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 flight routing from Tbilisi and local funeral-director fees. We confirm a firm quote at first contact, with no hidden costs.
*Estimated from when the death is registered. Our team does everything possible to complete the repatriation sooner.
Bringing a loved one home from Georgia is a long-haul journey rather than a short European transfer, but it is a well-established one. It brings together the death-registration formalities in Georgia, the legalisation of the death certificate for use in the UK, the documentation prepared for the flight, and the receiving arrangements once the deceased arrives home. We coordinate all of this directly with the funeral director and the authorities in Georgia, so the family does not have to travel or deal with foreign offices. If you are at the very start of this, our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms.
Georgia lies roughly 3,300 km from the UK, so the deceased travels by air freight, usually from Tbilisi. Georgia is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, which means the Georgian death certificate can be legalised for use in the UK with an apostille rather than a longer legalisation chain. Because the certificate is issued in Georgian, a certified English translation is normally arranged alongside it.
A doctor or hospital first certifies the death. It is then registered with the Public Service Development Agency, through one of its Public Service Halls, which issues the official Georgian death certificate. The certificate is written in Georgian, so it is legalised with an apostille and given a certified English translation before it is used here. Where a death is sudden or its cause is not yet clear, local enquiries or a post-mortem may be needed before the deceased can be released, and this can lengthen the timeline. We keep in close contact with the funeral director in Georgia so the family is told of any delay and its likely cause.
The international funeral director in Georgia prepares the deceased for the flight: embalming, a sealed transport-standard coffin, and the certificates of embalming and freedom from infection that airlines require. The funeral director assembles the transport documentation for the flight, and the deceased travels as documented air cargo, usually from Tbilisi to a UK airport. We arrange the airline booking and the cargo formalities and confirm that every document is complete and correctly legalised before the flight is booked, so there is no avoidable hold-up at the terminal.
Once in the UK, the family can arrange the funeral. For a burial, the apostilled and translated Georgian death certificate is generally sufficient. For a cremation in England and Wales, the coroner 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. Many Georgian families follow the Orthodox Christian tradition of burial; we work to the family's wishes and faith, and liaise with the coroner's office so any cremation authority is ready when the deceased arrives.
A repatriation from Georgia typically takes 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK, over a distance of roughly 3,300 km. The timing depends on how quickly the death certificate, apostille and translation are issued, the preparation of the deceased, and the availability of a suitable flight from Tbilisi, which may involve a connection. Where a death is referred for investigation, release can take longer, and long-haul logistics can extend the timing.
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 city of departure, the flight routing from Tbilisi, and local funeral-director and administrative fees. Families are often unaware that a UK-based estate, a 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 Georgian formalities, the apostille 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. Our aim is that the distance between Georgia 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 deceased travels with the Georgian death certificate, an apostille legalising it for the UK, a certified English translation, and certificates of embalming and freedom from infection, together with the transport documentation the funeral director assembles for the flight.
The certificate is issued in Georgian, so both the apostille and the translation are needed before it can be used here. We obtain everything on your behalf.
Typically 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK, over a distance of roughly 3,300 km by air.
The timing depends on how quickly the death certificate, apostille and translation are issued, the preparation of the deceased, and flight availability from Tbilisi, which may involve a connection. Where a death is referred for investigation, or long-haul logistics intervene, it can take longer.
Yes. Georgia is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so the Georgian death certificate is legalised for the UK with an apostille rather than by a longer legalisation chain.
Because the certificate is issued in Georgian, a certified English translation is also required so UK registrars, coroners and funeral directors can accept it. We arrange both.
No. We coordinate directly with the funeral director in Georgia, the Public Service Development Agency and the airline, so the family does not need to travel or deal with foreign offices.
The whole process is arranged remotely on the basis of a simple written authorisation sent by email or WhatsApp.
Yes. A burial can generally proceed on the apostilled and translated Georgian 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).
Many Georgian families choose burial in keeping with Orthodox Christian tradition; we work to your wishes and faith, and liaise with the coroner's office where a cremation is planned.
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.
