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 cause of death, the Maltese registry fees and the airline freight charge. 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.
Malta and the United Kingdom have long-standing ties, and a settled British community lives on Malta and Gozo alongside the many people who visit each year. When a death happens in Malta, bringing your loved one home to the UK draws together the Maltese authorities, the receiving arrangements in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and the transport itself. We coordinate all three, so the family does not have to travel to Malta or deal directly with local offices at a time of grief. If you are at the very start of this, our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms.
Malta is one of the more straightforward routes we handle. English is an official language throughout Malta's public administration, which removes the language barrier families can face elsewhere, and Malta is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so where a Maltese public document has to be recognised by a UK authority it can be issued with an apostille rather than passing through a longer legalisation chain.
A doctor at the hospital issues the doctor's death certificate that precedes the formal registration. The death is then registered with the Public Registry — Civil Status (Identità), which draws up and issues the official Act of Death (Att tal-Mewt). The receiving funeral operator in Malta carries out the local steps and prepares the deceased for the journey. We obtain the Act of Death and the transport paperwork on the family's behalf while the deceased is prepared.
The deceased is embalmed and placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin suitable for carriage by air, accompanied by an embalming certificate and a freedom-from-infection certificate for transport. Because Malta is an island in the central Mediterranean, repatriation is by air freight to a UK airport. Our team collects the deceased from the hospital or funeral home 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 in England and Wales, the coroner must give authority first — this is the Cremation Form 6, issued once the coroner is satisfied that no further investigation is needed (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 the authority is in place without delay.
A repatriation from Malta typically takes 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK, the deceased travelling by air over a distance of roughly 2,100 km. The timing depends on how quickly the Act of Death and transport paperwork are issued, the preparation of the deceased, and flight availability from Malta. Where a death is sudden, unexplained or unnatural and an inquiry is opened, release of the deceased can take considerably 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 the journey home, the arrival in the UK and the final funeral paperwork. The figure depends on the cause of death, local funeral-home and registry fees in Malta, and the airline freight charge. Families are often unaware that a UK-based estate or an insurance policy, or travel insurance held by the deceased, may cover part of the cost — we are glad to talk this through openly.
We handle the whole administrative and logistical process from end to end, keep the family informed at every stage, and are contactable 24/7. Our aim is that the distance between Malta 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 Maltese death certificate (the Act of Death, Att tal-Mewt, from the Public Registry — Civil Status), the doctor's death certificate issued by the hospital, 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 Maltese documents on your behalf.
Typically 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK, the deceased travelling by air over a distance of roughly 2,100 km. English is an official language of Malta and it is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so the paperwork is predictable.
The timing depends on how quickly the Act of Death and transport paperwork are issued and on flight availability. Where a death is sudden or unnatural and an inquiry is opened, release can take considerably longer.
No. We deal directly with the Public Registry — Civil Status (Identità), the hospital and the receiving funeral operator, and English is used throughout Malta's administration. The family does not need to travel or contact the Maltese authorities.
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; in Northern Ireland, the coroner).
We liaise with the coroner's office so this authority is in place when the deceased arrives.
The quoted price covers the Maltese documentation, embalming, a sealed transport coffin suitable for the UK funeral, the transport certificates, air freight to the UK 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, and we then stay with you through arrival and the final paperwork. The figure depends on the cause of death and local funeral-home, registry and airline 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.
