main factors.

Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation, the timeline can be longer. We press to keep the interval as short as the process allows, mindful of the wish for an early burial.

We do everything we can to respect the wish for an early burial. International air transport still requires hygienic treatment and a sealed transport coffin, set by the airline and Gambian customs rather than by choice, and we carry these out with dignity.

We work to keep the interval before burial as short as the documents and flights allow, and we adapt where the family follows another faith or custom.

No. We handle the UK coroner's formalities and registration in English, and arrange the legalisation of the documents through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Gambia's High Commission.

The family provides a simple written authorisation, and we coordinate both sides of the process remotely.

The quoted price covers the coroner notification, the legalisation of the documents, hygienic treatment, a sealed transport coffin, the transport certificates, and air transport to Banjul with handover to the receiving family or funeral director. We put a firm price in writing on the first call, and that is the figure on the invoice.

Every other country, in both directions

We bring loved ones home to the UK from anywhere, and from the UK to anywhere in the world. Three more routes written up in the same detail: repatriation to and from Ghana, Kenya and Malawi.

Talk to a specialistRepatriation routes for every country

“We were so worried about the process of getting my mum safely back home to Slovakia, but every detail was handled with care, compassion and professionalism.”

Sofia Bartkova
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