Repatriation of remains

The Embassy clears the repatriation of the remains of Zimbabwean nationals who die in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia or Lithuania. Where all the documents are in order, the undertaker deals directly with funeral directors in Zimbabwe, which avoids delays.

Documents needed

• A copy of the death certificate
• A copy of the post-mortem report
• A copy of the embalming certificate
• A copy of the certificate of non-infectious disease
• A copy of the permit to repatriate the remains
• A copy of the deceased’s Zimbabwean passport (pages 1 to 5 of an old passport, the last page of a new one)
• A declaration from the funeral home that nothing hazardous or flammable is enclosed
• A letter or affidavit from a representative of the family asking for burial in Zimbabwe
• The Embassy’s service fee

The original documents travel with the remains. All the documents must show the name on the deceased’s Zimbabwean identity documents. When the remains travel by air, the documents are sent to the undertakers in Zimbabwe with the names and telephone numbers of the undertakers here.

If the deceased had no Zimbabwean passport

The undertaker contacts the Embassy with, in addition:

• The Zimbabwean national ID card or birth certificate of the deceased, or of the person reporting the death
• An affidavit from the next of kin confirming that the deceased was a Zimbabwean national and their relationship, and saying whether the deceased had a passport, lost it or never had one

The Embassy then seeks the necessary clearances from Harare.