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 in New Zealand, the flight routing back to the UK, and local funeral-director 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.
New Zealand is one of the most distant countries we serve — roughly 18,800 km from the UK, on the far side of the world — and with a large British-New Zealand population, bringing a loved one home from there is a route we know well, if one of the longer journeys in both distance and paperwork. The process draws together the formalities where the death occurred, the certificates needed for a long-haul flight, and the receiving arrangements in the UK. We coordinate all of it across a twelve-hour time difference, so the family does not have to deal with New Zealand funeral directors, government offices or airlines directly. If you are at the very start of this, our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms.
New Zealand is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so the death certificate is legalised for use in the UK with an apostille rather than a longer consular chain. New Zealand documents are issued in English, so no translation is needed here.
A local funeral director — most of whom are equipped to handle repatriation — registers the death with the Department of Internal Affairs (Births, Deaths & Marriages), which issues the death certificate, and arranges the embalming and preparation for air transport. The New Zealand Customs Service clears the human remains at the border. The freight documentation — the air waybill and arrival notice — together with importer identification, the embalming certificate and the deceased's passport, make up the file that travels with the coffin. We work with the exporting funeral director so the paperwork is consistent before a flight is booked.
The deceased is embalmed and placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin for the flight. Repatriation from New Zealand is by air, on a long-haul routing that usually connects through Asia or the Middle East, over a distance of roughly 18,800 km. Our team manages the airline documentation, the consignment and the journey through to the receiving funeral director in the UK.
Once your loved one is in the UK, the family can arrange the funeral. For a burial, the New Zealand 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 our resource centre. We liaise with the coroner's office so this is in place without delay.
Where the family observes Māori custom, a tangihanga (tangi) may be held in New Zealand before your loved one is brought home, or the family may wish to bring the deceased back without delay for a service in the UK. We arrange the transport and reception to fit the farewell your family intends to hold.
A repatriation from New Zealand typically takes 5–7 days from first contact. The timing depends on how quickly Births, Deaths & Marriages issues the death certificate, the apostille turnaround, the embalming and preparation, and the availability of a suitable long-haul flight, which is usually a journey of some 5–7 days door to door.
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 in New Zealand, the flight routing back to the UK, and local funeral-director fees. 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. A UK estate, a life-insurance policy or travel insurance may cover part of the cost — we are happy to talk this through openly.
We manage the New Zealand formalities, the apostille, the airline logistics and the UK reception as one coordinated process, across the time difference, 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 New Zealand death certificate from the Department of Internal Affairs, carrying an apostille for use in the UK, together with the freight documentation (air waybill and arrival notice), importer identification, an embalming certificate and the deceased's passport.
New Zealand documents are in English, so no translation is needed for the UK. We obtain everything on your behalf.
Typically 5–7 days from first contact, over a distance of roughly 18,800 km. This mainly reflects the distance, the long-haul flight routing and the apostille step.
The timing depends on how quickly Births, Deaths & Marriages issues the death certificate, the apostille turnaround, and the availability of a suitable flight back to the UK — usually a journey of some 5–7 days door to door.
Yes — the death certificate is legalised with an apostille. New Zealand and the United Kingdom are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so no separate consular legalisation is required.
Because the documents are in English, no translation is needed. We arrange the apostille as part of the process.
No. Many British-New Zealand families making this journey are on the UK side, and we coordinate directly with the New Zealand funeral director, the Department of Internal Affairs and the airline across the time difference, so no one needs to travel or make calls to New Zealand offices.
The process is arranged remotely on the basis of a simple written authorisation.
The quoted price covers the New Zealand documentation and apostille, embalming and a transport coffin, the freight documentation, long-haul air freight to a UK airport, 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.
