Repatriation of the deceased — to and from the UK

Contact a repatriation specialist like Funero as soon as you can. We'll guide you on notifying the local authorities and obtaining the local death certificate and any medical or police reports, then manage the full return to the UK — keeping you updated at every stage.

Typically the local death certificate, a certificate of embalming and a certificate of no contagious disease, plus authorisation from the consulate or authorities in the country of death. A deceased person doesn't travel on a passport — special transit documents are used instead. Funero prepares and coordinates all of it for you.

On average 3 to 10 working days, depending on the country and how quickly documents are issued. We act immediately, working directly with embassies, airlines and local officials to keep things moving as fast as possible.

Costs usually range from around £2,300 to £3,500, depending on the country, flight routes and paperwork involved. We give you clear, itemised pricing — coffin, transport, documents and support — with no hidden charges.

Many travel policies include repatriation cover, but not all. We'll help you check the deceased's insurance details and guide you through any claim, so you only pay for what isn't already covered.

You don't have to re-register a death that happened abroad, though it can be recorded with the General Register Office if you wish. We'll advise whether that's needed in your case and help with all the formalities.

Yes. If your loved one has been — or will be — cremated abroad, returning the ashes is simpler and less costly than repatriating a body. The cremated remains travel with the cremation certificate and the death certificate, either as accompanied hand luggage or by a tracked, documented courier, depending on the airline and country. We arrange the paperwork, liaise with the crematorium and airline, and make sure the ashes are received with the dignity they deserve.

On arrival we oversee the transfer from the aircraft and hand your loved one into the care of the funeral director of your choice, anywhere in the UK. From there the funeral — burial or cremation — can go ahead. Where a UK cremation is planned, the coroner first gives authority, and we coordinate this so nothing is held up. We stay in contact until your loved one is safely in the right hands.

You'll usually need the UK death certificate, a coroner's notice to remove the body out of England and Wales, an embalming certificate and a freedom-from-infection certificate, plus any documents required by the destination country's consulate. Funero arranges every certificate and consular step for you.

We arrange repatriation from the UK to destinations across Europe, and worldwide on request. Whatever the destination, we coordinate the airline, the receiving funeral director and the local authorities so the journey is handled end to end.

The death is registered in the UK and the relevant embassy or consulate is notified. We then coordinate directly with the consulate, the airline and the receiving country to prepare the documents and arrange a safe, dignified return home.

Most repatriations from the UK take around 3 to 10 working days, depending on the destination country's requirements and consular processing times. We keep the paperwork moving and update you throughout.

Yes. We can manage the whole process from the first call to arrival abroad without you needing to travel — documents, transport and coordination with the receiving country are all handled by our team.

It depends on the destination country, the flight route and the documents each authority requires, so we give you a clear, itemised quote rather than a rough figure — coffin, preparation, certificates, consular fees and transport, with no hidden charges. Nearby European destinations cost less than long-haul routes that need embassy legalisation and connecting flights. Tell us where your loved one needs to go and we'll come back with a firm price.

Sometimes. Some life-insurance policies and funeral plans, and occasionally employer or travel cover, include repatriation from the UK. We'll help you check what the deceased's policies include and guide you through any claim, so you only pay for what isn't already covered.

Yes. If the family chooses cremation in the UK, sending the ashes to the home country is far simpler and cheaper than repatriating a body. The cremated remains travel with the cremation and death certificates, as accompanied baggage or by documented courier, and we handle the airline and any consular requirements for the receiving country.