Guidance

Bahrain bereavement: death abroad

Updated 18 October 2024

Disclaimer

The information contained in this document is not meant to be a definitive statement of the law, nor is it to be taken as a substitute for independent legal advice.

Introduction

The death of a relative or a friend can be a traumatic experience. When the death occurs overseas, family and friends in the UK can feel additional distress as they are unfamiliar with foreign procedures and perhaps are unable to communicate in the language of the country where the death occurred. Consular Directorate of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and our Embassy in Bahrain are ready to help as far as they can. You may be uncertain about what to do next or who to contact for advice. These notes are designed to help you through the practical arrangements you will need to make. You should be aware that Bahrain procedures may differ to those in the United Kingdom and that, while we understand your need for arrangements to be made quickly, this is not always possible.

Summary of procedures

1. Collect the death certificate and notification of cause of death from the hospital where the deceased has died. Only the next of kin is able to do this or a person acting on the instructions of the next of kin, for example, a funeral director.
2. Take the death certificate and notification of death to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) for attestation.
3. If the deceased was a resident, the employer/sponsor needs to cancel the residence visa at Nationality Passport and Residence Affairs (NPRA).
4. Send an online enquiry to request a no objection letter from the British Embassy Manama. To get the letter you’ll need the attested death certificate, notification of cause of death (stamped by the MFA), and the cancelled visa and passport of the person who died (if they had more than one passport, you’ll need to show them all).
5. A consent form can be completed by the next of kin to authorise a third party to deal with all documentation and procedures from here on. This will also need to be presented to the embassy.
6. The passport can be cancelled at this point if the family member is ready for this and can be returned immediately to the next of kin. If this feels too traumatic, it can be cancelled at a later date.

Return of personal effects

The British Embassy in Bahrain cannot be responsible for collecting or returning personal belongings of the deceased.

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 next of kin/families 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.

Mortuary facilities

The large mortuary is situated at Salmaniya Hospital in Manama and there is a smaller one in the Bahrain Defence Forces Hospital at Riffa. The standards applied, for example in relation to storage temperature, are on a par with UK morgues.

Repatriation, burial and cremation

The deceased’s body can be released once the no objection letter has been issued, which can be within a day.

Burial is an option in Bahrain and this can be arranged by one of the churches. 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 St Christopher’s Cathedral, please contact the Cathedral Administrator on +973 36533560 for assistance.

Cremations are carried out in Askar in a Hindu ritual. Please note that this is a very different process to cremations in the UK and family members must be aware that the procedure can be distressing to witness.  The body is taken from the coffin, wrapped in a shroud and carried to the funeral pyre by the male relatives who circle the pyre three times. You will be able to arrange flowers and a religious advocate (priest/vicar etc) to preside over the ceremony. A day later, the next of kin will be able to collect the ashes. Note that the ashes may not be the same as what you would be used to in the UK. If you would like to return the ashes to the UK you can carry them in your hand luggage.  You just need to let the Security staff know when your bags are checked.

Any Bahraini cargo company will assist with the repatriation of a body.

Repatriations can normally take place within 7 to 10 days.

Airlines

• British Airways: https://www.ba.com
• Gulf Air: https://www.gulfair.com

Registration of death

A local death certificate, citing the cause of death, will be issued within a day or two of death. This carries a statutory fee which is payable in Bahrain Dinars.

Funeral Directors (known locally as Clearing Agents)

You can instruct a clearing agent to arrange all the above on your behalf. See list of clearing agents or funeral directors.

Police/Judicial inquiries

In the case of suspicious death or a road traffic accident, CID will lead an investigation and pass the completed report to the Public Prosecution. The deceased’s family are entitled to a copy of the report. Public Prosecution will decide if an autopsy is required.

Legal aid

Legal aid is not available in Bahrain.

Autopsies (Post Mortems)

Autopsies are only carried out if the cause of death is suspicious. Organs are not permitted to be removed in any Islamic country (only in suspicious causes of death, such as murder). Organ transplants are not available in Bahrain.

Compensation

There are no formal government compensation schemes available. If a case goes to court any compensation depends entirely on the judge’s decision.

To register a death overseas

Visit register a death page and receive copies of the death registration certificate if required.

Further information

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has produced guidance for families: 

• coping with death abroad guide: this guide contains guidance on death overseas and what practical support consular staff can offer you and what you need to do. Laws and local customs vary widely from country to country

• Tell Us Once service: this is a service that lets you report a death to most government organisations in one go