Repatriation

What is repatriation?

Repatriation is name given to the process of returning a deceased to their ‘home’ country.  This page will provide guidance for repatriations to the Falkland Islands and repatriations from the Falkland Islands.

What is HM Coroner’s involvement?

HM Coroner’s duty to make inquiries into a death arises from the presence of a body within the Falkland Islands.  This duty applies to those who are being repatriated to and from the Falkland Islands equally.

Repatriations to the Falkland Islands

If you are making arrangements for a deceased to be repatriated to the Falkland Islands, you should notify HM Coroner of the arrangements.

When you notify HM Coroner of the arrangements, you should complete form COR25B, which requires the following information:

• Your name and contact information;
• The name of the person being repatriated;
• The date of birth and death of the person being repatriated;
• The cause of death of the person being repatriated;
• Any documents you have been provided by any authority about the death of the person being repatriated, for example inquest notes, certificate of death, freedom from infection certificate, embalming certificate;
• The date of arrival in the Falkland Islands for the person being repatriated and associated travel itinerary.

Repatriations from the Falkland Islands

If you are making arrangements for a person to be repatriated from the Falkland Islands you do not need permission from HM Coroner.  However, it is local practice for HM Coroner to confirm that they have no objection to the repatriation.

Please complete, and submit, form COR25 to the Coroner’s office.

Repatriation via South Atlantic Airbridge

If you are arranging a repatriation through this route, you will need to have the following information to make the booking:

• Details of who is financially responsible for the repatriation
• Confirmation that an undertaker has been arranged to meet the flight at RAF Brize Norton
• Confirmation from Customs
• Certificate of Death or Interim Certificate of Fact of Death
• Order for Removal of Body from Jurisdiction from HM Coroner;
• Certificate of personal particulars
• Free From Infection Certificate from the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital
• Order For Burial/Cremation issued by HM Coroner (if applicable)
• Passport of the person being repatriated.

Repatriation via other routes

If you are arranging a repatriation via another route, you should check individual requirements.