When someone dies in Tajikistan
The process when a British national dies in Tajikistan, 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 if they had insurance.
The insurance company should appoint a funeral director in Tajikistan 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
You must register the death at the Tajikistan registry office. Your funeral director can normally do this for you.
You’ll need information and documents about the person who has died, including their:
- birth certificate, showing their place of birth and parents’ names
- religion
- official identity document (for example their British passport)
- spouse’s details (if applicable)
- marriage certificate (if applicable)
- divorce papers (if applicable)
You’ll usually need documentation for yourself that shows your:
- full name
- date of birth
- passport number
You’ll need to tell the local authorities if the person suffered from an infectious condition such as hepatitis or HIV, so they can take precautions against infection.
Getting a death certificate
After registering the death, you’ll get a medical certificate of death (Шаҳодатномаи вафот ). You can ask for an international/English version with a multilingual/English translation.
Once you have the medical certificate of death, you can apply for an official death certificate. The issuing authority is the local civil records registry office (ZAGS). ZAGS issues certificates in both Tajik and Russian within one to 3 days. You’ll need these documents to apply for an official death certificate:
- a completed application form – you can get a blank form from ZAGS
- the medical certificate of death issued by a hospital, mortuary or forensic institute
- the passport of the person who died (if the passport is not available, you need to explain that in the application form)
- notarised power of attorney from the next of kin if the application is submitted by representative or funeral director
- proof of relationship to the person who died
It’s worth asking for extra copies of the death certificate, as you might need them to show to people later. Next of kin can apply for a copy of the death certificate. This may be issued within 5 days but can sometimes take up to 30 days.
To get a copy, you’ll need the following information:
- full name and residential address of the person who died
- date and place of death registration
- reason for requesting a copy
- ID or passport details of the applicant
Standard working hours of the registry office are between 8am and 5pm. ZAGS staff rarely speak English, so you’ll need the help of a Tajik or Russian speaker.
If the person who died is being buried locally, ZAGS may retain their passport. ZAGS will submit it to the Migration Service, and it will then be returned to the British Embassy through the Tajik Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This process can take a considerable amount of time.
Post mortems in Tajikistan
A post mortem takes place for all deaths in Tajikistan.
Post mortems are carried out by doctors. During a post mortem, organs can be removed for testing, including toxicological studies, at the discretion of the doctor, without consent of the next of kin. The next of kin will not be informed about the removal of any organs.
The sale of organs in Tajikistan is strictly prohibited by law. Organs can be transplanted only with the prior permission of the donor or their close relatives.
The result of the post mortem is a medical certificate of death. This document contains personal details of the person who died, observations of pathologist and the cause of death.
Next of kin can officially request a detailed post mortem report. The medical certificate of death and the post mortem report will be in Tajik or Russian.
In some cases, it may be necessary to have a further post mortem (autopsy) in the UK even though one has been carried out overseas.
Mortuaries can charge for additional days of storage beyond their standard times.
Burying the body in Tajikistan
Next of kin of the person who has died will usually need to decide on a local burial, or bringing the person home – known as repatriation. Your funeral director will usually be able to explain the options available, the costs and help you decide.
Cremation is not available in Tajikistan.
If you choose local burial, you’ll need to instruct a funeral director in Tajikistan.
In cases of sudden or unexpected death (accidental, by misadventure or if a person dies alone), the Prosecutor or Criminal Police Department issue a report, and the body will then be released for burial. The court will keep this report and will only release it to a legal representative (a local lawyer) of the next of kin.
If the death was caused by a criminal act, the police will conduct a full investigation. The Prosecutor General will then decide whether to prosecute. This can delay the release of the body for burial.
An inquest cannot take place in the UK if a local burial has taken place.
There are separate cemeteries for Christians and Muslims, and you must get authorisation before burial . You can make specific arrangements depending on your cultural or religious beliefs. This will need to be agreed beforehand with the cemetery administration.
If you are unable to pay for funeral arrangements, or it is impossible to find or contact the next of kin or other relative or friend, unclaimed remains will be kept in a mortuary for up to 20 days. After that, the Communal Services Department of the city administration office will arrange a burial at a local cemetery at their expense.
Bringing the body to the UK
If the person who died was covered by travel insurance, the insurance company may have a standing agreement with an international funeral director in the UK to arrange the repatriation.
If the person who died is not covered by insurance, the next of kin will need to appoint an funeral director in Tajikistan or an international funeral director based in the UK.
Ask your funeral director about options for bringing the person’s body to the UK from Tajikistan.
When taking the person’s body to the UK from Tajikistan you’ll need to:
- show the death certificate
- get permission to remove the person’s body, issued by a coroner
- show the passport of the person who died
Embalming is mandatory if you are going to repatriate the body to the UK. Your funeral director can advise on the type of embalming required in each specific case.
The body must be transported in an airproof, sealed zinc coffin. The coffin must be delivered to the cargo terminal of the airport no later than 4 hours before the flight and you’ll need the following documents:
- death certificate or medical certificate of death (or a notarised copy of one of these documents)
- a letter from a funeral director to confirm there were no foreign objects in the coffin before it was sealed, and a list of items that will accompany the person who died (passport, personal belongings)
- a medical certificate from the Health Inspection Services (based on confirmation of embalming and the death certificate
- contacts and/or guarantee letter from a receiving company in the UK
Sometimes a letter from the British Embassy is required to confirm that there is no objection to repatriation. Contact us if your funeral director says you need this letter.
Getting the person’s belongings back
Belongings the person had with them when they died are normally given to you or the Tajikistan 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 Tajikistan resident, you may not be able to take the belongings as they may be part of their estate. Get legal advice if this happens.
Belongings may be kept as evidence if there is an investigation into the death. They will only be returned when the court case is over.
Depending on the type of death involved and who is deemed responsible as next of kin, your funeral director will manage the return of personal items. If there is a partner, the items will usually stay with them.
The British Embassy cannot take responsibility for the personal belongings of the person who died.
Finding a Tajik or Russian translator
You may need a translator to help you understand Tajikistan rules or get documents translated. The embassy or consulate in Tajikistan cannot provide translation services or pay for translation costs.
The local authorities will not provide translation or interpretation in English. The official languages are Tajik and Russian. You’ll need an interpreter to assist you when applying for documentation.
Find a translator or interpreter in Tajikistan.
Finding a Tajikistan lawyer
You may need a lawyer to help you understand the Tajikistan legal system when someone has died. Check English-speaking lawyers in Tajikistan. The British embassy in Tajikistan cannot give you legal advice or pay for legal costs.
There is no legal aid system in Tajikistan. British nationals without the available means to appoint legal representation can apply for legal aid in most European countries.
The Legal Services Commission in London is responsible for legal aid applications overseas.
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