When someone dies in Benin
Source: gov.uk (2025-02-28)

The process when a British national dies in Benin, 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 Benin 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 Beninois registry office. Your funeral director (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/funeral-directors?country=Benin) can normally do this for you.

You will need information and documents about you and the person who has died, including:
- full names
- dates of birth
- passport numbers
Getting a death certificate

After registering the death, you will get a death certificate in French. You can ask for an English version. Beninois death certificates usually give the cause of death. It’s worth asking for extra copies of the death certificate, as you might need them to show to other people later.

If the person died in a hospital, the hospital will arrange the death certificate. This may be done in a week.

If the person did not die in a hospital, a coroner must establish the cause of death before a death certificate is issued – this may take some time.

Post mortems in Benin

A post mortem is a medical examination of the body. This is not performed in all cases of death. There might be one in Benin if the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent. Family members of the person who died can also request a post mortem examination. In Benin, government appointed pathologists usually carry out post mortems in a hospital.

There is no official fee for a post mortem. However, in practice, the pathologist may charge a fee for services and expenses. Also, there may be fees for toxicology and histology reports. Fee levels are not consistent, so you should ask beforehand.

During the post mortem, all or part of a body may be kept if it is in the interest of medical science and if the relatives consent.

Post-mortem reports are usually given to the next of kin. Next of kin can request a preliminary report by sending a request to the pathologist.

Burying or cremating the body in Benin

You need a local funeral director (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/funeral-directors?country=Benin) to arrange a burial in Benin. Your funeral director can give you advice.

Cremation is not possible in Benin. There are no cremation facilities.

You should not have the person cremated abroad if you want a coroner in England and Wales to conduct an inquest into their death. In Scotland, a further investigation may still be possible.

Bringing the body to the UK

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

When a body is to be transported out of Benin, it is embalmed first. The body is then placed in a galvanised tin coffin with a special filter. The coffin is then placed in a suitable packing case that can support the weight of the container and the remains.

Getting the person’s belongings back

If the person who died had insurance, check with the insurance company if this covers the return of their personal belongings.

Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to you or the Beninois police.

If you bring the person’s body to the UK, you can ask your local funeral director (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/funeral-directors?country=Benin) to collect all the belongings and transport them together.

The British High Commission or Consulate cannot take responsibility for the personal belongings of the person who died.

Finding a French translator

You may need a translator to help you understand Beninois rules or get documents translated. Check official translators in Benin (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/translators-interpreters?country=Benin). The British High Commission in Accra cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs.

Finding a Beninois lawyer

You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Beninois legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Benin (https://find-a-professional-service-abroad.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/find/lawyers?country=Benin). The British High Commission Accra 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/posts/benin/british-high-commission-accra)