Death
in Harness of an Expatriate in Kuwait
Procedures |
PART 1
: Transportation of Dead body (Human Remains) to Home Town
PART 2 : Burial of Body in Kuwait
PART 3 : Death Money
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PART 1 Transportation of Dead body (Human Remains) to Home Town |
Following are activities
related to the handling of a dead body, in the order of sequence and / or priority.
Variations emanating from cause of death is covered separately, within each item (please
see text in italic). Documents involved in the process and number of copies of each
required are as listed hereunder. Originals of all documents shall be collected back after
each process unless otherwise stated.
| Documents |
Document ID |
No. of Copies |
| Passport of the deceased |
Document # 01 |
12 |
| Civil ID Card of the
deceased |
Document # 02 |
6 |
| Death Registration
Certificate |
Document # 03 |
2 |
| Photocopy of Civil ID of
Samaritan |
Document # 04 |
6 |
| Authorisation of Samaritan
by Indian Embassy |
Document # 05 |
4 |
| Police Report (if
applicable) |
Document # 06 |
|
| Death Certificate |
Document # 07 |
11 |
| English Translation of
Death Certificate |
Document # 08 |
10 |
| English Translation of
Police Report |
Document # 09 |
10 |
| Airway Bill for shipment of
Coffin |
Document # 10 |
6 Sets |
| Authorisation / Appointment
for Embalming |
Document # 11 |
2 |
| Embalming Certificate |
Document # 12 |
6 |
| English Translation of
Embalming Certificate |
Document # 13 |
6 |
| Death Certificate issued by
the Embassy |
Document # 14 |
2 |
| Immigration Certificate
from Destination Airport |
Document # 15 |
2 |
| Customs Clearance
Certificate |
Document # 16 |
2 |
| Airport Medical Officer's
Certificate |
Document # 17 |
2 |
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A. Death Registration
Certificate (Document # 03)
Death registration certificate is issued from the hospital (only during working hours on
working days) and shall be collected as soon as possible by and against the name of the
person intending to carry out the formalities (hereinafter referred to as the Samaritan).
In all cases except death in a hospital, a report will have to be collected from the
respective Police Station.
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B. Authorisation of
the Samaritan by the Embassy (Document # 05)
Embassy of India will issue authorisation to the Samaritan in
approx. 30 minutes (during day hours on all working days), on submitting the following
documents:
· Passport of the deceased (Document # 01) along with photocopies of relevant
pages
· Original "Death Registration Certificate" (Document # 03).
· Application for authorisation (available at the Embassy) duly filled in.
· Photocopy of the Civil ID card of the Samaritan (Document # 04).
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C. Police Report
(Document # 06)
Police Station in whose jurisdiction the death has occurred will
issue a "Report" in all cases except death in a hospital. However, one may file
a case against the Hospital, at the respective Police Station, if any suspicion on the
cause of death exist.
· Death occurring from natural causes at
the place of residence or work.
· Death occurring from an accident at the place of work.
· Death occurring from a road accident.
· Death occurring from a known crime.
· Death occurring from suicide.
· Death occurring from unknown causes at unknown places.
Police Report shall be collected as soon as possible (during working
hours on working days) by the Samaritan; against the following documents:
· Original "Death Registration
Certificate" (Document # 03).
· Photocopy of the Civil ID card of the Samaritan (Document #
04).
· Photocopy of the Authorisation of the Samaritan (Document #
05).
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D. Death Certificate
(Document # 07)
Birth and Death Registration Office of the Ministry of Health
located behind Maidan Hawalli Police Station will issue the Death Certificate in approx.
one hour (on working days during normal working hours), on submitting the following
documents:
· Passport of the deceased (Document # 01)
along with photocopies of relevant pages.
· Civil ID of the deceased (Document # 02) along with a
photocopy.
· Original "Death Registration Certificate"
(Document # 03).
· Photocopy of the Civil ID card of the Samaritan (Document #
04).
· Photocopy of the Authorisation of the Samaritan (Document #
05).
· Original "Police Report".
Original Civil ID of the deceased
(Document # 02), will be retained by this office.
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E. English
Translations of Police Report (Document # 09) and Death Certificate (Document #08)
Authorised Translators located near Ministries Complex will issue a
certified translation of the following in approx. one hour against a payment of KD XX/-,
on submitting the following documents:
· Death Certificate along with a photocopy
· Police Report along with a photocopy
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F. Attestation of
"Police Report" and "Death Certificate" by Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Consular Section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs located in
Shuwaikh near the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) building will attest the Death Certificate in
approx. 30 minutes (on working days during normal working hours), on submitting the
following documents. This activity is given priority and
there is no need for standing in the queue.
· Photocopy of the Authorisation of the
Samaritan (Document # 05)
· Death Certificate (Document # 07) along with a photocopy
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G. Registration of
Death / Cancellation of Passport of the deceased by Embassy
Embassy of India will register the death and cancel the passport of
the deceased in approx. 30 minutes (during day hours on all working days), on submitting
the following documents; against a payment of KD 12/- and will issue a Certificate
(Document #14).
· Passport of the deceased (Document # 01)
along with two photocopies of relevant pages.
· Attested Death Certificate (Document # 07) along with two
(2) photocopies.
· English translation of Death Certificate (Document # 08)
along with two (2) photocopies.
· Two (2) photocopies of Civil ID of the deceased. (Document #
02).
· Two (2) photocopies of "Police Report", (Document
# 06) where applicable.
Cancelled passport of the deceased and
other original documents shall be collected from the Embassy
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H. Booking /
Reservation of Air Travel / Transport
The following shall be at least two working days ahead of the
intended time of shipping / travel; so as to allow sufficient time for the completion of
formalities. A coffin is treated as cargo and charged at KD 310/- for the Kuwait –
Trivandrum sector.
· Confirmed "Airway Bill"
(Document # 10)
· Air ticket (in case of anyone accompanying the coffin)
· Stickers for use on the coffin
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I. Transportation of
the body / coffin etc.
Death Certificate (Document # 07) shall be presented along with a
payment of KD XX/- to the responsible person (Dr. Ali, Tel. # 483 2090) at the Medical
Block of Sabah Hospital; who will give three (3) Certificates (Document # 11) stipulating
authorisation and appointment for the following activities:
Transportation of body to Sabah Hospital Mortuary
One Certificate shall be presented to the mortuary where the body
is kept, requesting transportation of the body to the Sabah Hospital Mortuary. This shall
generally be effected immediately.
Procurement of Coffin
One Certificate shall be presented to the coffin supplier located
in the market on Al-Soor Street, along with a payment of KD 80/- for the least expensive
type; inclusive of delivery to Sabah Hospital Mortuary, packing material and packing of
the body. Higher quality types are also available at extra cost.
Arrangement for sealing of Coffin by the Embassy
One Certificate shall be presented to the Embassy, requesting the appointment of an
Embassy Staff for sealing the coffin at the Sabah Hospital Mortuary. Transport should be
arranged for picking up and returning the Embassy personnel at the agreed time and date.
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J. Embalming / Paying
last Respects / Sealing etc.
People for bathing and dressing of the body shall be arranged by
the party (Hospital will not do this), after which the body shall be packed and displayed
at the hall for paying last respects.
Friends and relatives should be informed well in advance to pay the
last respects; most desirably by advertising in the local newspapers (Kuwait Times / Arab
Times will do this free of cost on delivering details in good time).
After paying the last respects / prayers, the coffin will be sealed in
the presence of Dr. Ali and Embassy personnel.
Identification stickers with Air Way Bill No. (from Airlines) shall be fixed on the
coffin.
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K. Embalming
Certificate and Translation
Two copies of "Embalming Certificate" (Document # 12) in Arabic will be issued
by Dr. Ali. Authorised English translation of this certificate (Document # 13) shall be
obtained from the same Translator of the death certificate and kept in custody
(attestation by Embassy, foreign affairs etc. not required).
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L. Cancellation of
Residence (Optional)
In case of employees, the employer shall be requested to complete
this formality so as to collect the dues and benefits. In case of dependants, the
concerned passport office will expedite this formality in approx. 2 hours on request in
prescribed forms, along with the following:
· Passport of the deceased (Document # 01)
along with photocopy of relevant pages
· Attested Death Certificate (Document # 07) along with a
photocopy
Residence permit can be cancelled at the
Airport immigration counter prior to departure.
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M. Documentation to
Airlines
Originals of the following shall be handed over to the travel /
shipping agent for processing the transportation of the coffin:
· Passport of the deceased (Document # 1)
along with six (6) photocopies of relevant pages
· Embalming Certificate (Document # 12) along with six (6)
photocopies
· English Translation of the Embalming Certificate (Document #
13) along with six (6) photocopies
· Death Certificate (Document # 8) along with six (6)
photocopies
· English Translation of the Death certificate (Document # 9)
along with six (6) photocopies
· Airway Bill (Document # 10)
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N. Transportation to
Airport
Ambulance will be provided free of charge from Sabah Hospital to Airport on making a
request at the Sabah Hospital Reception (Centre Building), at least three (3) hours prior
to the flight with photocopy of embalming certificate to release the coffin.
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O. Formalities at the
Kuwait International Airport
Any person accompanying the coffin shall complete his check-in and
immigration formalities and approach the health office in the basement for completing the
Immigration formalities. In case the residence permit of the deceased has not been
cancelled, this formality shall be completed at the immigration department.
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P. Formalities at the
Destination Airport
On submission of Airway bill to the Cargo department, the following
documents may be obtained.
· Immigration Clearance Certificate
(Document # 15)
· Customs Clearance Certificate (Document # 16)
· Airport Medical Officer's Certificate (Document # 17)
Along with the above Certificates, original documents - cancelled
Passport (Document # 01) of the diseased, original Death Certificate (Document # 07),
Original English Translation of the Death Certificate (Document # 08) may be handed over
to the person accompanying the body to the native place.
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| PART 2
Burial of body in Kuwait |
· Obtain Death Certificate (Document # 07) - Refer item Part 1 - D
· Cancel the Passport by the Embassy -
Refer item Part 1 - G
· Collect the Certificate from Dr. Ali to
enable burial at the local Cemetery.
· Transportation of the body to the Church
or the place of worship will be done by the Ambulance at the Sabah Hospital on submitting
the above Certificate. Care to take the above Certificate from the Ambulance driver and
hand over to the other Ambulance driver.
· Transportation of the body from the
Church or the place of worship to the Cemetery will be done by the Ambulance of the
Municipality.
· 24 hours notice should be given to the
Cemetery authorities for them to locate the place in the Cemetery depending on the
religion.
· Copy of the Death Certificate shall be
handed over to the Cemetery authorities.
· All funerals will have to be completed
before the sunset.
· Grave stone and/or funeral vaults can be
built only 3 months after the actual burial date
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| PART 3 Death Money |
Death money will be available only from an Insurance Policy instituted by self, by the
employers by private organisers or by the owner of an automobile causing accident leading
to death.
· Own Policy on Life
· Workmen Compensation Policy instituted by
the Employer
· Group Insurance Policy instituted by
Employer or Organisations
· Comprehensive / Third party Insurance
instituted by Vehicle Owner
Many of the Documents (originals / photocopies) listed in Part 1 will be required in
this process and hence a full set of copies shall be retained for this purpose.
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A. Own Policy on Life
Terms and conditions of the policy shall apply. Heirs or an
authorised representative (mutually agreed between the heirs and the Insurance Company)
shall initiate the process of claim.
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B. Workmen
Compensation Policy instituted by Employer
Terms and conditions of the policy shall apply. This policy generally covers death
during working hours including transit to and from work. Employer shall initiate the
process of claim.
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C. Group Insurance
Policy instituted by Employer or Organisations
Terms and conditions of the policy shall apply. However most of
such policies cover death from any cause anywhere in the world. The Employer /
representatives of the Organisation shall initiate the process of claim.
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D. Comprehensive /
Third party Insurance instituted by Vehicle Owner
Payment of death money under such insurance requires the
establishment of guilt on the part of the driver by a court of law. Monies payable will be
proportional to remuneration of the deceased, limited to KD 10,000/- and shall be payable
by the Insurance Company (not by the driver) to the authorised recipient.
As the process is lengthy and involves litigation, appointment of a
lawyer is highly recommended in such cases.
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