Issuing authority and document: The Bahamas is not listed among the parties to the Strasbourg Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses (1973), in the public list we consulted on 13.10.2026, so Bahamian rules and the requirements of the Republic of Moldova apply. According to UK government guidance (published 26.05.2023, with no later update date), the death is registered at the Registrar General’s Department on the basis of the medical certificate of death, and a funeral director can register the death and collect the certificate. The mortuary passport is issued by an embassy or consulate of the Republic of Moldova; the list of missions on mfa.gov.md (consulted on 13.10.2026) shows no mission in The Bahamas, and we check which mission serves it before the documents are submitted.
Transport: The Bahamas is an archipelago, so the body or ashes travel by air, across the Atlantic. The list of destinations of Chișinău airport (RMO) on Wikipedia (consulted on 13.10.2026) includes no country of the Caribbean or the Americas, so we do not assume a direct flight; we look for connecting options in each case. The UK guidance names two mortuaries, in Nassau and in Grand Bahama; the island we start from depends on where the death occurred.
Timing: We confirm the timeline once we have the documents. The UK guidance says certificates are usually issued within a few days of registration, a post-mortem takes about 4 to 6 working days for foreign nationals, and toxicology can take up to a year because samples go to the USA; in those cases the certificate may not show the cause of death.
Price: We will quote the price once we know the details.

Country status under the 1973 Strasbourg Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses: per the Council of Europe list (archived 20.05.2014) and the Netherlands treaty database; checked 11.10.2026.

Procedure

According to the UK government guidance (26.05.2023, written for British families), the death is registered with the death registry section of the Registrar General's Department by submitting the medical certificate of death; the registry prints and signs the certificate. A funeral director can register the death, apply for release of the body and collect the certificate.

The guidance says a post-mortem is usually carried out only when the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent, at the Rand Morgue (Princess Margaret Hospital, Nassau) or the Ronald Bourne mortuary (Rand Memorial Hospital, Grand Bahama). A relative, friend or colleague must formally identify the body, with the deceased's passport. Because the guidance is written for British families, we confirm the steps for the Moldovan side with the mission of the Republic of Moldova.

Required documents

For repatriation the UK guidance lists a local civil registry death certificate, a certificate of embalming and a certificate permitting transfer of the remains. For ashes, the certificate of cremation is shown when leaving The Bahamas. We confirm the list for Moldova with the Moldovan mission.

The Bahamas appears in the table of the 1961 Hague Convention (HCCH, consulted on 13.10.2026) by succession, dated 10.07.1973. The table does not show the position of the Republic of Moldova on this participation, so we do not promise that an apostille is enough and we check with the Moldovan mission how the documents are legalised. According to mfa.gov.md, a foreign death certificate must be legalised by the authorities of the state where it was issued.

Specifics in The Bahamas

The UK guidance says that for a local cremation the death certificate needs an additional signature from a second doctor. If the post-mortem results are pending, the certificate omits the cause of death, and unnatural deaths may face delays until toxicology results or a doctor's report are available.

Tissue samples or organs may be kept for testing without the family's consent and the family is not told automatically; they are usually returned afterwards. A preliminary report can be requested through the funeral director from the Rand Morgue.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the post-mortem done in The Bahamas?

According to the UK guidance (26.05.2023), at the Rand Morgue, Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau, or at the Ronald Bourne mortuary, Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama, usually only when the cause of death is unknown, unnatural, sudden or violent.

How long do the post-mortem and tests take?

The UK guidance says a post-mortem takes about 4 to 6 working days for foreign nationals and toxicology up to a year, because samples are sent to the USA. We give no date before we see what is missing in your case.

What is needed for a local cremation in The Bahamas?

The UK guidance says the death certificate needs an additional signature from a second doctor. To leave The Bahamas with ashes, the certificate of cremation must be shown.

Who registers a death in The Bahamas?

The Registrar General's Department, on the basis of the medical certificate of death. A funeral director can submit the papers and collect the certificate, which is usually issued within a few days of registration.

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Repatriation from The Bahamas to Moldova