CONSULAR INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE REMOVAL OF BODY/ASHES TO ITALY
The Funeral Director and/or the family of the deceased, must contact the Consulate General of Italy in Lagos writing by e-mail lagos.consolare@esteri.it providing the required documentation. A request will then be forwarded to Italy by the Consulate General of Italy in Lagos for the authorization of entry of the body / ashes and until the necessary authorization is received, the body / ashes must not leave Nigeria.
The following documents must be anticipated VIA email for a quick check and brought in original in case of cremation with the casket) on the day of the appointment:
1) Request of Registration form for Death certificate, Request of repatriation of body / ashes form (Form C);
2) two copies of the death certificate (one original and a True Copy) BOTH duly legalized by MFA in Abuja with the translations into Italian (the first one will be used for the registration in the Italian Vital Records Registry no fees applied; the second will be used to accompany the mortuary passport, fees apply – art.69 and art.72);
3) Authorization for Cremation issued by the competent local authorities (usually requested by the Funeral Home) duly legalized by MFA in Abuja with the translation into Italian, service normally carried out by the funeral agency (fees apply – art.69 and art.72);
4) Cremation Certificate “notarized” by a Notary Public and duly legalized by MFA in Abuja with the translation into Italian (fees apply – art.69 and art.72);
5) Funeral Home Declaration notarized by a Notary Public and duly legalized by MFA in Abuja with the translation into Italian, where it is stated that the procedure has been accomplished in compliance with the rules of the Italian Mortuary Police Regulations, (Form A for body repatriation, Form B for ashes repatriation (fees apply – art.69 and art.72);
6) Authorization by the competent local authorities to let leave the ashes from the country and transport them to Italy duly legalized by MFA in Abuja with the translation into Italian, service normally carried out by the funeral agency (fees apply – art.69 and art.72);
7) Italian passport of the deceased for cancellation (it will be returned to the family) together with a colored photocopy.
Upon receipt of the above-mentioned papers, this Consular Office will ask the Italian Municipality the necessary authorization to repatriate the body / ashes in Italy. As soon as the authorization arrive the Consular Office will call the Funeral Home and/or the family to affix the seal on the casket or urn and to hand in the Mortuary Passport with its attachments (fees apply – art.66H).
The total amount of the consular fees has to be paid during the appointment via cash. Being subject to trimestral updates pls contact the Consular Office to know the exact amount.
Once the authorization has been obtained from Italy, the casket has to be brought to this Office for the Consular Seals to be affixed without which the casket would not be allowed to enter Italy.