Guides / Family & education / Death & inheritance
When a family member dies in Qatar: certificates, repatriation and next steps
A calm, step-by-step guide for the days after a death in Qatar: who to call, how the death certificate is issued, choosing burial in Qatar or sending the body home, and then the residence permits, employer dues and bank accounts.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
- Where
- Humanitarian Services Office, behind Hamad General Hospital mortuary, Doha (open every day)
- Government fees
- Certificates and papers for burial or repatriation are free
- Cremation
- Not available in Qatar: burial here or repatriation
- Employer deadline
- Must deposit the worker's dues and gratuity with the court within 15 days
Losing someone is hard enough without paperwork in a foreign country. This guide is for families and friends of a resident who has died in Qatar, and for colleagues or employers helping them. The order is usually the same: make sure the death is reported, register it and get the death certificate, decide between burial in Qatar or sending the body home, and complete those papers. Most of the government paperwork for this is handled in one place, the Humanitarian Services Office behind the Hamad General Hospital mortuary, and the official fees for these certificates have been waived. Once the funeral or flight is arranged, there are slower tasks: cancelling the residence permit, sorting the family's own residence, and collecting salary, gratuity and bank balances for the heirs. You do not have to do everything at once, and you do not have to do it alone: the embassy, the employer and friends can carry much of it.
Before you start
- The deceased's original passport, plus about 10 photocopies
- The deceased's Qatar ID (QID), plus copies (if it is lost, the Ministry of Interior will ask for a lost-ID report)
- Your own original QID or passport as the person reporting the death (the 'informant'), plus copies
- The hospital's death notification report, or the police report if the death happened outside a hospital
- The sponsor's QID copy (the employer's, or the family member's who sponsored the deceased)
- Contact details for the deceased's embassy in Doha, employer or HR/PRO, and any health, life or travel insurer
- A written consent or authorisation from the next of kin if someone else (a relative, friend, employer or the embassy) will act for them
- If repatriating: the name of a funeral director in the home country to receive the body, and details of who will travel with it
- A notebook or phone note to record every office visited, document collected and phone number
Step by step
If the death happens outside a hospital, call 999
If someone dies at home, at work, on the road or anywhere outside a hospital, call 999 and ask for the police and an ambulance. The police record what happened and the body is taken to the Hamad General Hospital mortuary, where it stays until the paperwork is finished. If the death happens in a hospital, the hospital issues the death notification and arranges the transfer to the mortuary itself. Try to have one calm person stay with the police or doctors and write down names, report numbers and where the body is being taken. You do not need to arrange anything else in the first hour.
Read guide: Emergencies in Qatar: who to call and where to go →Tell the embassy, employer and insurer, and choose who will lead
Contact the deceased's embassy in Doha early: it can explain your country's rules, issue the documents it is responsible for, and tell family back home. Tell the employer's HR or PRO (public relations officer, the person who handles government paperwork), because they often know the process and many employers help with the papers and costs. Call any health, life or travel insurer straight away, as some policies pay for repatriation or the funeral but need to be told before you spend money. Agree on one person to lead the paperwork. If the closest relatives are abroad, they can authorise a relative, friend, employer or the embassy in writing to act for them; ask the embassy what form of consent it needs.
Read guide: Making a power of attorney in Qatar →Register the death and collect the death notification
Go to the Humanitarian Services Office, the single-window office behind the Hamad General Hospital mortuary, near the HMC HR building and the Ritaj hotel. It opens every day; reported hours differ (7am to 6pm on GOV.UK, 7am to 9pm in older notices), so go in the morning if you can. At the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) counter you complete the death registration form and receive the death notification report. Bring the deceased's original passport, your own ID and the hospital or police report. Ask for several copies of everything at each counter, because almost every later office keeps one.
Get the death certificate from the Ministry of Public Health
At the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) counter in the same office, the death certificate is issued for non-Qatari residents, in Arabic and English. The next of kin, the sponsor or an insurer acting for the family can apply. The same counter also issues the embalming certificate (needed to send a body abroad), the burial permit for a burial in Qatar, and letters for the mortuary and customs. Ask for extra original copies of the death certificate now: banks, the employer, the embassy and authorities at home will each want one. If the certificate will be used abroad, it may need attestation by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which you can request online through Tawtheeq later.
Read guide: Tawtheeq (National Authentication System): signing up and logging in →If the police are involved, expect extra steps
After a road accident, a workplace accident or any death that is sudden or unexplained, the police and the public prosecution must finish their checks before the body is released. A forensic report and security clearance are needed before repatriation, and a post-mortem may be carried out; in criminal or unnatural cases this can happen without the family's consent. Post-mortem reports are not usually given to the family, although an authority at home (for example a coroner) may request one. This can add days or longer, so tell relatives and the airline not to fix a flight until the police confirm the body can be released. Belongings such as a phone may be kept as evidence for a while.
Read guide: After a car accident in Qatar: police report, Metrash and insurance →Decide: burial in Qatar or sending the body home
The next of kin, or the sponsor if no relative is available, makes this decision. Cremation is not possible in Qatar, so the choice is a burial here or repatriation (sending the body home); some families repatriate and then cremate in the home country. Things to weigh are religion and family wishes, insurance cover, cost, and whether relatives at home want to attend a funeral. A burial in Qatar is permanent: exhumation is not possible later. Take a little time if you need it, but tell the mortuary and the embassy as soon as you decide, because each route needs different papers.
If burying in Qatar: permit, police approval and the cemetery
For a local burial you need the MOPH burial permit, a police burial authorisation and, for most nationalities, a no-objection letter (NOC) from the embassy. Muslim burials are arranged quickly, customarily within 24 hours, and the funeral prayer can be held at the mosque next to the Women's Hospital at HMC. Non-Muslims can be buried in Qatar's non-Muslim cemetery in Dukhan, which according to GOV.UK is the only one in the country; prayers can be held in a room at Al Wakrah Hospital or at the Religious Complex in Mesaimeer. The authorities arrange the burial with the mortuary's help and may transport the body free of charge, while the family or sponsor usually pays for the coffin and grave digging. Your church, temple or community association can often help organise a service.
If repatriating: embalming, MOI papers, embassy NOC and the flight
Airlines require the body to be embalmed and sealed in a coffin, which is done at the Hamad mortuary with the embalming certificate from MOPH. At the Ministry of Interior (MOI) counters in the same office you get a 'To whom it may concern' certificate and the exit permit for the body; the residence permit is normally cancelled first. The embassy issues its no-objection certificate (NOC) and usually cancels the deceased's passport, so photocopy the passport before you hand it in. The airline's cargo department (Qatar Airways has a desk in the office) then books the body as cargo and the ticket for anyone travelling with it, and the papers travel in an envelope with the coffin. Arrange a funeral director at home to collect the body at the destination airport; some families use an international repatriation company to handle all of this.
Cancel the deceased's residence permit
The deceased's residence permit (RP) must be cancelled, and this is usually done at the MOI counters in the Humanitarian Services Office before the body can leave. Bring the death certificate copy, the cancellation application, a copy of the sponsor's QID, and the deceased's original QID and passport. If the deceased worked, the employer is the sponsor and normally does this; if they were on family sponsorship, the family sponsor applies. Afterwards, check in the Metrash app or ask the sponsor to confirm that the status shows as cancelled. Our guide to cancelling a residence permit explains the general process.
Read guide: Cancelling a residence permit in Qatar: dependants, employer and the 14-day rule →Sort out the family's own residence
If the person who died was the sponsor of a spouse, children or a domestic worker, those permits were tied to them, so the family needs a plan rather than waiting for a problem. A family member may be able to move to a new sponsor, such as a working spouse, an adult child or the family member's own employer, or the family may decide to leave Qatar. Ask the MOI officer at the Humanitarian Services Office, or your embassy, how long the family can stay while this is arranged, because no single published rule covers every case. A widowed mother transferring her children's sponsorship normally needs the death certificate. Check each family member's status in Metrash so nobody overstays by accident.
Read guide: Transferring a family member's sponsorship in Qatar →Claim salary, gratuity and other dues for the heirs
Under Qatar's Labour Law, when a worker dies the employer must deposit any unpaid wages and other dues, including the end-of-service gratuity, with the competent court within 15 days of the death, with a calculation; the court then pays the heirs according to Islamic law or the deceased's own personal law. The employer must also pay to prepare the body and send it home if the family asks. If the death was caused by work, the heirs can claim compensation, and that claim must be made within one year of the death. Ask HR in writing for a breakdown of the final settlement, and keep copies of the contract and payslips. If the employer does not pay, the family can file a complaint with the Ministry of Labour.
Read guide: End-of-service gratuity in Qatar: how it is worked out and how to claim it →Bank accounts, loans and everything else, then look after yourselves
Banks freeze an account as soon as they learn of a death, and the balance is released to the heirs only with the death certificate and a legal heirship or inheritance document (often from the home country, legalised and attested for use in Qatar). Joint accounts and outstanding loans or credit cards are handled under separate rules, and some loans are covered by insurance, so ask each bank exactly what it needs. Also deal with the tenancy, utilities, mobile line, car registration and any school or club fees. When the practical work slows down, grief often hits harder: the National Mental Health Helpline (16000, option 4) and PHCC family doctors can help. Ask for support early, for adults and children alike.
Read guide: Finding mental health support in Qatar →
What it costs
| Government certificates and papers for burial or repatriation (death certificate, embalming certificate, permits) | Free (fees waived since 2016) |
| Hamad General Hospital mortuary service | Free (reported) |
| Coffin | About QAR 1,200 to 1,500 (reported; check current price) |
| Air cargo for the body and ticket for an escort | Varies by airline and destination; paid by the family, insurer or employer |
Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.
Common mistakes
- Handing the original passport to the embassy without photocopying it first; banks and other offices may later ask for it
- Spending money on a funeral or flight before calling the insurer, who may have required approval first
- Booking a flight before the police or prosecution have released the body in an accident or unexplained death
- Collecting only one copy of the death certificate when the bank, employer, embassy and home authorities all want one
- Forgetting that the spouse, children or domestic worker were sponsored by the deceased, and letting their residence lapse
- Accepting a cash 'settlement' from the employer without a written breakdown of salary, gratuity and other dues
- Missing the one-year deadline to claim compensation for a work-related death
- Trying to handle everything alone instead of letting the embassy, employer, community groups and friends help
Questions people ask
Can we cremate the body in Qatar?
No. Cremation is not available in Qatar, so the options are a burial here or repatriation. Families who want a cremation usually repatriate the body and arrange it at home. Your embassy can explain what your home country requires.
How long does it take to send a body home from Qatar?
When the death is natural and the papers are in order, the paperwork at the Humanitarian Services Office can be completed quickly, often within a day or two, and the flight follows once the embassy NOC and airline booking are ready. Accidents, unexplained deaths and police investigations take longer. Flight availability and weekends also affect timing, so confirm each step before telling relatives an arrival date.
Who pays to send the body home?
If the deceased was a worker under the Labour Law, the employer must pay to prepare and transport the body if the family asks. Otherwise the cost falls on the insurer if the policy covers it, or on the family. Some embassies can consider help for families who cannot pay, usually after checking their circumstances.
Is a post-mortem compulsory?
Not as a routine. A post-mortem may be required when the death is sudden, accidental or suspicious, and in criminal or unnatural cases it can be done without the family's consent. Organs cannot be removed without the next of kin's permission. The report is not usually given to the family.
My husband sponsored me and our children. Can we stay in Qatar?
Your permits were tied to his sponsorship, so you need to act. You may be able to move to a new sponsor, for example your own employer or another eligible relative, or you may decide to leave. Ask the Ministry of Interior or your embassy how much time you have, and check your status in Metrash so nobody overstays.
What happens to his salary and end-of-service gratuity?
The employer must deposit unpaid wages and dues, including the gratuity, with the court within 15 days of the death. The court then distributes the money to the heirs under Islamic law or the deceased's own personal law. Ask HR for a written calculation and keep copies of the contract and payslips.
The bank froze his account. How do we get the money?
Banks release a deceased person's balance only to the legal heirs. They normally ask for the death certificate and an official heirship or inheritance document showing who inherits, which, if issued abroad, must be legalised in the home country and attested by the Qatari embassy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Heirs often appoint one person by power of attorney to deal with the bank.
None of the family is in Qatar. Who can handle everything?
The next of kin can authorise a relative, friend, the employer or the embassy in writing to act for them, including choosing burial or repatriation. Ask the embassy which consent form it accepts and whether it must be notarised. Employers and community welfare groups often help with the paperwork.
Official sources
- GOV.UK: When someone dies in Qatar ↗
- DohaGuides: Death in Qatar, repatriation and funeral procedures ↗
- Doha News: Qatar launches office to repatriate bodies ↗
- Qatar Labour Law No. 14 of 2004 (ICNL library) ↗
- Embassy of India, Doha: Transfer of mortal remains ↗
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Death certificate attestation ↗
Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.