Issuing authority and document: Cameroon is not a party to the Strasbourg Agreement (list consulted 13.10.2026), so Cameroonian rules and the requirements of the Republic of Moldova apply. UK government guidance (updated 08.09.2026) says the death is registered in the country where it occurred, through the hospital, after police and legal procedures. On mfa.gov.md (13.10.2026) there is no Moldovan mission in Cameroon and the country is not named among those covered by another mission; we clarify the competent mission at the start.
Transport: Yaoundé is roughly 5,100 km from Chișinău in a straight line, and Douala also roughly 5,100 km (our own calculation). No flight to Cameroon appears in the list of destinations of Chișinău airport (secondary source, 13.10.2026), so we plan on a connection; specific routes have not been verified. The departure city, Yaoundé or Douala, is chosen by the place of death and the documents available.
Timing: The UK guidance says only that the hospital usually issues the cause-of-death certificate within a week; it gives no timing for the autopsy, repatriation or cremation and warns that obtaining an autopsy report can take a long time. We confirm the timeline once we have the documents.
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 guidance (08.09.2026), the death is registered through the hospital where it occurred. Full names and dates of birth, an official ID and the cause-of-death certificate are needed; if the death was outside a hospital, also a post-mortem report. A death certificate is issued after registration.

An autopsy is generally done only for suspicious deaths, at the request of the police, the court or a legal representative, by court-appointed forensic doctors. The guidance notes it may not be carried out because of insufficient time or medical staff, and that its standard falls somewhat below the UK’s.

Required documents

The guidance does not list the specific documents for repatriation. It only says the authorisation is obtained by the funeral home with the help of the British High Commission, that a quote is given at the start and that costs should be agreed in writing. What the Cameroonian authorities and the Moldovan side require (mortuary passport, apostille, translations) we establish with the local funeral home and the competent mission.

In the Hague Convention status table (updated 30.06.2026) we did not find a row for Cameroon; we draw no conclusion about the apostille and, before submission, check whether Cameroonian documents can be used in Moldova and how.

Specifics of Cameroon

The guidance says cremation is available at the General and Military Hospitals in Yaoundé, the Gyneco-Obstetric Hospitals in Yaoundé and Douala General Hospital. For repatriation the remains are placed in a small bag inside a hard wooden box, sealed by soldering. Who issues the cremation certificate the guidance does not say.

If you carry the ashes yourself, the guidance asks for the death and cremation certificates, compliance with local rules on leaving the country, advance notice to the airline and a customs form on arrival. The guidance is written for repatriation to the UK; we confirm requirements for Moldova separately.

Frequently asked questions

Who obtains the repatriation authorisation in Cameroon?

The UK guidance says the funeral home obtains it with the help of the British High Commission. For a citizen of the Republic of Moldova who does it and how we find out from the local funeral home and the competent mission rather than assume.

In which Cameroonian cities is cremation possible?

The guidance names hospitals in Yaoundé and one in Douala. If the family wants cremation, we check whether the place and documents fit the case.

Why does a Cameroonian autopsy not replace a later one?

The guidance notes that the standard of autopsy in Cameroon falls somewhat below the UK’s and that an autopsy after repatriation is usually preferable. If one is needed in Moldova we discuss it with the family and the Moldovan authorities.

Can I carry the urn on the plane myself?

The guidance says yes, if you have the death and cremation certificates, follow local rules and notify the airline. The rules for entry into Moldova we check separately.

Other countries

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Repatriation from Cameroon to Moldova