Death of a U.S. Citizen

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In the event of the death of an U.S. citizen in Angola, please contact the U.S. Embassy. If no family members are present, the Consular Section will contact the next of kin in the U.S. The Consular Section can assist family members in making arrangements for the disposition of the remains. Please be advised that no U.S. government funds are available to cover any of the expenses involved. We will also issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad, which is an official document that can be used in the U.S. to settle all legal matters relating to the deceased’s estate and insurance. In order to issue a Consular Report of Death, an Angolan Death Certificate is required. For more information on Death Abroad access the State Department website.

If the family wishes to send the remains to the United States, please be aware that the process for preparing and returning remains to the U.S. is complex and may be expensive. The family of the deceased is responsible for all costs. For more information please check the Disposition of Remains Report for Angola below.

Please see below or click here for a list of funeral homes (PDF 115 KB)

Please ask the funeral home not to make any arrangements regarding disposition of remains until it receives instructions from the family or the Embassy.

The following general information is provided to assist families in making initial decisions. Indicated costs are estimates, based on deaths with no unusual circumstances, and should be considered as guides only. See below or click the link.

Disposition of Remains (updated August, 2020)

Agência Funerário Estrela D’Alva

Tel.:                     (+244) 222-388-892

Mobile:                (+244) 926-997-795

Mobile:                (+244) 923-997-795

Address:             Loja 1 – R da Brigada, #296-B, Bairro Rangel

Loja 2 – Largo da Tourada, Calemba

Agência Funerária Muxima

Tel.:                     (+244) 222-326-079

Mobile:                (+244) 933-686-733

Email:                  organizaçõesmuxima@gmail.com

Address:             Loja 1 – Rua Ho Chi Minh, Bairro Militar

Loja 2 – Viana, Projecto Morar

Agência Funerária São João

Tel.:                      (+244) 222-448-703

Mobile:                (+244) 912-509-501

Mobile:                (+244)923-509-013

Email:                  afuneráriasaojoao@yahoo.com.br

afunerariasaojoao@supernet.ao

Address:             230 R Cónego Manuel das Neves

REMARK:

Some private companies operating in Angola contract PANALPINA to do the disposition of the remains of their employees. PANALPINA is located at Av. 21 de Janeiro #2, Bairro Cassenda, Luanda; TEL: (+244) 222-352-781/3274/3236; FAX: (+244) 222-354-012; MOBILE: (+244) 926-373-480; www.panalpina.com

DISPOSITION OF REMAINS REPORT:

The following information is submitted in accordance with referenced requirements.

Post Profile:

Address:
Rua Presidente Houari Boumedienne, 32
Miramar
Luanda, Angola

Tel.: (+244) 222-641-000, (+244) 946-440-977/78/79/80/81/82
Fax: (+244) 222-641-232
Email: ConsularLuanda@state.gov

Maximum period before burial:

Angolan law states that, if the body is not embalmed, it must be buried within 24 hours.

Embalming and storage of remains:

The remains may be stored at the following clinics/hospital:

CLINICA SAGRADA ESPERANCA:

Ave. Mortala Mohamed, Ilha de Luanda; Call Center: (+244) 222-309-204 emergency service 24/24 hours; Tel.: (+244) 222-309-688, 222-390-034; Mobile: (+244) 923-416-634/5/6, Fax: (+244) 222-309-033; Webpage: www.cse-ao.com; Email: sagradaesp@ebonet.net

CLINICA GIRASSOL:

Ave. Revolução de Outobro, Bairro Mártires de Kifangondo, Maianga-Luanda; Tel: (+244) 226-698-000, 226-698-416, 226-698-037; webpage: www.clinicagirassol.co.ao

CLINICA ESPIRITO SANTO:

Rua da Liberdade #15 Vila Alice, Luanda; Tel.: (+244) 222-321-608, 222-328-243, 222-329-434, 222-324-135; Email: ces@netcabo.co.ao

HOSPITAL MARIA PIA:

Rua do Primeiro Congresso MPLA, Luanda; Tel.: (+244) 222-397-063

Cremation:

The service is not available in Angola.

Caskets and Containers:

Caskets are available locally; they can cost between 2,500 and 8,000 USD.  U.S. made caskets can sometimes be purchased from the oil companies; they cost approximately 5,000 USD.

After embalming, a representative from the consular section witnesses the sealing of the coffin.

Exportation of the remains:

To export remains the following documents are required:

  1. “O Certificado de Óbito” (local death certificate)

– This document is obtained from the physician who performs the autopsy or from local police if the person died from an accident or unnatural causes.

  1. “O Boletim de Óbito” and “Assento de Óbito” (official death report)

– To obtain these documents, you must take the certificado de óbito to the vital records office (conservatoria) in the district where the death took place.

  1. “A Declaração” and “A Informação” (declaration and information documents)

– To obtain these documents you must take the notarized “Certificado de Obito” to the Delegação de Saúde.

  1. “O Auto de Imposição de Selo” (This document allows the authorities to seal the coffin and ship the remains.)

– To obtain this document, take all the above documents to the vital records office. When you receive the Auto de Imposição de Selo, return to the health office for them to certify it.

  1. “O Alvará” (permission from provisional governor to send the remains overseas)

Finally, bring all the documentation, duly sealed and notarized, to the Provincial Governor for the “Alvará” to be issued. This document will permit the returning of the remains to the U.S.

*All documents above mentioned must be translated into English before the Consular Section may attach a copy of the Report of Death Abroad and a copy of the Mortuary Certificate.

Shipment:

Freight costs for one coffin, 250 kgs, estimate received from PANALPINA:

– To ship remains to New York: USD 3,565

– To ship remains to Chicago: USD 3,820

– To ship remains to San Francisco/Los Angeles: USD 4,065

– Airport taxes and handling: USD 420

Costs vary, depending on the cause of death, which can make an autopsy and police investigation necessary.

Exhumation of remains:

Exhumations in Angola can only be done after five years of burial.

Remarks:

*Burial procedures and embalming are very rudimentary in Angola. The remains are normally injected with formaldehyde and then covered with lime before the coffin is sealed.

*Funeral homes in the U.S. most likely will advise next of kin to abstain from viewing.

CDC requirements for importing human remains depend upon if the body has been embalmed, cremated, or if the person died from a quarantinable communicable disease.

At this time, COVID-19 is a quarantinable communicable disease in the United States and the remains must meet the standards for importation found in 42 Code of Federal Regulations Part 71.55 and may be cleared, released, and authorized for entry into the United States only under the following conditions:

  • The remains are cremated; OR
  • The remains are properly embalmed and placed in a hermetically sealed casket; OR
  • The remains are accompanied by a permit issued by the CDC Director. The CDC permit (if applicable) must accompany the human remains at all times during shipment.
    • Permits for the importation of the remains of a person known or suspected to have died from a quarantinable communicable disease may be obtained through the CDC Division of Global Migration and Quarantine by calling the CDC Emergency Operations Center at 770-488-7100 or emailing dgmqpolicyoffice@cdc.gov.

Please see CDC’s guidance for additional information.

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