When someone dies in Bahrain
The process when a British national dies in Bahrain 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 if you’re not sure whether they had insurance.
The insurance company should appoint a funeral director in Bahrain 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
If a person dies at a hospital, the registering authority will be notified of the death by the hospital. For death outside of hospital, the Police will notify the registering authority.
Getting a death certificate
The next of kin or a person acting on the instructions of the next of kin, for example, a funeral director (known locally as Clearing Agents) can collect the death certificate and the medical notification of cause of death from the registering authority.
The death certificate is issued in English and does not require to be translated. The funeral director can arrange for the death certificate to be attested at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA).
If the person who died was a resident of Bahrain, the employer/sponsor will need to cancel the residence visa at Nationality Passport and Residence Affairs (NPRA).
The funeral director can contact the British Embassy Manama on your behalf to request a no objection letter. To get the letter, you will need the original death certificate, original notification of cause of death and the passport of the person who died (if they had more than one passport, you’ll need to show them all).
A consent form can be completed by the next of kin to authorise a third party to deal with all documentation and procedures from that point onwards. This will also need to be presented to the British Embassy.
Post-mortems in Bahrain
A post-mortem is a medical examination of the body. Under Islamic law, a body should be buried as soon as possible after death, so routine post-mortem examinations are not common. In Bahrain, post-mortems are conducted independently by the Public Prosecution Services at the Salmaniya Medical Complex, in cases of suspicious or unnatural deaths. The Public Prosecution decides if a post-mortem is necessary. If further examination is necessary, samples of organs and tissues may be taken for forensic examination at the laboratory.
Post-mortems are not conducted in cases of natural deaths or deaths certified by a doctor. If the family has any concerns about the cause of death, they will have to raise a complaint with the police.
Cultural or religious sensitivities may not be taken into account. If you would like more information on the procedure, you can ask the pathologist at the mortuary.
Post-mortem reports are not usually given to the next of kin. The UK Coroner (England and Wales) or Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (Scotland) may request a copy if it’s needed for an inquest.
Identifying the body
Before the body is buried or repatriated, someone known to the person who died must identify the body. This should be the next of kin or the visa sponsor.
The experience of viewing a body may differ from what you might encounter in the UK. Cultural practices, procedures and facilities vary, affecting the experience. This can be distressing. Speak to a consular officer for further information.
Burying or cremating the body in Bahrain
You need a funeral director, known locally as Clearing Agents, to arrange a burial or cremation in Bahrain.
The body can be released once the no objection letter (from the Embassy) is issued, which can be within a day. Burial is an option in Bahrain, and this can be arranged by one of the Churches or Mosques. If a local burial or cremation takes place, there will be no inquest carried out in the UK.
If you wish to bury your loved one at the Christian Community Cemetery at Salmabad, contact the St Christopher’s Cathedral Administrator on +973 17253866 for assistance.
Cremations are carried out at the Hindu Cremation Ground (near Aluminium Bahrain, or ALBA) in Askar. Cremation in Bahrain is done differently than in the UK. Note that the ashes may look unusual, and watching the process can be upsetting.
The body is wrapped in a shroud and transported to the crematorium. The body is then placed on the funeral pyre – a traditional, elevated, wooden structure. You can request the funeral director to arrange a coffin. You can arrange flowers and a religious advocate (priest/vicar etc) to preside over the ceremony.
A day later, the next of kin can collect the ashes. You can provide an urn or request the funeral director to arrange an urn on your behalf.
You should not have the person cremated in Bahrain 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 for guidance on repatriation, as they will arrange most of the procedures to bring the person’s body to the UK from Bahrain. Repatriations can normally take place within 7 to 10 days.
When taking the body to the UK from Bahrain, you will need to:
- show the death certificate
- show the notification of cause of death
- show the embalming and sealing certificate
- show the transfer of dead body certificate from police
- show the cancelled passport of the person who died
- show the no objection letter from the British Embassy in Manama
- appoint a funeral director in the UK to collect the body from the airport
You can also appoint an international funeral director to arrange repatriation and receipt of the body in the UK.
Bringing the ashes to the UK
Ask your funeral director about the rules and options for bringing ashes to the UK.
Bringing the ashes to the UK yourself
If you are taking the ashes with you when you leave Bahrain, you will need:
- the death certificate
- the cremation certificate
- a letter from the embassy confirming cremation of the person who died was as per family’s wishes
- copy of deceased persons cancelled passport
- follow local Bahrain regulations about leaving Bahrain with ashes – your funeral director can give you more information
- 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
The British Embassy in Bahrain cannot be responsible for collecting or returning personal belongings of the person who died.
Any personal belongings of the deceased can only be returned to the next of kin upon completion of police enquiries and all local procedures. Personal belongings are usually transported to the next of kin/family via local agents or commercial courier companies if the family does not travel to Bahrain to collect the belongings themselves.
Most courier/shipping companies will transport household goods, clothing and similar property.
Finding an Arabic translator
You may need a translator to help you understand rules or get documents translated. Check official translators in Bahrain. The Embassy in Manama cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs.
Finding a Bahrain lawyer
You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Bahrain legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Bahrain. The Embassy in Bahrain 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