Short answer
Yes. You may appoint a charity or relative to sacrifice for you in another country, and your wajib qurbani is fulfilled once the animal is slaughtered. The slaughter must be after the Eid prayer where the animal is, and the safest course is that it falls on a day that is a qurbani day both there and where you live.
Appointing an agent for qurbani is valid. The start time follows the place of the animal: in a town, after the Eid prayer there. Classical texts look at the animal's location; many contemporary Hanafi muftis add that the day should also be a qurbani day where the owner is, so the cautious course is a day that is 10 to 12 Dhul Hijjah in both places.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ sacrificed some of his camels himself and had Ali sacrifice and distribute the rest, which shows a qurbani can be done through an agent. The four schools agree on this. Many Muslims in the US, UK and the Gulf pay for qurbani in countries where meat reaches the very poor, which is permitted and rewarding.
- Intention: when you pay, intend it as your qurbani and name the person it is for. The agent's slaughter then counts for you.
- Time: 10, 11 or 12 Dhul Hijjah. The first day is best. In a city it must be after the Eid prayer there; the Prophet said whoever slaughters before the prayer has slaughtered for himself.
- Different Eid dates: if Eid in your country starts a day before or after the animal's country, check that the slaughter falls on a qurbani day in both. Ask the charity which day they slaughter.
- One share per person: confirm the charity gives each donor a real animal or full seventh share, not a pooled donation.
- Hair and nails: wait until your animal has been slaughtered before cutting them, if you are following that sunnah.
Some scholars encourage doing at least one qurbani locally where you can, so the family sees and takes part in the rite, while sending more abroad. See our qurbani page for this year's dates.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Hajj 22:28
لِّيَشْهَدُوا۟ مَنَٰفِعَ لَهُمْ وَيَذْكُرُوا۟ ٱسْمَ ٱللَّهِ فِىٓ أَيَّامٍۢ مَّعْلُومَٰتٍ عَلَىٰ مَا رَزَقَهُم مِّنۢ بَهِيمَةِ ٱلْأَنْعَٰمِ ۖ فَكُلُوا۟ مِنْهَا وَأَطْعِمُوا۟ ٱلْبَآئِسَ ٱلْفَقِيرَ ﴿٢٨﴾
That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days over what He has provided for them of [sacrificial] animals. So eat of them and feed the miserable and poor.
The sacrifice is tied to known days.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5546
Sahih... من ذبح قبل الصلاة فإنما ذبح لنفسه ومن ذبح بعد الصلاة فقد تم نسكه ...
"Whoever slaughters before the prayer has slaughtered for himself, and whoever slaughters after the prayer has completed his rite."
Qurbani starts only after the Eid prayer.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1717
Sahih... أن يقسم بدنه كلها لحومها وجلودها وجلالها ولا يعطي في جزارتها شيئا ...
"He told him to distribute all of his camels, their meat, skins and coverings, and to give nothing of them as the butcher's wage."
The Prophet ﷺ had another person handle his sacrifice, so an agent is allowed.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Udhiyah, on the time of sacrifice. After the Eid prayer in towns, after dawn in villages.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Udhiyah. The place of the animal is what counts for the time.
- al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya, Kitab al-Udhiyah, chapter on agency. Appointing an agent to sacrifice.
This answer is pending review by the scholars on our team. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.