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

1. 1

   Obtain Medical Certification of Death or Sub-Zoba Confirmation

   • Hospital or clinical deaths: When a death occurs in a public referral or regional hospital (such as Orotta National Referral Hospital or Halibet Hospital in Asmara) overseen by the Ministry of Health in Eritrea, the attending physician examines the deceased and issues the official hospital medical death certificate (Dead Body Certificate) stating the cause, date, and time of death [1] [2].
   • Deaths at home (natural causes): If your family member died at home from natural causes, the family must report the passing to the local administrative area (Kebabi) and the Sub-Zoba Administration, bringing adult witnesses who can attest to the death so the local administration can issue an official letter confirming the event [1] [3] [4].
   • Unexpected, accidental, or unexplained deaths: If the death was sudden, accidental, or unattended by a physician, the Eritrean Police Force must be notified immediately [1]. The police refer the body to a government hospital mortuary (such as Orotta Hospital in Asmara) for a forensic post-mortem examination and issue a formal police report before the body is released for burial or civil registration [1].
2. 2

   Register the Death with the Public Registration Office

   • Reporting through the Sub-Zoba and Zoba Administration: Under the Civil Code of the State of Eritrea and municipal civil registration rules, the informant (a next of kin, family representative, or authorized agent) takes the hospital medical death certificate (or witness statements and local administration confirmation) along with the deceased's Eritrean National Identity Card or passport to the local Sub-Zoba Administration to obtain an acknowledgement letter, and then submits the file to the regional Public Registration Office (Zoba Administration) [1] [3] [4].
   • Statutory registration timeframe and late filings: While civil registration provisions establish a primary reporting window of 30 days, notifications submitted after the initial period are processed through the Public Registration Office upon presentation of the hospital record or verified witness statements from the Sub-Zoba Administration [3] [4].
   • Issuance of the official Death Certificate: Once verified, the Public Registration Office records the death in the regional civil register, retains or cancels the deceased's local identity documents, and issues official Death Certificates in Tigrinya, Arabic, or English upon request [1] [3] [4].
3. 3

   Arrange Burial, Mortuary Clearance, or International Repatriation

   • Local burial permits: Hospital mortuaries in Eritrea (primarily located in Asmara and regional capitals) release the body once hospital charges are settled and the medical death certificate and Sub-Zoba burial authorization are issued [1]. Cremation facilities do not operate in Eritrea, so local interment takes place in designated municipal or religious cemeteries [1].
   • International repatriation of remains: If the deceased was a foreign citizen or diaspora national and the family wishes to repatriate the remains abroad, a specialized funeral and repatriation coordinator must obtain the official Death Certificate from the Public Registration Office, an embalming certificate and coffin sealing clearance from the Orotta Hospital pathology department and the Ministry of Health, a police clearance if applicable, and customs export clearance for air transport via Asmara International Airport [1] [2].
   • Document legalization (non-Apostille jurisdiction): Eritrea is not a party to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. Any Eritrean Death Certificate, medical certificate, or court succession document intended for legal use abroad must first be authenticated by the Consular and Legal Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Asmara and then legalized by the foreign embassy or consulate representing the destination country [1].
4. 4

   Notify Social Security, Pension, Tax, and Banking Authorities

   • National Pension Scheme and public sector survivor benefits: Under the National Pension Scheme Establishment Proclamation (Proclamation No. 135/2003) and the Public Sector Pension Scheme Proclamation (Proclamation No. 136/2003), overseen by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare (also referred to as the Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare), eligible survivors of a covered civil servant, military member, or private-sector contributor may claim survivor pensions and statutory death benefits [5] [6]. Eligible dependents include the surviving spouse, minor or student children, and dependent parents [5] [6].
   • Commercial Bank of Eritrea and Housing and Commerce Bank: Present the official Death Certificate and the court-issued Certificate of Heirship to the Commercial Bank of Eritrea or the Housing and Commerce Bank of Eritrea to freeze individual accounts, verify balances, and transfer funds to the recognized heirs [1] [3].
   • Diaspora status and tax clearances: If the deceased held an Eritrean National ID and resided abroad, Eritrean administrative authorities and banks generally verify whether statutory diaspora rehabilitation tax clearances (the 2 percent diaspora tax) are in order before completing domestic property transfers or estate distributions in Eritrea [1] [3].
5. 5

   Administer the Estate and Obtain a Certificate of Heirship from the Zoba Court

   • Succession and Probate before the Zoba Court: Inheritance and estate administration in Eritrea are governed by the Civil Code of the State of Eritrea (Book II on Family and Successions), alongside recognized customary and Sharia personal status rules where applicable [3] [4]. To establish legal authority over the estate, the heirs or their legal representative must petition the competent regional court (Zoba Court) for a formal Certificate of Heirship (Succession Certificate) confirming the identity of the lawful heirs and their respective shares, or validating the deceased's written will [1] [3].
   • Court verification and witness testimony: The Zoba Court reviews the Death Certificate from the Public Registration Office, family civil status records, any testamentary instrument, and sworn witness testimony, and publishes a notice allowing potential claimants or creditors to come forward before issuing the final succession decree [3] [4].
   • Transferring real property and cross-border representation: With the final Zoba Court succession decree, heirs can register the transfer of houses, land leases, or business licenses with the Cadastral Office and municipal land authorities [3]. Heirs living outside Eritrea can execute a Power of Attorney before an Eritrean Embassy or Consulate abroad (subsequently authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and registered with the Public Notary in Asmara) to authorize a local representative in Eritrea to complete the court and banking procedures on their behalf [1] [3].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Eritrea Bereavement Information Pack: Death Registration, Burial, and Repatriation Procedures — UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (British Embassy Asmara)
2. [2]
   Eritrea: Progress on Healthcare and Hospital Services — Ministry of Information of the State of Eritrea (Shabait)
3. [3]
   Public Registration Office and the Public: Mutual Cooperation for Efficient Services — Ministry of Information of the State of Eritrea (Shabait)
4. [4]
   Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Country Profile: Eritrea — UNICEF Data
5. [5]
   Proclamation No. 135/2003: The National Pension Scheme Establishment Proclamation — Gazette of Eritrean Laws (Library of Congress)
6. [6]
   Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare: Ensuring Social Welfare and Protection — Ministry of Information of the State of Eritrea (Shabait)