What to Do When Someone Dies in Djibouti: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Medical certification of death and issuance of the medical certificate

   • Death occurring in a hospital facility: When a death occurs in a public or private healthcare facility in Djibouti (such as Peltier General Hospital, Balbala Hospital, the CNSS Hospital Centre, or an accredited clinic), the duty physician performs the clinical examination and issues the medical certificate of death [1] [4]. This original medical document is essential for mortuary formalities and civil registration [1].
   • Death occurring at home: If your relative passes away at home, the family must contact a sworn physician or the nearest community health centre to certify the death and obtain the medical certificate confirming natural death [1] [2]. In the interior regions (Ali-Sabieh, Dikhil, Tadjourah, Obock, or Arta), the certification may be recorded with the assistance of the local health or prefectural authority [1] [5].
   • Forensic or judicial intervention: In the event of a violent, suspicious, or accidental death, or a death occurring in a public place, relatives must immediately notify the National Police or National Gendarmerie as well as the Public Prosecutor's Office at the Court of First Instance (Tribunal de première instance) of Djibouti [1] [5]. No removal of the body or burial may take place without the required forensic examination and formal authorisation from the Public Prosecutor [1].
2. 2

   Civil registration of death and obtaining the official death certificate

   • Competent civil registry office and statutory deadlines: Every death occurring on Djiboutian territory must be declared within the statutory period before the civil registrar of the communal district (operating under the Mairie de la Ville de Djibouti for the municipalities of Ras-Dika, Boulaos, and Balbala) or the prefecture of the region where the death occurred [1] [2]. Unified administrative procedures are also detailed on the Portail Officiel e-Gouv de la République de Djibouti [1].
   • Authorised declarants and supporting documents: The declaration is made by a close relative of the deceased or by any person holding accurate civil status information [1] [2]. The declarant must present the medical certificate of death, the deceased's National Identity Card (CNI) or passport, their birth certificate or family record book, as well as the declarant's own identity document and two adult witnesses in accordance with applicable civil status rules [1] [2].
   • Issuance of certified copies and late registration judgment: The civil registrar records the death and issues full copies and official extracts of the death certificate [1] [2]. If the death was not declared within the statutory deadline, entry into the civil status registers may only be made pursuant to a declaratory or late registration judgment issued by the competent court [1] [5].
3. 3

   Funeral arrangements, burial permits, and international repatriation

   • Municipal burial permit: Burial in the cemeteries of the capital (notably Ambouli or PK12) or interior regions requires a burial permit issued by the municipal or prefectural services upon presentation of the civil death certificate and medical certificate [1] [2]. Funeral rites and ritual preparation of the body are organised in compliance with public health standards [1] [2].
   • Mortuary preservation and domestic transport: Temporary keeping of the body in a hospital mortuary as well as transporting the remains between Djibouti City and an interior region require a medical certificate of non-contagion and an administrative body transport authorisation [1] [2].
   • International repatriation: Where a foreign national's remains must be repatriated to their country of origin or where a Djiboutian citizen who died abroad is repatriated to Djibouti, the funeral file requires the official death certificate, a medical certificate of non-epidemic status, an embalming attestation (thanatopraxie), an official record of sealing the hermetic coffin, and a mortuary transit pass (laissez-passer mortuaire) issued with the clearance of health, police, and consular authorities [1] [2].
4. 4

   Social security, survivor pensions, banks, and insurance

   • Pension and social protection schemes (CNSS): In Djibouti, the Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale administers unified social protection for private-sector salaried employees and state civil servants [3] [4]. Upon the death of an active insured worker or retiree, the surviving spouse (widow or widower) and dependent orphans (minors or students) may claim a survivor pension (pension de réversion) as well as continued family allowances [3].
   • Compiling the survivor pension application file: The application submitted to the Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale must include the original death certificate, marriage certificate, children's birth certificates, school enrolment certificates for adult children in education, the judicial certificate of heirship, and career or pension records of the deceased [1] [3].
   • Closing or unfreezing bank accounts and insurance claims: Upon notification of the death to banks operating in Djibouti, individual accounts held by the deceased are frozen [1]. Releasing funds to eligible heirs and claiming end-of-service benefits from the employer or lump-sum death benefits from insurance companies require the official death certificate and the judicial certificate of heirship [1] [3].
5. 5

   Opening and settling the estate in Djibouti

   • Certificate of heirship before the Personal Status Court: Under Law No. 152/AN/02/4ème L enacting the Family Code and the procedures outlined on the Portail Officiel e-Gouv de la République de Djibouti, heirs must petition the Personal Status Court of First Instance (Tribunal de Statut Personnel de Première Instance - Sharia chamber or civil chamber depending on the personal status applicable to the deceased) to obtain the certificate of death and heirship (certificat de décès et d'hérédité) [1] [5]. This judicial order officially identifies the rightful heirs and determines their respective inheritance shares [1] [5].
   • Estate liquidation and role of the notary: Once the certificate of heirship is issued by the court, paying estate debts, carrying out an amicable or judicial partition of assets, and executing any valid will (within the statutory one-third disposable limit under family succession law) are completed with the assistance of a Djiboutian notary or under judicial supervision [1] [5].
   • Land title transfers and cross-border coordination: Transferring registered land titles and real property requires submitting the judicial certificate of heirship, original property deeds, and registration formalities with the Directorate of State Property and Land Conservation (Direction des Domaines et de la Conservation Foncière) [1] [5]. Any heir residing abroad may be represented through an authentic power of attorney duly legalised by the embassy or consulate of the Republic of Djibouti [1] [5].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Procedure for Obtaining a Death and Heirship Certificate (Succession) — Portail Officiel e-Gouv de la République de Djibouti
2. [2]
   Municipal Civil Status Services and Administrative Procedures — Mairie de la Ville de Djibouti
3. [3]
   Social Security Benefits and Survivor Pension Guides — Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS Djibouti)
4. [4]
   Universal Health Insurance (AMU) and Health Coverage in the Republic of Djibouti — Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale (CNSS Djibouti)
5. [5]
   Law No. 152/AN/02/4ème L Enacting the Family Code of the Republic of Djibouti — République de Djibouti / WIPO Lex