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 within Moldova, the flight routing and local translation 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.
Bringing a loved one home from the Republic of Moldova is a well-established journey. Moldova is not a member of the European Union, so the documents are prepared and legalised for use in the UK before the deceased is flown home over roughly 2,100 kilometres, most often from Chișinău. When a death occurs in Moldova, we coordinate the Moldovan formalities, the legalisation of the paperwork, the flight, and the reception in the UK, so the family does not have to travel or deal with foreign offices directly. Our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms if you are just starting.
Moldova is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so the death certificate is legalised with an apostille rather than by a longer consular chain, and a certified English translation is prepared alongside it. The main considerations are the Moldovan civil formalities, the legalisation and translation, and the flight schedule.
The death is registered at the local civil registry office of the Public Services Agency (Agenția Servicii Publice), which issues the official death certificate, the certificat de deces. The attending doctor or medical institution issues the medical death record, the certificat medical constatator de deces. The local undertaker prepares the deceased and obtains a certificate giving permission to transfer the remains for the journey.
Because the documents are issued in Romanian, they are legalised with an apostille and accompanied by a certified English translation, so they can be used by the UK registrar, coroner and funeral director. Moldova is a predominantly Orthodox Christian country, where families often wish for a timely funeral; we move the formalities forward as quickly as the authorities allow, while keeping the family informed at each stage.
The deceased is embalmed and placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin suitable for international carriage by air. The certificate permitting transfer of the remains accompanies the coffin, together with the apostilled and translated death certificate, and the deceased travels by air freight from Chișinău to a UK airport. Our team collects the deceased from the Moldovan 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 apostilled and translated Moldovan 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 authority is in place without delay.
A repatriation from Moldova typically takes 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK, travelling by air freight over roughly 2,100 kilometres. The timing depends on how quickly the civil registry office issues the certificat de deces, the apostille and certified translation, and the availability of a suitable flight from Chișinău. Where the cause of death is referred for further examination, 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 confirm a firm quote at first contact, with no hidden costs. The final figure depends on the city of departure within Moldova, the flight routing to the UK, and local funeral-home and translation fees. Families are often unaware that a UK-based estate, travel insurance or a life-insurance policy may cover part of the cost — we are happy to talk this through openly.
We manage the Moldovan 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 certificat de deces (the Moldovan death certificate from the Public Services Agency), the certificat medical constatator de deces (the medical death record), a certificate giving permission to transfer the remains, and embalming and freedom-from-infection certificates. Because the certificate is issued in Romanian, it is legalised with an apostille and accompanied by a certified English translation for use in the UK.
We obtain everything on your behalf, so the family does not need to deal with Moldovan offices directly.
Yes. Moldova is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so the death certificate is legalised with an apostille rather than by a longer consular chain.
As the documents are issued in Romanian, we also arrange a certified English translation so they can be used by the UK registrar, coroner and funeral director.
Typically 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK, travelling by air freight over roughly 2,100 kilometres.
The timing depends on how quickly the civil registry office issues the certificat de deces, the apostille and certified translation, and the availability of a suitable flight from Chișinău. Where the cause of death is referred for further examination, release can take longer.
No. We coordinate directly with the Moldovan funeral home, the civil registry office of the Public Services Agency and the airline, so the family does not need to travel or make calls to Moldovan offices.
The process is arranged remotely on the basis of a simple written authorisation.
Yes. A burial can generally proceed on the apostilled and translated Moldovan 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).
We liaise with the coroner's office so this authority is ready when the deceased arrives.
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.
