Guidance

Bereavement information pack: Tunisia

Updated 14 April 2023

Disclaimer

This information is provided by the British Government for the convenience of enquirers, but neither His Majesty’s Government nor any official of the consulate take any responsibility for the accuracy of the information, nor accept liability for any loss, costs, damage or expense which you might suffer as a result of relying on the information supplied. It is not a substitute for obtaining your own legal advice.

Overview

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 and Development Office and our Embassy in Tunisia are ready to help as far as possible. 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 Tunisian procedures differ significantly to those in the United Kingdom and that, while we understand your need for arrangements to be made quickly, this is not always possible.

There are certain procedures to be followed in preparation of the return of the coffin. This information sheet aims to set out those procedures, their cost, and the likely timings involved. While it is usual for assistance companies acting on behalf of the deceased’s insurance company to instigate action and pay all costs, we hope that the information will assist members of the family to understand and follow what is happening while they wait for the coffin to reach home.

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.

First steps

Any hotel reception/management will have the name and contact details of a doctor they can call. Alternatively, a tour representation can call a doctor. The local emergency services telephone numbers are 190 or 198.

The British Embassy (Tel +216 71 108 700) should also be informed. The Consular Section at the embassy will then liaise with the parties involved, including the tour operator representative, if appropriate, the hospital, and the undertakers; and will arrange to inform the next-of-kin if that has not been done already e.g. if no family member is present.

The deceased will be taken to the nearest hospital and placed in the care of a pathologist there.

The police will be alerted either by the hospital, the doctor or any witnesses to death (eg. hotel staff).

The police are bound then to carry out an investigation into the circumstances to rule out any suspicion of foul play. Part of that inquiry is, always in the case of a non-resident not already hospitalised under medical care, to requisition a post-mortem examination. They do this in writing addressed to the pathologist, who then acts as coroner. ##Contact the travel insurance company

The insurance company should be notified of the death and asked for assistance with formalities and repatriation costs. A family member or a tour representative can do this. There will be a telephone number with the deceased’s ticket.

If there is no insurance cover, the deceased’s next-of-kin will have to engage the services of funeral directors in the UK, arranging for them to contact the Tunisian undertaker, and guaranteeing payment.

The UK government will not accept responsibility for costs involved, except in the most extreme circumstances.

Repatriation of a body for burial costs approximately £2,000.

Deal with an autopsy/post-mortem

The autopsy can take up to three days.

The deceased’s body cannot be released for repatriation and burial until the police have concluded the inquiry and authorise the removal of the remains for burial. A period of days may be needed for this, depending on the circumstances. To determine the cause of death, organs and fragments of organs can be removed for testing during an autopsy, without the consent of next of kin. These tests can sometimes take a long time, and the organs are not necessarily reunited with the body before repatriation or burial. We have made the local authorities aware that this can cause tremendous distress for the next of kin, and when possible we would like to be informed when an organ has been removed. Organs are never removed for transplantation.

The pathologist is not authorised to give his/her autopsy report to anyone except the police. This means, in effect, that no statement of cause of death can be obtained at this stage. The pathologist will, however, determine, and certify, that death was not caused by any contagious disease and that therefore the body may be transported for burial elsewhere. There is no charge made for this.

Registering death

The death must be registered at the nearest town hall (called ‘Municipalite’).

Anyone with knowledge of the deceased or the circumstances (e.g. a relative or fellow traveller, travel agent, or insurance representative) can do this.

You need:

• the doctor’s certificate of death
• the deceased’s passport, as identity
• details of the deceased’s marital status and names of spouse (if appropriate)
• identity document of the informant

This can be done in one day and has to be done within 72 hours of the time of death. At least 3 copies of the entry in the death register should be obtained from the registrar, in French (for ease of formalities - the alternative being Arabic, more difficult for both family and authorities in the UK). Costs involved are low: registration is free and extracts are 150 millimes (about 7pence).

Burial

When the police have authorised removal of body for burial, the undertakers will prepare the coffin and the body, and deal with the formalities for transport. For this they need to have:

• an instruction from, usually, a UK firm of funeral directors, including a guarantee of payment
• 3 copies of the local death certificate
• the police document authorising removal of the body
• the doctor’s statement that transport of the body for burial holds no danger for public health (i.e. no contagion or declared infection)
• the deceased’s passport

The undertakers will then apply for remaining documentation including:

• authorisation from the Governorate to transport the body out of the district for burial - this document is in Arabic
• freight arrangements with the airline designated by the insurer’s assistance company in the UK
• a certificate to accompany the remains to the UK, issued by the Consular Section of the Embassy. A fee of £45 is payable for this

The Undertaker will liaise with the UK funeral directors so that reception arrangements are made and the family is informed.

During these preparations, the body remains in the hospital morgue.

When all the formalities are completed, the undertakers place the body in a coffin, which meets specifications for international flights and takes it to the airport to be manifested for transport. These formalities can take up to ten days.

It should be noted that there are no facilities for embalming in Tunisia and the decision as to whether the coffin can be opened and the body viewed on arrival in the home town rests with the coroner of the appropriate district in the UK.

Bring the body home

The coffin travels to the UK on the flight arranged by the insurance company from the UK.

The funeral directors there will receive it and arrange transport to their chapel of rest until the time of the funeral. The family can obtain up-to-date details of the transfer from their funeral directors. The coroner will be informed by the funeral directors (see later procedures).

The following documents along with the coffin will be handed to the UK funeral directors:

• the local death certificate in French
• the doctor’s certificate as to non-contagion
• the governorate’s authorisation of transport
• the undertaker’s statement as to the proper placing of the body in the coffin and the coffin’s acceptance for transport
• a covering statement issued by the Consular Section of the Embassy explaining the above documents (because they are not in English and may not be readily understandable for the authorities in the UK)

In the UK, the Coroner has to know the cause of death.

As stated earlier, no document is available from Tunisia certifying the cause of death. The Embassy in Tunis can help by requesting a copy of the autopsy report, but through the official channels necessary for this operation, it takes several weeks. And the coroner will not usually wish to delay a burial permit for that length of time. He has the option of carrying out an examination himself so as to draw his conclusions and authorise burial in a much shorter time.

Retrieve belongings

It is usual for the deceased’s belongings to be packed either by any family travelling with him/her, or by the tour representative and freighted home in the same consignment as the coffin.

Check you have done everything you need to do in Tunisia

Register death in the Consular Registers held at the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO). This can be done by a member of the deceased’s family at any time. A registration form and further information can be found on https://www.gov.uk/register-a-death.

In support of the registration, the following documents are required0:

• the local death certificate
• the deceased’s passport (as evidence of his/her British citizenship). The fee for this service is £105 and for subsequent certified copies £65

The deceased’s passport, which is used for formalities, is held initially by the undertakers. They hand it to the Consular Section of the Embassy, in most cases within a week or two of the repatriation of the body. We cancel the passport and dispose it according to the wishes of the next-of-kin. If you as the next of kin wishes to keep the passport, inform us and it will be forwarded to the flatter; if not, it will be destroyed.

If there are police proceedings or a court case following death, the next-of-kin may pursue matters via the services of a local lawyer. The British Embassy cannot engage in legal action for you, but can supply a list of lawyers to help you identify one in the area concerned. Similarly, if interested parties wish to bring a case for damages or compensation arising out of a death in Tunisia, the list of lawyers may be useful. You can ask us for it, or contact the Consular Division of the Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, or download from our website.

International undertakers in Tunisia

Name	Address	Telephone
EDEN Assistance Funéraire	Immeuble Pacha centre, 75, Avenue Kheireddine Pacha, 1073 Montplaisir	+216 98 645 613 or +216 26 453 446
Ihssen International Funebre	Douar Hicher, La Manouba 2086 Tunis	+216 98 947 759 or + 216 25 097 097
Lutece International Assistance Funeraire	Rue du Lac d’Annecy, Imm Cristal Palace, B2-B1, 1053 Les Berges du Lac, Tunis	Tel: +216 71 860 760; Fax: +216 71 965 865
S.T.P.F Tunisie (Maison Roblot)	Z.I. Aeroport, B.P. 114, TUNIS CEDEX	Tel: +216 71 940 328 / 196; Fax: 00 217 71 940 176