How is the repatriation of a body to Morocco organised? It sometimes happens that a death occurs in a country other than the country of origin. In this period of health crisis, many people find themselves having to request the repatriation of the body of a loved one. What are the formalities to follow in such a situation? Who should you contact to obtain the repatriation of the body and bury the body close to your home? What costs are involved? Who takes care of the complete organisation of the funeral? What means are available to repatriate the body? Do travel insurances take this into account? We can answer this question here.
Authorisation to transport bodies for burial in Morocco
Who issues the authorisation?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Morocco.
From which body should the authorisation be requested?
It must be made to the consular services responsible for the place of death.
What information must be provided to obtain authorisation for the transfer of the body?
-Surname and first name of the deceased ;
-Date and place of death ;
-Cause of death ;
-Full parentage of the deceased ;
-Address and telephone number of the family in Morocco ;
-Copy of the CNIE or Moroccan passport of the deceased, or failing that, an identity document of the deceased and copy of the CNIE or Moroccan passport of a close relative;
-Place of burial in Morocco ;
-Date of arrival of the deceased in Morocco ;
-Border crossing point of entry of the remains;
-Proof of payment of repatriation expenses (insurance or other).
What documents must be provided for authorisation?
-Death certificate ;
-Copy of the CNIE or Moroccan passport of the deceased, or failing that, an identity document of the deceased and copy of the CNIE or Moroccan passport of a close relative;
-Certificate of hermetic sealing established by a funeral home ;
Health certificate of non-contagion established by the competent medical authority;
-Authorisation to leave the territory, issued by the competent local administrative authority.
Upon arrival of the body of the deceased in the country of origin, the person designated in the repatriation documents must receive it.
Cases of destitution: what procedure should be followed for the costs of repatriating a body?
Moroccan families living in destitution may request the repatriation of the body of the deceased who died abroad. Supporting documents are required.
To whom should the request for funeral repatriation be submitted?
To the Ministry Delegate in charge of Moroccans Residing Abroad and Migration Affairs.
Where to submit the request for repatriation?
For a decision, the file must be submitted to the consular services, which will forward it to the Delegate Ministry in charge of Moroccans Residing Abroad and Migration Affairs. The file can also be submitted directly to these departments.
What documents must be provided for this request for funeral repatriation?
-Information sheet on the financial situation of the deceased and the applicant;
-Declaration on honour (state of indigence of the family and the deceased) ;
-Certificate of non-taxation of the deceased in Morocco or certificate of entitlement to social assistance or pension in the host country or copy of the deceased’s last pay slip or unemployment certificate or tax declaration or bank statement;
-Proof of a stay abroad of more than six (06) months;
-Attestation of indigence for the person concerned established by the consular services;
-Certificate of indigence for the family of the deceased established by the consular services if they reside abroad;
-Attestation of indigence of the family issued by the Moroccan authorities if they reside in Morocco;
-Commitment to be present at the airport of arrival for the reception of the coffin.
How much does it cost to repatriate a body to Morocco?
The price of funeral transport varies. It ranges from €15,500 to €22,000. The price depends on several factors:
- the desired service
- the place of death and the place of destination
- the mode of transport used (air or land)
- the weight of the coffin
What conditions must be met for the transfer of a body from the place of death to the country of origin?
The body of the deceased must first be placed in the country where the death took place. The choice of coffin is therefore made in the country of death. Sometimes conservation care is necessary.
What type of coffin for repatriation?
For the repatriation of a body, the airtight coffin is strictly obligatory. It is a metal coffin (zinc or aluminium) placed in the traditional casket. It is also called a “leaded coffin”. The thin layer of metal is camouflaged by a fabric upholstery. Before closing the coffin, a metal lid is fitted to ensure that it is airtight. A porthole, or window, can be made to allow relatives to see the face of the deceased. Finally, to travel by plane, the casket must be 22 millimetres thick.
Is it necessary to take care of the preservation of a body when repatriating a body to Morocco?
Preservation care is post-mortem care carried out on the body of the deceased by an thanatopractor. In this way, the body of the deceased is better preserved. This care is generally carried out at the request of the family of the deceased and is paid for. To enable a body to be repatriated, thanatopraxy care depends on the legislation in force in the country where the deceased will be buried. For a repatriation of the deceased from France to Morocco, this care is compulsory. It should be noted that some airlines also impose their regulations in terms of conservation care and the standard of the coffin.
How to anticipate a funeral repatriation?
Repatriation / travel insurance
When travelling abroad, it is essential to take out repatriation or travel insurance. They normally include in their costs the coverage of a funeral repatriation in case of death. We advise you to find out what is covered, or not, if a death occurs.
Death benefit insurance
For people living in a country other than their country of origin, it is possible to take out specific repatriation insurance or a death benefit plan beforehand. These people contribute a certain amount each year. In the event of death, this enables the bereaved to be relieved of any repatriation costs for the organisation of the funeral. Indeed, the costs linked to a death can be significant. They can include burial, cremation, cremation, repatriation of the body, etc. This also makes the administrative procedures easier, as the insurance company will take care of them and will directly contact the funeral home. For example, an insurance company may offer to take care of the following procedures:
- Take charge of the organisation and transport costs of the body of the deceased from the place where the placing of the body in beer is carried out to the nearest airport to the place of burial (cemetery or other) decided by the family.
- To assume any transport costs incurred for a burial or cremation.
- Propose a return trip to one of the deceased’s relatives to accompany the coffin to the funeral site and attend the funeral.
- Coverage of post-mortem care.
Repatriation of a body to Morocco without insurance.
If the deceased person does not take out any insurance policy, the costs are borne by his or her relatives.
How long does it take to repatriate a body to Morocco?
For the repatriation of a body to Morocco, in general, it takes 2 days for a body to be repatriated by plane. However, this also depends on the administrative procedures.
Do you need information or an estimate?
Our AEROAFFAIRES experts are available to answer your questions about medical or funeral repatriation, to charter a flight or a medical plane to Morocco. Contact us 7/7 24H/24 at +33 (0) 1 44 09 91 82.
