Embassy of Uruguay in Saudi Arabia

The requirements to transfer human remains to Uruguay are:

• Request letter to transfer the remains of the deceased from friends/family of the deceased. If you are in Uruguay, you can send an email, requesting authorization to transfer the remains back to Uruguay. Find model of the note attached
• Presentation of the death certificate duly issued by the competent authority and legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country where the person died: Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq or Yemen.
• The presentation of the embalming and closing of the casket by the competent authority. This certificate needs to be legalized/apostilled.
• The authorization of the transfer of remains (transit burial permit) issued by the competent authority.
• Certificate that the person did not die of an infectious disease. The Ministry of Health in the country, in which the person died, issues this certificate.
• You will have to present a note in which it is specified when and how the transfer will take place (day, flight number, etc.), so that the Consulate can issue an additional boarding certificate.

Transfer of the ashes

• This option is not yet available since there is not cremation services in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq or Yemen. Cremation is contrary to Islamic law and is forbidden in the mentioned countries.

On the other hand, keep in mind the following aspects:

• In the case where the cause of death was due to an infectious sickness, the transfer of the body or remains will not be accepted until 10 years have passed.
• We recommend that you contact the airline which you plan on traveling with to transfer the remains as to check that they do perform that type of transfer procedure and what are the corresponding requirements.

In case you have further questions about this procedure, please send an email to uruarabia@mrree.gub.uy