Death of an American Citizen in Qatar
DEATH / DISPOSITION OF REMAINS IN QATAR
In the event of the death of an American Citizen abroad, the American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Doha works closely with family of the deceased, their representative in Qatar, or the deceased’s sponsoring employer, as applicable, to document the death and finalize procedures for shipment or local burial of the deceased’s remains. Generally, all remains are sent to Hamad Hospital Mortuary, regardless of where the person died, and are held there until all documents are completed. The mortuary is free of charge, regardless of how long the remains stay there. In keeping with local religious customs, burial for Muslims or other non-embalmed remains normally takes place normally within 24 hours of the time of death but not more than sunset on the day following the person’s death. Cremation of remains is not allowed or available in Qatar.
According to local law, all employers are responsible to ship the remains of any non-Qatari employee to their home country or as determined by the deceased’s Next of Kin (NOK). In the case of the shipment of remains to the U.S., the documentation and shipping process normally requires one week from the time of death until embarkation of the remains from Qatar. For shipment of remains to the U.S, family members should hire a funeral director or home in the U.S. as soon as possible to coordinate the receipt of remains and make appropriate arrangements in the U.S.
For the deaths of an American tourist in Qatar, having a family member, friend or other representative in Qatar will facilitate the shipment process where no employer is available. In these cases, the family or NOK as appropriate are responsible for the costs of local burial or shipment of remains. The U.S. Embassy does not have funds available to financially assist in the return of remains or other costs associated with funeral arrangements.
Local Burial:
There are several Islamic cemeteries in Qatar. The family, employer or other representative must arrange everything from building a coffin to the digging and filling of the grave. If the remains will be interred locally, you must obtain the Notification of Death and notify the appropriate local police to send a representative to the cemetery at the time of burial. Local burial for Muslims will not cost more than USD.100.00. This is the cost for cloths to wrap the body and for a basic coffin. The Government of Qatar provides all other facilities free of charge for any Muslims to be buried locally.
For Non-Muslims, the government of Qatar will provide transportation and a grave site in Dukhan Cemetery, located about 90 kilometers from the capital city of Doha, free of charge. In these cases, a grave must be dug and a coffin purchased. The price of the coffin varies from USD.250.00 to USD.1500.00, depending on the quality of the coffin. Normally the local sponsor of the deceased provides for these expenses.
Official Documents:
Please note that the requirements below are subject to change without notice. A number of documents are required from various Qatari government offices before remains can either be interred locally or shipped abroad.
1. Notification of Death – Hamad Hospital Mortuary
After the deceased has been moved to Hamad Hospital Mortuary, an attending physician will examine the deceased to determine the cause of death. As part of this process, the police, in coordination with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, must also issue a “No Objection Letter to Release Remains.” This is only done after the police have investigated the death and determined that the deceased’s death requires no further investigation. The Mortuary will not release the Notification of Death until the police have provided clearance to do so. The Mortuary will provide three copies of the Notification of Death – One for the individual’s Embassy, a second for the Preventive Health Department and the third for the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Evidence Office. Please ask Hamad Hospital Mortuary staff to arrange an Ambulance to transfer the deceased’s remains to Doha International Airport for the day of shipment (to be determined later).
Note: The Mortuary can be accessed from the main entrance or via car at the rear gated entrance to Hamad Hospital located off C-Ring Road.
2. Qatari Death Certificate
Qatari Death Certificates are obtained from the Death Registration Office of the Preventive Health Department at the National Health Authority (NHA) building located across from Hamad Hospital on Al Rayyan Road and near Lulu Shopping Center. The Preventive Health Department will issue the Death Certificate immediately for cases of local burial upon receipt of the Notification of Death from Hamad Mortuary.
For shipment of remains from Qatar, the Preventive Health Department will only initially provide a “Copy of Death Certificate” until it receives the “Transfer of Remains Certificate,” an Airway Bill of Lading to ship the coffin, and a “Release of Remains” letter from the U.S. Embassy. The Preventive Health Department charges 100 Qatar Riyals (QR) for the copies of and original death certificates. Additional copies of the original Death Certificate can be obtained for 20 QR each. Initially, the Preventive Health Department will provide at least three copies of the Copy of Death Certificate. More can be provided if requested upon initial registration. Note that NHA staff will only provide after hours assistance for Muslim burials or shipment of Muslim remains abroad.
3. Transfer of Dead Body Certificate
With the Copy of Death Certificate, you must report to the Department of Evidence of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) located at the new CID compound on Sports City Street between the Khalifa Stadium R/A and Aziziyah R/A. Provide the Department of Evidence the Copy of Death Certificate and Notification of Death. The Department of Evidence will issue the “Transfer of Dead Body Certificate.” It is normally issued for only those remains to be shipped out of Qatar. The Department of Evidence should provide at least 5 copies of the Transfer of Dead Body Certificate.
4. U.S. Consular Report of Death and Release of Remains Certificate
Report to the U.S. Embassy in Doha to obtain the Release of Remains Certificate. If after hours, please contact the U.S. Embassy Duty officer at [974] 496 6000. Due to the need to ship remains quickly from Qatar, the Duty Officer will contact the ACS Unit immediately upon notification of the death of U.S. citizen. The ACS Unit will provide the NOK or employer the Release of Remains Certificate and the U.S. Consular Report of Death upon receipt of the Official Qatari “Copy of Death Certificate.” Please provide the deceased’s passport to the ACS Unit at this time.
5. Airway Bill of Lading
The NOK, employer or deceased’s representative is responsible for contacting an appropriate cargo agent to arrange for air shipment of remains. Many cargo agents have their offices at the Cargo Department at Doha International Airport, located on Al Matar Street to the south of the airport or a right turn from D-Ring Road if at the main airport entrance. Arrangements can be made in person or by telephone. Airline cargo agents are preferred, as they are best able to make accurate airline reservations for shipment of the remains. Please provide your selected cargo agent copies of the Transfer of Dead Body Certificate, Copy of Death Certificate, and Release of Remains Certificate, and pay the shipping fees. The cargo agent will then make a reservation and issue the “Airway Bill of Lading.” The name of the funeral home or director at the final destination should also be provided to the cargo agent at this time.
Note: please ensure that the final destination is mentioned on the Airway Bill of Lading. If the remains are transiting through a second airport in the U.S., please also be sure that the cargo agent’s or airline’s cargo office in the U.S. will transfer the remains to the domestic flight. In some cases, the deceased’s family may need to hire a funeral service at the first point of entry in the U.S. to coordinate the handover of remains when transiting to a domestic flight.
Cost for shipment to the U.S. varies from $2,000.00 to $3,000.00.
Airlines which ship remains:
Note: Qatar Airways flies direct to Washington Dulles Airport (IAD) and to Newark (EWR) via Geneva, Switzerland.
Note: Emirates has 3 flights daily Doha-Dubai-New York
6. Embalming and Sealing Certificate
Embalming is normally performed 24 to 48 hours prior to shipment abroad. Once the deceased has been embalmed and the above steps are completed, report to the Preventive Health Department at the NHA building with 1 original and 2 copies of “Release of Remains Certificate,” 5 copies of the “Transfer of Dead Body Certificate,” and 3 copies of the “Airway Bill of Lading.” The Preventive Health Department will provide you 4 packages of documents for:
Shipping Container
The local sponsor/employer or family as appropriate is responsible for the cost of a U.S.-standards shipping casket. The cost of a U.S. standard coffin ranges from approximately USD.1500.00 to 2,000.00. The airlines use a standard weight of 150Kg. to calculate shipment of remains. The shipping container is usually made of wood and lined with stainless steel as zinc is usually not available in Qatar, hermetically sealed, and constructed of sturdy materials for a long voyage by air. The shipping container is a basic construction and is not comparable to coffins manufactured and used in the U.S.
Contact: Gulf Boxes (only one licensed by Customs and Doha Intl Airport)
tel: 435-5460, 435-1697
location: Mounsora Street, Najma area, Doha
ACTIONS FOR THE DAY OF THE SHIPMENT OF REMAINS TO THE U.S.
Report to the Immigration Office located behind the gate between the Departure Hall and the First and Business Departure Hall and Lounge at Doha International Airport to obtain exit stamps and permission to depart for the deceased. This small office is located to the right after entering Doha International Airport behind the gate between the two halls above. Provide the package for Immigration provided by the Preventive Health Department, a copy of and the original cancelled U.S. passport, a copy of the “Airway Bill of Lading” with a set air reservation. An Immigration Officer will stamp the “Death Certificate” with a “No Objection to Transfer Remains” stamp to be shown to the Hamad Hospital Mortuary prior to shipment. NOTE: The date of flight should be the same day as date of the exit stamp.
Report to the Customs Department at Doha International Airport, located inside the Arrivals Hall. Approach the point where arriving passengers enter the Arrivals Hall and ask the officer on duty to see a Customs Officer to obtain permission to ship the remains of a deceased U.S. citizen. Provide the Customs Department their package and letter from the NHA Preventive Health Department. A Customs Officer will stamp the “Embalming and Sealing Certificate” with a “No Objection for Remains to Exit” stamp to be provided to Hamad Hospital Mortuary the same day prior to shipment.
Report to the Police located in the Cargo Department on Al Matar Street south of Doha International Airport. Provide them the Copy of Death Certificate stamped by Immigration, the Embalming and Sealing Certificate stamped by Customs, and a copy of the deceased’s passport.
Report to the cargo agent handling shipment and provide copies of all documents obtained above.
Report to the Cargo Department and provide a Copy of Death Certificate, a copy of all documents issued so far, an official copy of the Airway Bill of Lading, and the deceased’s passport stamped by Immigration. A Cargo Department representative will place all papers in an envelope to accompany the remains to their final destination. At this point, the NOK or employer should take the deceased’s passport to Hamad Hospital Mortuary for visual comparison of the deceased prior to shipment.
Report to Hamad Hospital Mortuary at least 2 hours before the departure of the flight to close and seal the shipping casket. Provide Mortuary staff the stamped Embalming and Sealing Certificate, the stamped Copy of Death Certificate, and the package of documents from the Preventive Health Department. Hamad Mortuary staff will affix a “Transit Label” to the shipping casket after it is sealed by the Mortuary staff. Please provide the “Consular Mortuary Certificate” to the Mortuary staff to accompany the remains. Please note that the employer is responsible for arranging 4 to 5 persons to help placing the deceased in the shipping container and carrying the shipping container to the Ambulance at the Mortuary.
Documents to Accompany Remains:
GENERAL NOTES:
Cremation: Cremation is not permitted in Qatar.
Exhumation and Shipment: Exhumation is permitted in cases involving criminal charges; permission for exhumation must be obtained from the Ministry of Interior.
Autopsy: In case of a death under circumstances in which a crime has occurred, the Qatari Public Prosecution issues an order for an autopsy. In this case, a copy of the autopsy should be officially requested, from the Office of the Prosecutor which ordered the autopsy. In such cases, the ACS Unit will forward the original to the NOK.