Issuing authority and document: The Central African Republic is not a party to the Strasbourg Agreement (1973) on the transfer of corpses (list of 24 states, consulted 13.10.2026), so the country’s rules and the requirements of the Republic of Moldova apply. UK government guidance (updated 09.06.2026) says the death is registered with the local authorities and the medical certificate is issued by the hospital doctor, usually in French. On mfa.gov.md (13.10.2026) there is no Moldovan mission in this country and it is not named among those covered by another mission; we establish the competent mission at the start.
Transport: Bangui is roughly 4,800 km from Chișinău in a straight line (our own calculation). No flight to the Central African Republic 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 guidance warns that some areas are inaccessible because of roads or security, so where exactly the death occurred matters.
Timing: The UK guidance says the medical certificate can take several days, and, if the circumstances of death were not unusual, the body is released within a few days. After a road accident the body can be held for over a month, and offices close on public holidays. We confirm our own 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 UK government guidance (09.06.2026), the death is registered with the local authorities; the name, date of birth and passport number of the deceased are needed, plus the details of the person registering. The medical death certificate is issued by the doctor at the hospital where the death occurred or where the body was taken; it can take several days and states the date, place and cause. The guidance notes that there is no central records system.

An autopsy is normal when the cause is in doubt or the death was outside a medical facility: it is requested by the Attorney General, carried out by forensic doctors and can take place without the next of kin’s consent. For sudden or unattended deaths the police prepare an initial report.

Required documents

For embalming the guidance lists: the medical death certificate, the certificate of identification of the body and, if there was an autopsy, the medico-legal report. For repatriation: the civil-registry death certificate, the embalming certificate and a certificate permitting transfer; some airlines may also ask for a passport copy. The list is written for the UK; what the Moldovan side requires (mortuary passport, apostille, translations) we establish with the competent mission.

In the Hague Convention (1961) status table (updated 30.06.2026) we did not find a row for the Central African Republic; we draw no conclusion about the apostille and, before submission, check how the country’s documents can be used in Moldova. Local authorities do not provide translation.

Specifics of the Central African Republic

Temperature-controlled storage is listed only in Bangui; in other prefectures it is not certain. The hospital mortuary is the usual place, conditions can be basic and a daily charge applies. Most mortuaries offer embalming before repatriation.

The guidance says cremation is not available because of local traditional beliefs. Few funeral homes are equipped for repatriation and may need time for the special caskets. Some prefectures and towns lack the services of the capital and some areas cannot be reached at all; so at first contact we need to know exactly where the death occurred.

Frequently asked questions

Is cremation possible in the Central African Republic?

No. The UK government guidance says cremation is not available because of local traditional beliefs. Local burial or repatriation of the body remain.

Where is the body kept?

Usually in a hospital mortuary. Temperature-controlled storage is listed only in Bangui. If the death was elsewhere, we check with the local funeral home what is possible.

Can an autopsy be done without the family’s consent?

Yes, according to the guidance: it is requested by the Attorney General and forensic doctors can perform it without the next of kin’s consent when the cause of death is in doubt. Special requests from relatives may be considered.

What if the death occurred in a hard-to-reach area?

The guidance says some areas cannot be reached because of roads or security and that in some prefectures and towns services are not the same as in the capital. We cannot promise a route; we establish with the local funeral home whether and how the body can be reached.

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Repatriation from the Central African Republic to Moldova