A dignified, fully-managed repatriation to the United Kingdom. We handle the paperwork, coordinate with the authorities in both countries, and bring your loved one home with care.
The final price depends on the region of departure, the cause of death and local administrative fees. We confirm a firm quote at first contact.
*Estimated from when the death is registered. Our team does everything possible to complete the repatriation sooner.
When a death occurs in Bulgaria — whether a British holidaymaker taken ill on the Black Sea coast, a retiree settled near Bansko or Sofia, or a relative of one of the Bulgarian families who have made their home in the UK — bringing your loved one back to the United Kingdom brings together the Bulgarian authorities, the receiving arrangements in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and the flight itself. We coordinate all three, so the family does not have to travel to Bulgaria or deal directly with Bulgarian offices in a language they may not speak. If you are at the very start of this, our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms.
Because Bulgaria is a member of the European Union and, like the United Kingdom, a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the documentation is comparatively predictable. The greater variables are the distance involved — roughly 2,000 km, which means the deceased travels by air — and the circumstances of the death.
The death is registered with the Bulgarian civil registry office, which draws up the death act and issues the official death certificate — the акт за смърт. A local funeral operator takes the deceased into its care and carries out the preparation needed for international carriage, and a transport authorisation for international carriage is obtained so the coffin can leave the country. We arrange these steps on the family's behalf while the deceased is prepared, and keep you updated as each document is issued.
The deceased is embalmed and placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin, as required for carriage by air. From Bulgaria your loved one travels by air freight to a UK airport — a distance of roughly 2,000 km. Our team collects the deceased from the local funeral home or hospital mortuary and manages the journey through to the receiving funeral director in the UK, working alongside the Bulgarian funeral operator so that nothing is left for the family to arrange on the ground.
Once in the UK, the family can arrange the funeral. For a burial, the foreign death certificate is generally sufficient. For a cremation, the coroner in England and Wales must give authority first — this is the Cremation Form 6, issued once the coroner is satisfied there is no need for further investigation (in Scotland this role falls to the procurator fiscal; in Northern Ireland, the coroner). You can read more about the coroner's role in England in our resource centre. We liaise with the coroner's office so this is in place without delay.
A repatriation from Bulgaria typically takes 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK, the deceased travelling by air over roughly 2,000 km. The timing depends on the town of departure, the issuing of the death certificate and the transport authorisation, and the circumstances of the death. Where a death is sudden or unexplained and a local examination is ordered, release can take several days longer.
This estimate is counted from when the death is registered, and our team does everything possible to complete the repatriation sooner.
We quote a firm price for the services included at first contact, with no hidden costs. The final figure depends on the region of departure, the cause of death, and local funeral-home and administrative fees. Families are often unaware that a UK-based estate or life-insurance policy, or travel insurance held by the deceased, may cover part of the cost — we are happy to talk this through openly.
We handle the entire administrative and logistical process in Bulgarian and in English, keep the family informed at every stage, and are contactable 24/7. Our aim is that the distance between Bulgaria and home should never translate into lost days or added distress at the worst possible time.
Last verified July 2026.
Common questions about bringing someone who has died abroad home to the UK — the paperwork, timescales, costs, and who arranges each step.
The core documents are the акт за смърт (the official Bulgarian death certificate) from the civil registry, a transport authorisation for international carriage permitting the deceased to leave Bulgaria, and embalming and freedom-from-infection certificates for transport.
Where a cremation is planned in England and Wales, the coroner must also authorise it (Cremation Form 6). We obtain all of the Bulgarian documents on your behalf.
Typically 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK, the deceased travelling by air freight over roughly 2,000 km.
The timing depends on the town of departure, the issuing of the death certificate and transport authorisation, and the circumstances of the death. Where a death is sudden or unexplained and a local examination is ordered, release can take several days longer.
No. We have Bulgarian-speaking coordinators who deal directly with the civil registry, the local funeral operator and the authorities handling the transport. The family does not need to travel or communicate with the Bulgarian offices.
The whole process is arranged remotely on the basis of a simple written authorisation sent by email or WhatsApp.
Yes. A burial can usually proceed on the foreign death certificate alone. For a cremation in England and Wales, the coroner must first give authority using Cremation Form 6, once satisfied that no further investigation is needed (in Scotland, the procurator fiscal).
We liaise with the coroner's office so this authority is in place when the deceased arrives.
The quoted price covers the Bulgarian documentation, embalming, a transport coffin suitable for the UK funeral, the transport authorisation, air freight to the UK and handover to your funeral director.
We confirm a firm quote at first contact with no hidden costs. The final figure depends on the region of departure, the cause of death and local fees.
When choosing, it was hard — we'd never done anything like this before. We definitely chose the right company; their whole ethos is built around caring. From start to finish, Sebastian and his team worked tirelessly for a smooth process and took all the stress away. Our family can't thank Funero enough.
I can't speak highly enough of Sebastian and the Funero team. I'll admit I was slightly worried about using them as they were far more competitive — but their service was impeccable, with regular, timely communication that was a huge comfort at a difficult time.
Funero truly stands out — caring staff, affordable prices and excellent communication. Their team goes above and beyond to make the process smooth and respectful, making a difficult time a little easier, and affordable without ever compromising on quality or care.
I'm from Sydney and lost my brother in London. I was lucky to find Funero to help with the repatriation. Sebastian was fast, helpful and available at all times — they made the whole process easy for me. Highly recommended!
Every colleague at Funero went over and above during the repatriation of our loved one, from the first moment to the end and beyond. They spared no effort to make it happen far sooner than usual, treated our loved one with outstanding respect, and their empathy made an unbearable time feel manageable. Your loved ones will be in the best of hands.
Considering the shock and our lack of knowledge, Sebastian and Mihai were absolutely amazing with their help and guidance. It was an emotionally draining time, but they are calm, polite, empathetic and warm — from practical advice to personal effort and so much patience. We can't thank them enough.
An exceptionally professional and compassionate team. During one of the most painful moments of my life they went above and beyond, offering genuine support and care. Thanks to their kindness and dedication, the burden of losing my mother was made a little easier. I am deeply grateful for their respect, empathy and humanity.
Our loved one died on holiday in Egypt and, as a family of modest means, what felt impossible was made possible. Funero was the only company that didn't ask for money upfront, which gave us time to fundraise — and their quote was more than reasonable. They kept us informed every step, translated everything, and their reps in Egypt worked so hard for us. We can't thank them enough for bringing our loved one home.
Speak to a repatriation specialist any time, day or night — we'll guide you through every step.
