If an American citizen dies in Azerbaijan, the death should be reported immediately to the Consular Section.  If the next-of-kin was not with the citizen at the time of death, we will notify them of the death and work with them to carry out their wishes with regard to burial or repatriation of the body.  The Consular Section can also, with the next-of-kin’s permission, act as a liaison between the family and local authorities.  We will also prepare the necessary documents to allow the family to return the body to the U.S., if that is their wish, and issue a Report of Death of an American Citizen Abroad, which is based on the Azerbaijani death certificate and can be used in the U.S. for most legal purposes.  Be advised that the burial costs cannot be borne by the U.S. Government and are the responsibility of the next-of-kin.

For more information, please see Death of U.S. Citizens Abroad.

Disposition of Remains Report: Baku

December 24, 2015

Part I: Name of Country

Azerbaijan

Part II: US Embassy General Information

Local Address:
U.S. Embassy
111 Azadliq ave.

Baku, Azerbaijan 1007

Local Address in Azerbaijani:
ABŞ Səfirliyi
Azadliq prospekti 111
Baki şəhəri, Azərbaycan 1007

Telephone: +994 12 488-3300
FAX: +994 12 488-3320
After hours phone: + 994 12 488-3300
E-mail: consularbaku@state.gov
Website: https://az.usembassy.gov/

State Department Country Specific Information: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/azerbaijan.html

We encourage American citizens to sign up (register) for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program with the consulate, in order to obtain updated information on local travel and security. Enrollment is important; it allows the State Department to assist U.S. citizens in the event of an emergency. You do not need to come over to our office in person. You may sign up directly online at: https://travelregistration.state.gov

Part III:  Country Profile of Religions:

Country Profile: Visit the State Department’s website at http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/azerbaijan.html

Part IV: Funeral Directors, Mortician and Related Services Available in Baku:

The U.S. Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the following persons or firms. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. Professional credentials and areas of expertise are provided directly by the funeral directors, morticians and other service providers.

Baku City Funeral Bureau:

Address: 25, Rukhulla Akhundov Str.
Baku, Azerbaijan
Tel: +994 (12) 4405090
Mobile: +994 (50) 3153301

The Baku City Funeral Bureau assists with the local interment of remains and preparation for shipment including casket and local transportation.

International  SOS Clinic:

Address: Yusif Safarov Str. 1
Baku, Azerbaijan
Tel/Fax: +994 (12) 4937354, 4934089

The International SOS Clinic in Baku assists with repatriation of remains to the members of the  International SOS company ONLY.

Baku City Central Morgue

Emergency Hospital Named After M. Nagiyev

Address: 1, Mir-Kasimov Str.
Baku, Azerbaijan
Tel: +994 (12) 5947805

Baku City Central Morgue stores and prepares remains for shipment including autopsy, embalming and documentation.

Part V: Profile of services available in Baku regarding preparation and shipment of remains:

(1) Maximum Period Before Burial:

There is no maximum period before burial. For practical reasons, however, none of the Azerbaijani morgues are likely to keep remains for longer than 10 days without special arrangements. The storage price is $ 50.00 per a day. After the deadline, the remains are buried at the state’s expense. As a rule, only few cities as Baku, Ganja, Guba and Lenkoran  have mortuary facilities.

(2) Embalming:

There are no requirements for embalming if the remains will be buried locally. Embalming facilities exist in large cities in the consular district. It should be pointed out that preparation and air shipment of remains are carried out in accordance with the laws and facilities available in Azerbaijan, and, in most cases, the services fall short of those expected in the United States. It is always recommended that the hometown funeral director be requested to determine the advisability of viewing the remains.

(3) Cremation:

Cremation is not addressed in Azerbaijani National Law. There are no cremation facilities in Azerbaijan.

(4) Caskets and Containers:

When remains are transported out of the country, the body should be appropriately prepared or cremated for shipment. It is then placed in a zinc coffin, which is then placed in a suitable transportation box.

(5) Exportation of Human Remains:

Remains: To export remains, the following documents are required by the Azerbaijan authorities:

• Official Death Certificate issued by the Azerbaijan Vital Records Office.
• Certificate of Encasement (certifying that container is sealed and contains no extraneous objects);
• Medical Certificate from Forensic Bureau certifying absence of contagious diseases;
• Documents issued by the U.S. Embassy in Baku:
• Consular Report of Death Abroad (DS-2060)
• Consular Mortuary Certificate

 (6) Costs:

The prices below are in the state of gradual change due to the inflation and local currency rate.

Service	Dollars
Local interment of remains including , local transportation, permanent grave plot, and gravestone The average price for permanent grave plot in Baku is approx. $230.00, and the gravestone approx. $200.00.	$500.00
Embalming fee	$70.00
Preparation for shipment including embalming, documentation, casket, storage, local transportation	$1,500.00

Air Freight: Airline freight charge per kilogram differs from destination to destination. The minimum costs are for transportation of remains to the U.S. West Coast, maximum to the Hawaii.

Human Remains: Average weight of an export type casket with human remains is 200 kilogram . Costs for air freight shipment from  Baku to various points in the United States are as follows:

Baku to:	Rate/Kg	Total Dollars
New York, NY	$3.00	$600
Atlanta, GA	$19.00	$3,800
Chicago, IL	$17.74	$3,548
Los Angeles, CA	$18.24	$3,648

In addition to the above, there could be a security surcharge, fuel surcharge, handling and airway bill charges totaling up to $200

Smaller U.S. cities are served by small planes, which makes the total cost of shipment of remains much more expensive. Often families prefer ground transportation of remains from the major airplane hubs to smaller destinations.

Total Estimated Cost:

Below are prices for preparation and freight of air shipment of remains from Baku to several U.S. cities.

Embalmed Remains:

Baku to:	Dollars
New York, NY	$2,100
Atlanta, GA	$5,300
Chicago, IL	$5,048
Los Angeles, CA	$5,148

(7) Exhumation and Shipment:

There is no time limit for exhumation after burial. In order to exhume a body an application must be made to the Authority of the Cemetery.

(8) Local Customs Regarding Funerals, Disposition of Remains, Mourning, Memorial Services

Funerals typically include a funeral ceremony, a burial in a grave, a periodic memorial service. Local customs depend on religion.

(10) Remarks:

Autopsy Requirements

Only state pathologists are authorized to perform autopsies. The next-of-kin usually must wait two weeks to receive complete autopsy results.