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AfricaRepatriation to Cameroon and repatriation to Germany
Many Cameroonians in Germany originally came here to study. If a relative dies here, the family often wishes for burial on the family land in Cameroon. We organise the repatriation to Douala or Yaoundé and the repatriation of the deceased from Cameroon to Germany.
Rudolf Nordheimer and team – in German, Russian or English.
Cameroon at a glance
- Transport route
- Air freight with a connection via a European or African hub, e.g. Brussels
- Destination airports
- Douala (DLA), Yaoundé-Nsimalen (NSI)
- Certificates
- no apostille (Cameroon is not a party to the Convention); German legalisation of Cameroonian documents has been suspended
- Agreements
- neither the Berlin Agreement of 1937 nor the Council of Europe Agreement of 1973
- Representation in Germany
- Embassy in Berlin (for all of Germany), honorary consulate in Hamburg
- German mission in Cameroon
- Embassy in Yaoundé, honorary consulate in Douala
Repatriation from Germany to Cameroon
The coffin travels to Cameroon as air freight. International connections to Europe operate from Douala and Yaoundé-Nsimalen. Depending on cargo capacity, connecting flights via European or African hubs are possible, for example via Brussels. Which airport is suitable depends on the home town: Douala is closer to the West Region and the Littoral, Yaoundé to the Centre and the South.
For the coffin to enter the country, the Embassy of the Republic of Cameroon in Berlin issues a "laissez-passer mortuaire". The application is made online via the official platform evisacam.cm, at least seven days before the planned departure. Documents to be uploaded include a copy of the deceased's passport or identity card, the residence permit, the death certificate, a letter addressed to the ambassador, and details of the funeral director and, where applicable, the authorised representative. The embassy gives a guideline processing time of seven days. We take care of the application and the collection.
In Cameroon itself, a burial permit and a permit from the prefecture (Préfet) may also be required. We clarify this with the family on site. Relatives travelling with the deceased need a valid yellow fever vaccination, which is checked on entry and exit. The German Federal Foreign Office warns against travel to the English-speaking regions of Nord-Ouest and Sud-Ouest and to the Far North (as of October 2026).
- Laissez-passer mortuairePermit from the Cameroonian Embassy in Berlin, application via evisacam.cm
- Death certificatefrom the German civil registry office, international or French version
- Body passportfrom the competent authority at the place of death
- Identity document and residence permit of the deceasedPassport, identity card or proof of nationality
- Certificate of freedom from infectious diseasesfrom a doctor or public health officer
- Proof of embalming and coffiningConfirmation of the preparation and the sealed coffin
Death in Cameroon – repatriation to Germany
In Cameroon, a death is reported to the local civil registry office (centre d'état civil). The registrar (officier d'état civil) issues the death certificate (acte de décès). For a repatriation, it should be applied for early, as it is needed for the export of the body.
The German Embassy in Yaoundé is responsible for Cameroon, and there is an honorary consulate in Douala. The embassy advises relatives, names local funeral directors and can issue documents for the repatriation. The costs are borne by the relatives. We coordinate with a local funeral director in Cameroon and organise the flight from Douala or Yaoundé to Germany as well as the journey to the cemetery.
Anyone who later wishes to have the death registered in Germany should contact the civil registry office (Standesamt) at the last place of residence. Cameroonian documents are not legalised by German missions; German authorities can arrange for the documents to be verified by the Embassy in Yaoundé. The Cameroonian documents are mostly in French, in Nord-Ouest and Sud-Ouest also in English; a certified translation into German may be required.
- Acte de décèsDeath certificate from the centre d'état civil
- Medical certificateon the cause of death and freedom from infectious disease
- Body passport (Leichenpass) or transfer documentthe German Embassy in Yaoundé can issue repatriation documents
- Passport of the deceasedfor export and registration in Germany
Good to know: burial and family in Cameroon
In many parts of Cameroon, especially in the West, the deceased are traditionally buried on the family's land. For families in Germany, this is often the main reason for a repatriation. Local authorities may require their own permits for deceased persons arriving from elsewhere. That is why we clarify before departure which permits are required at the destination.
Cameroon has two official languages, French and English. We communicate with the family and the authorities in English; we have French-language documents translated where necessary. The ties between the two countries are close: according to the German Federal Foreign Office, Cameroonian students have long been the largest group from sub-Saharan Africa at German universities.
Urn transfer to Cameroon
The Cameroonian Embassy's page on the laissez-passer mortuaire does not explicitly mention urns. We ask the embassy in Berlin beforehand whether the same procedure via evisacam.cm is required for an urn. The death certificate and the cremation certificate always travel with the urn; the airline decides whether the urn is carried as freight or in luggage. An urn can also be taken to Cameroon at a later date, for example for a family memorial ceremony; we prepare the documents for this in the same way.
More about urn transferFixed price for repatriation to Cameroon
Tell us where the deceased is now. We check what Cameroon requires and send you a written fixed price – free of charge and without obligation.
- Free and without obligation
- Written fixed price, no extra charges later
- Your data stays with us
- Request
- –
- Urgency
- Immediately
- Contact
- Phone call
Your enquiry goes directly to Rudolf Nordheimer. You will receive a written fixed price.
Frequently asked questions about Cameroon
Your question isn’t here? Call us – we will answer right away.
All questionsWhat is a laissez-passer mortuaire for Cameroon?
This is the Cameroonian Embassy's permit for the repatriation of a deceased person to Cameroon. It is applied for online via evisacam.cm, at least seven days before departure. The embassy gives a guideline processing time of seven days.
Is the flight to Douala or to Yaoundé?
Both airports have connections to Europe. Douala is closer to the West Region and the Littoral, Yaoundé is better for the Centre and the South. We choose the airport based on the home town and cargo capacity.
Which Cameroonian mission is responsible in Germany?
The Embassy of the Republic of Cameroon in Berlin is responsible for all of Germany. There is also an honorary consulate in Hamburg for the northern German states. Applications for the laissez-passer mortuaire go to the embassy.
How is a deceased person repatriated from Cameroon to Germany?
The death is reported to the centre d'état civil, which issues the acte de décès. A Cameroonian funeral director prepares the deceased, and the German Embassy in Yaoundé can issue the repatriation documents. We organise the flight from Douala or Yaoundé and the burial in Germany.
Do Cameroonian documents need an apostille in Germany?
No, Cameroon has not acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention. German missions currently do not legalise Cameroonian documents. Instead, the civil registry office (Standesamt), for example, can commission a verification of the document.
Sources: Embassy of the Republic of Cameroon: Authorization to repatriate a corpse · German Federal Foreign Office: Cameroon – travel and safety advice (as of 08.10.2026) · German Federal Foreign Office: Cameroonian missions in Germany · German Federal Foreign Office: Germany and Cameroon – bilateral relations · German Federal Foreign Office: Documents – countries where legalisation has been suspended · Cameroon High Commission London: Repatriation
Information provided without guarantee, as of 10/2026. Requirements of authorities and airlines change; we check them for each case.
We are here for you now
Day and night, including weekends. One call is all it takes to get the repatriation under way.