Many Ghanaian families in the UK want a loved one buried at home, and repatriation is a familiar part of Ghanaian funeral planning. The Ghana High Commission publishes a clear procedure, which makes the Ghana side more straightforward than for some countries. This guide covers the UK permissions, the Ghanaian paperwork and what affects the timing.
Key points
- Register the death and get the coroner’s permission before the person leaves the UK.
- If the person had a valid Ghanaian passport, the High Commission says no further document from it is needed.
- If not, the High Commission issues a letter that serves as a travel document. At the time of writing the fee is £30.
- A burial permit is likely to be needed in Ghana. Check with the family or funeral home there.
- The Funeral Expenses Payment usually can’t be used for a funeral in Ghana.
The UK side: permission to move the person
Register the death first: within five days of the medical examiner’s office confirming it can be registered (England and Wales), eight days (Scotland) or five days (Northern Ireland). Order extra certified copies, because the High Commission wants a certified death certificate.
| Where the person died | What’s needed before they can leave |
|---|---|
| England and Wales | The coroner’s permission, whether or not the death was reported to a coroner. The funeral director gives notice of intention to remove the body (often called “Form 104”) with the registrar’s green form or the coroner’s order, at least four clear days before the move. The coroner can release sooner. |
| Scotland | Register in Scotland; Form 14 goes to the funeral director. GOV.UK points to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and your funeral director will confirm whether a fiscal certificate is needed. |
| Northern Ireland | The coroner issues a certificate allowing removal, usually to the funeral director, once satisfied about the cause of death. |
Don’t book flights until permission has been given.
Documents from the Ghana High Commission
If the person had a valid Ghanaian passport, the High Commission says no further documentation from it is needed.
If they didn’t, for example because their passport had expired or they were a British citizen, the High Commission issues a letter that serves as a travel document. Its published list includes:
- a certified death certificate
- an embalming certificate
- a free-from-infection certificate
- a copy of the bio page of an expired Ghanaian passport, or other Ghanaian ID
- if the person had no Ghanaian ID, a relative’s Ghanaian ID and a signed letter
- two passport photos
- a £30 fee, by postal order or by card at the mission.
The High Commission doesn’t state how long the letter takes, so apply early. Contact: 020 7201 5921 or 020 7201 5900, [email protected], 13 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PN.
In Ghana
Ghanaian sources say a burial permit is issued by the District Registrar for the area where the burial will take place. We couldn’t confirm this on an official page, so ask the family or funeral home in Ghana. Make sure someone, such as a funeral home in Ghana, is ready to receive the person at the airport.
What affects the timing
Many Ghanaian families don’t rush the funeral. It’s often held some weeks after the death, so relatives can gather and the family can plan and share costs. Work backwards from the funeral date agreed in Ghana, allowing for:
- registration and the coroner’s notice period
- the High Commission letter, if needed (no processing time is published)
- embalming and preparation
- airline cargo space on your chosen route.
Faith considerations
Many Ghanaian funerals are Christian, with a church service, wake-keeping and burial, and repatriation fits this pattern. Some families hold a service in the UK before the person travels. Muslim Ghanaian families usually want a quick burial and may choose to bury in the UK. Check whether the embalming certificate requirement raises concerns for the family.
Costs
Expect charges for the funeral director’s collection, care and paperwork, embalming, a sealed coffin, air freight, the £30 High Commission fee if a letter is needed, relatives’ flights and the funeral in Ghana. Get itemised written quotes from at least two specialists.
The GOV.UK Funeral Expenses Payment needs the funeral to be in the UK, the EEA or Switzerland, so it usually can’t help with a funeral in Ghana. In Northern Ireland the funeral must usually be in the UK, and Scotland’s Funeral Support Payment covers a funeral abroad only in some circumstances. Family and church contributions are often an important part of paying for a Ghanaian funeral.
Alternatives
- Burial in the UK, with a memorial or celebration in Ghana.
- Cremation and taking the ashes where the family’s faith and custom allow. You’ll need the death and cremation certificates, and GOV.UK notes airlines may want a non-metallic container so it can be X-rayed.
Where to get help
- Our repatriation guide and Ghanaian funerals in the UK.
- Search funeral directors near you and ask about repatriation to Ghana.
- Faith guides: Christian, Pentecostal and evangelical and Muslim funerals.
- See also repatriation to Nigeria.
Repatriation by country
Frequently asked questions
Do we need anything from the Ghana High Commission?
What documents does the High Commission need for the letter?
How long does the High Commission letter take?
Do we need a burial permit in Ghana?
Why are Ghanaian funerals often held weeks after the death?
Sources
- GOV.UK – Arrange the funeral (moving a body for a funeral abroad)
- legislation.gov.uk – Removal of Bodies Regulations 1954
- legislation.gov.uk – Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959, section 25
- Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service – Contact
- Ghana High Commission London – Repatriation of a body
- GOV.UK – What to do when someone dies abroad (travelling with ashes)
- GOV.UK – Funeral Expenses Payment eligibility
- mygov.scot – Funeral Support Payment: who can apply
- nidirect – Funeral Expenses Payment
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Cite this page: FuneralFinder (2026). “Repatriation to Ghana from the UK: documents, steps and timings”. https://funeralfinder.org/uk/guides/repatriation-to-ghana/ (updated 25 September 2026).