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 city of departure, the airport routing, and local funeral-director and legalisation fees, which vary. We confirm a firm quote at first contact, settled once the flight is confirmed, with no deposit or advance required, before your loved one departs.
*Estimated from when the death is registered. Our team does everything possible to complete the repatriation sooner.
Egypt is home to a large British and dual-national community, and the UK in turn has a substantial Egyptian and Coptic diaspora, so many families face bringing a loved one home from Egypt each year. The process brings together the Egyptian health authorities, the legalisation of documents for use in the UK, the certificates required for international air transport, and the receiving arrangements at home. We coordinate all of this, working with the local funeral director and the British Embassy in Cairo, so the family does not have to deal with Egyptian offices or airlines directly. If you are at the start of this, our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms.
Egypt is not part of the European Union, so there is no multilingual EU death certificate. The death is registered in Egypt and the documents are issued in Arabic, which means they must be legalised and translated into English before they can be used in the UK. We take care of this on the family's behalf.
A licensed doctor first certifies the death. The district health office then registers it and issues the Egyptian death certificate. For a death being repatriated, the local funeral director also obtains a permission letter from the British Embassy in Cairo, which accompanies the deceased on arrival. Where a death is sudden, unexplained or the result of an accident, the Egyptian authorities may order a post-mortem before the deceased is released, which can add time.
The deceased is embalmed and placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin, accompanied by an embalming certificate and a freedom-from-infection certificate confirming there is no public-health risk in transit. Because the Egyptian death certificate is issued in Arabic, it is legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Egyptian embassy and given a certified English translation, so it is accepted by UK registrars, coroners and funeral directors. The journey home is by air freight to a UK airport, a distance of roughly 3,510 km, and we make sure every certificate is complete before a flight is booked, to avoid delays at the terminal.
On arrival in the UK, the family can arrange the funeral. For a burial, the translated Egyptian 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. Where the family follows Islamic or Coptic tradition and hopes for a swift burial, we understand that embalming for transport means the usual timeframe cannot be met, and we work as quickly as the formalities allow.
A repatriation from Egypt typically takes 5–7 days from first contact. The timing depends on how quickly the district health office issues the death certificate, the legalisation and translation, the embalming and preparation, and the availability of a suitable flight from Cairo or another Egyptian airport. Where a post-mortem is ordered, release can take 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 agreed price is settled once the flight is confirmed, with no deposit or advance required, before your loved one departs; we then stay with you through arrival, the final paperwork and registering the death. The final figure depends on the city of departure, the airport routing, and local funeral-director and legalisation fees. A UK-based estate, a life-insurance policy or the deceased's own travel insurance may cover part of the cost — we are glad to talk this through openly.
We manage the Egyptian formalities, the legalisation and translation, the airline logistics and the UK reception as one coordinated process, keeping the family informed at every stage and remaining contactable 24/7.
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 deceased travels with the Egyptian death certificate from the district health office, a permission letter from the British Embassy in Cairo, and embalming and freedom-from-infection certificates for transport.
Because the Egyptian documents are issued in Arabic, they are legalised through the FCDO and the Egyptian embassy and translated into English. We obtain, legalise and translate everything on your behalf.
Typically 5–7 days from first contact. This mainly reflects the distance and because the Egyptian documents need legalising and translating into English.
The timing depends on how quickly the district health office issues the death certificate, the legalisation and translation, the preparation, and the availability of a suitable flight. Where a post-mortem is ordered, release can take longer.
Yes. The Egyptian death certificate is issued in Arabic, so it is legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Egyptian embassy and given a certified English translation before it can be used in the UK.
We arrange both as part of the service, so the paperwork is ready when your loved one arrives.
Yes. A burial can generally proceed on the translated Egyptian death certificate. 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 ready when the deceased arrives.
The quoted price covers the Egyptian documentation, the legalisation and translation, embalming, a transport coffin suitable for the UK funeral, the air freight home, and reception and handover to your funeral director. We confirm a firm quote at first contact, with no hidden costs.
The agreed price is settled once the flight is confirmed, with no deposit or advance required, before your loved one departs; we then stay with you through arrival, the final paperwork and registering the death.
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.
