When someone dies in Botswana
This guide gives advice about the death of a British person in Botswana, including information on burial, cremation and repatriation.
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 if you’re not sure if they had insurance.
The insurance company should appoint a funeral director in Botswana 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. You can find a branch of the National Registration Office at all government hospitals. Your funeral director can normally do this for you if they have written authorisation from you to act on your behalf, along with your notarised form of identity. Deaths should be registered within 30 days of occurrence.
You will need information and documents about the person who has died, including:
- death notification tear-off (given by the doctor who certified the death)
- the passport of the person who died
- statement from declarant and certified copy of their valid national identity document
For late registration (after 30 days) or deaths that occurred outside health facilities, you will need additional documents, including:
- letter of confirmation of death from local chief or authority
- statements from two witnesses who know of the death and certified copies of their valid national identity documents
Getting a death certificate
After registering the death, you will get a death certificate. Death certificates are provided in English. It’s worth asking for extra copies of the death certificate, as you might need them to show to people later.
Post-mortems in Botswana
A post-mortem is a medical examination of the body. There might be one in Botswana if the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent.
Cultural or religious sensitivities may not be taken into account. Small tissue samples and organs may be removed for testing without the family’s permission. You will not automatically be told if this happens.
If organs are removed, they will normally be returned before the person’s body is released for burial. In exceptional circumstances body parts may be kept without permission. This might happen if further investigation is needed. The next of kin will be informed if this happens.
Post-mortem reports are not usually given to the next of kin. If you have a lawyer, they can apply for a copy or request the preliminary report from the medical or forensic team.
Burying or cremating the body in Botswana
You need a local funeral director to arrange a burial or cremation in Botswana.
Botswana law states that foreigners may only be buried in Botswana with the permission of their country of nationality. This means the next of kin must obtain a letter from the British High Commission.
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 Botswana.
When taking the person’s body to the UK from Botswana you will need to show:
- the death certificate
- copy of passport of the person who died
- a certificate of embalming
- a certificate giving permission to transfer the remains to the UK
Bringing the ashes to the UK
Ask your funeral director about the rules for bringing ashes to the UK.
Bringing the ashes to the UK yourself
If you are taking the ashes with you when you leave Botswana you will need to:
- show the death certificate
- show the cremation certificate
- show the Ministry of Health letter confirming the ashes are disease-free
- follow any local Botswana rules for taking ashes out of the country. Your funeral director can advise you
- inform the airline in advance
Arranging for the ashes to be taken to the UK
Ask your funeral director for advice if you cannot take the ashes yourself. You may not be able to send them by post or courier. Ashes can be shipped by air freight, although this can be expensive.
Getting the person’s belongings back
Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to the next of kin or the Botswana police.
If you bring the person’s body to the UK, you can ask your local funeral director to collect all the belongings and transport them together.
If they were a Botswana resident, their personal belongings may be considered part of their estate, which means that you may not be able to collect them. Get legal advice if this is the case.
Belongings may be kept as evidence if there is an investigation into the death. This will only be returned when the court case is over.
Finding a Botswana lawyer
You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Botswana legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Botswana. The High Commission in Botswana 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 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 +44 (0)20 7008 5000
- see how to get help from the UK government abroad
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