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 registry 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 the Czech Republic, bringing your loved one home to the UK brings together the Czech authorities, the receiving arrangements in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and the transport itself. This is a route we handle for British families whose relatives lived, worked or were visiting in Prague and across Bohemia and Moravia. We coordinate all three, so the family does not have to travel to the Czech Republic or deal directly with Czech 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 the Czech Republic is a member of the European Union, the paperwork is comparatively predictable. The Czech death certificate (úmrtní list) is available on an EU multilingual standard form, which the receiving funeral director and registrar in the UK can generally read without a separate translation. That form is a convenience for reading the certificate; it does not remove any requirement to legalise a document where a UK authority asks for it, and as a Hague member the Czech Republic can issue an apostille in that event.
A doctor first examines the deceased and issues the cause-of-death certificate. The death is then registered at the local registry office (matriční úřad), which issues the official death certificate, the úmrtní list. For international carriage, permission to transfer the remains — the transport authorisation — must be obtained, and the international funeral director assembles this together with the supporting documentation. Where a death is sudden, unexplained or occurs outside a medical institution, a forensic post-mortem may be ordered before the deceased can be released. We obtain and manage these on the family's behalf.
The deceased is embalmed and placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin suitable for carriage by air. When a death occurs away from the capital, the deceased is usually transferred to a funeral home for preparation and onward air transport. Because the Czech Republic is landlocked, roughly 1,040 km away, the journey home is by air freight. Our team collects the deceased from the funeral home or hospital and manages the journey through to the receiving funeral director in the UK.
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 the Czech Republic typically takes 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK, over a distance of roughly 1,040 km by air. The timing depends on how quickly the registry office issues the úmrtní list and the permission to transfer the remains is obtained, and on the circumstances of the death: where a forensic post-mortem 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 registry fees. Families are often unaware that a UK-based estate or 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 Czech and in English, keep the family informed at every stage, and are contactable 24/7. Our aim is that the distance between the Czech Republic 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 úmrtní list from the registry office, the doctor's cause-of-death certificate, the permission to transfer the remains (the transport authorisation), and embalming and freedom-from-infection certificates.
Where a cremation is planned in England and Wales, the coroner must also authorise it (Cremation Form 6). We obtain all of the Czech documents on your behalf.
Typically 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK, over a distance of roughly 1,040 km by air.
The timing depends on how quickly the registry office issues the úmrtní list and the permission to transfer the remains is obtained. Where a forensic post-mortem is ordered, release can take several days longer.
Yes. The Czech Republic issues the úmrtní list on an EU multilingual standard form, which the receiving funeral director and registrar in the UK can generally read without a separate translation.
That form is a convenience for reading the certificate; it does not remove any requirement to legalise a document where a UK authority asks for it. As a Hague member, the Czech Republic can issue an apostille in that event, and we arrange it if it is needed.
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; in Northern Ireland, the coroner).
We liaise with the coroner's office so this authority is in place when the deceased arrives.
No. We have Czech-speaking coordinators who deal directly with the registry office, the international funeral director and, if necessary, the police. The family does not need to travel or communicate with the Czech authorities.
The whole process is arranged remotely on the basis of a simple written authorisation sent by email or WhatsApp.
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.
