When someone dies in Cape Verde
Source: gov.uk (2025-06-16)

The process when a British national dies in Cape Verde, including registering the death, funerals and cremations, and bringing the person’s body to the UK.

Contacting the insurance company

If the person who died had insurance, contact their insurance company as soon as possible. Read the general guidance on what to do when someone dies abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-national-dies-abroad) if you’re not sure if they had insurance.

The insurance company should appoint a funeral director in Cape Verde and the UK. They may also cover the cost of bringing the person’s body to the UK (repatriation) and help with any medical, legal, interpretation and translation fees.

Registering the death

The death must be registered at the local registry office. Your funeral director can normally do this for you. Officials at the Register Office will register the death based on information on the death certificate issued by the doctor/pathologist who has certified the death.

You will need to provide accurate information and/or documents about the person who has died to the doctor or the pathologist, including:
- their full details and parents’ names
- their official identity document (for example their British passport)
Getting a death certificate

Registration with the Cape Verdean Civil Registration Office (Conservatória do Registo Civil) is mandatory. This is normally dealt with by the funeral director. Cape Verdean death certificates are only available in Portuguese. There is no international version available.

Post mortems in Cape Verde

A post mortem is a medical examination of the body. There might be one in [Cape Verde if the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent and the police and medical authorities suspect foul play.

There are only 2 pathologists in the archipelago, and it can therefore take up to 10 days for post mortem examinations to be carried out. On conclusion of the examination, the pathologist will issue a death certificate with the cause of death. The body will be released to the local funeral director for burial or repatriation.

The Cape Verde authorities may not be able to take into consideration cultural or religious sensitivities. Complementary tests, such as histological or toxicological tests, are not available in Cape Verde. Any organs removed for examination are replaced before the body is sutured. Organ donation is not available in Cape Verde. Embalming is carried out at the hospital morgue by the funeral director.

Post mortem reports are not usually given to the next of kin. If you have a lawyer, they can apply for a copy.

Burying, repatriating or cremating the body in Cape Verde

The options available are local burial or repatriation. Local burial has to take place within 24 hours. You need a local funeral director (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/funeral-directors?country=Cape%20Verde) to arrange a burial in Cape Verde. The law does not establish a timescale for repatriation.

Cremation is not available in Cape Verde.

Bringing the body to the UK

Ask your funeral director about the options for bringing the person’s body to the UK from Cape Verde.

Getting the person’s belongings back

Any personal belongings found on your relative at the time of their death will be handed over to you or taken by the police. We are unable to collect or forward personal belongings on your behalf.

Finding a Portuguese translator

You may need a translator to help you understand Cape Verdean rules or get documents translated. Check Portuguese translators in Cape Verde (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/translators-interpreters?country=Cape%20Verde) and Portuguese translators in Portugal (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/translators-interpreters?country=Portugal). British Consular Services cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs.

Finding a Cape Verde lawyer

You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Cape Verde legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Cape Verde (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/lawyers?country=Cape%20Verde). British Consular Services cannot give you legal advice or pay for legal costs.

Telling the UK authorities

Although you do not have to register the death in the UK, when someone dies abroad you still need to tell the UK authorities. Read general guidance on what to do when someone dies abroad (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-national-dies-abroad) to find out what to do.

Contacting the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)

You can contact the FCDO if you still need advice:
- in the UK call xx-xxxx-xxxx
- see how to get help from the UK government abroad (https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/home)