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 region of Serbia, the airport routing and the cause of death. 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.
Serbia is a route we handle regularly, both for British families and for the large Serbian community settled across the UK, whether a relative was living, working or visiting in Belgrade, Novi Sad or one of the surrounding regions. Bringing your loved one home brings together the death registration in Serbia, the preparation and documents needed for international air transport, and the receiving arrangements in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. We coordinate all three, so the family does not have to travel to Serbia or deal directly with Serbian offices in a language they may not speak. If you are at the very start of this, our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms.
Serbia is not a member of the European Union, so the death certificate is issued in Serbian rather than on a multilingual standard form. Serbian public documents therefore usually need to be legalised with an apostille and given a certified English translation before they can be used in the UK. Serbia is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so a single apostille is sufficient and full consular legalisation is not required.
A death in Serbia is registered at the registry office of the Serbian civil registry for the place where it occurred, which enters the death in the register and issues the official death certificate (извод из матичне књиге умрлих). A doctor certifies the death before it can be registered and the deceased released. The local funeral operator then carries out embalming and prepares the deceased for the journey, assembling the documentation required for international air transport. We obtain and manage these on the family's behalf.
The deceased is embalmed and placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin suitable for carriage by air. Because Serbia lies roughly 1,690 km away in the Balkans, the journey home is made by air freight, with regular flights between Belgrade and the UK. Our team collects the deceased from the Serbian funeral home or hospital 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 Serbian 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 is in place without delay.
Where the family observes Serbian Orthodox or Muslim tradition and wishes to hold the funeral without delay, we do everything we can to protect that timescale, while being honest that international legalisation and transport set a realistic minimum.
A repatriation from Serbia typically takes 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK, over a distance of roughly 1,690 km by air. The timing depends on how quickly the registry office issues the death certificate, how long the apostille and certified translation take, and the availability of a suitable flight. Where a sudden or unexplained death is placed at the disposal of the public prosecutor for a post-mortem, release can take longer, and we keep you updated throughout.
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 region of Serbia, the airport routing, the cause of death, and local funeral-home and administrative fees. Families are often unaware that a UK-based estate or 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 entire administrative and logistical process in Serbian and in English, including the apostille and certified translation, keep the family informed at every stage, and are contactable 24/7. Our aim is that the distance between Serbia 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 Serbian death certificate (извод из матичне књиге умрлих) from the registry office, the documentation the funeral operator assembles for international air transport, and embalming and freedom-from-infection certificates.
Because the certificate is issued in Serbian, it is apostilled and given a certified English translation for use in the UK. Where a cremation is planned in England and Wales, the coroner must also authorise it (Cremation Form 6). We obtain and legalise everything on your behalf.
Typically 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK, over a distance of roughly 1,690 km by air. The flight itself is short; the timing is set by how quickly the registry office issues the death certificate and how long the apostille and certified translation take.
Where a sudden or unexplained death is placed at the disposal of the public prosecutor for a post-mortem, release can take longer. We keep you updated at every stage.
Yes. Serbia is not in the EU, so the death certificate is issued in Serbian rather than on a multilingual standard form. Serbian public documents normally need an apostille plus a certified English translation before they can be used in the UK.
Serbia is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so a single apostille is sufficient and full consular legalisation is not required. We handle both steps.
Yes. A burial can generally proceed on the apostilled and translated Serbian 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.
No. We coordinate directly with the Serbian registry office, the local funeral operator, the apostille and translation services and the airline, so the family does not need to travel or contact Serbian offices.
The whole process is arranged remotely on the basis of a simple written authorisation sent by email or WhatsApp.
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.
