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 South Africa and the flight routing. We confirm a firm quote at first contact, with no hidden costs, and the agreed price is 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.
Bringing a loved one home from South Africa is a long-haul journey, and the paperwork is more involved than a short European route because the death is first registered in South Africa before the deceased can travel. There is a large South African and British community moving between the two countries, and we coordinate every stage — the formalities in South Africa, the air transport and the reception here — so relatives do not have to deal with South African offices or the airline directly. If you are at the very start of this, our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms.
English is one of the official languages of South Africa, so its civil documents are issued in English and no translation is usually needed for the UK. South Africa is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so where a public document needs to be recognised here it can be apostilled rather than passing through a longer legalisation chain.
The death is registered with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), which issues the death certificate. Where a death is unnatural or reportable, the South African Police Service retains the post-mortem report and holds personal belongings. A funeral director then coordinates the South African and UK compliance documentation. The documents that accompany the deceased are the South African death certificate (abridged, or unabridged where cause of death is needed), a certificate of embalming, and a certificate giving permission to transfer the remains to the UK. We obtain and check these on the family's behalf.
The deceased is embalmed to international transport standard by the funeral director and placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin. From South Africa the journey is made by air, with direct and one-stop services to UK airports available from the main cities. Our team collects the deceased, arranges the airline documentation, 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 South African 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.
A repatriation from South Africa typically takes 5–7 days from first contact, over a distance of roughly 9,030 km. The timing depends on how quickly the death is registered and the certificate issued (an unabridged certificate showing cause of death can take longer), the embalming and preparation, and the flight schedule. Where the police retain a post-mortem report after an unnatural death, 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 quote a firm price for the services included at first contact, with no hidden costs. The final figure depends on the region of South Africa, the flight routing and local funeral-home 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, travel insurance or a life-insurance policy may cover part of the cost, and we are glad to discuss this openly.
We manage the South African formalities, the airline logistics and the UK reception as one coordinated process, keep the family informed at every stage, and remain 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 core documents are the South African death certificate from the Department of Home Affairs (abridged, or unabridged where cause of death is needed), a certificate of embalming, and a certificate giving permission to transfer the remains to the UK.
South Africa's documents are issued in English, so no translation is usually needed. Where a cremation is planned in England and Wales, the coroner must also authorise it (Cremation Form 6). We obtain and check everything on your behalf.
Typically 5–7 days from first contact, over a distance of roughly 9,030 km. This mainly reflects the distance and the local registration.
The timing depends on how quickly the death is registered and the certificate issued — an unabridged certificate showing cause of death can take longer — the preparation, and the flight schedule. Where the police retain a post-mortem report, release can take longer.
No. We coordinate directly with the funeral director, the Department of Home Affairs and the airline, so the family does not need to travel to South Africa or make calls to local offices.
With a large South African and British community moving between the two countries, families often reach us through relatives here; the process is arranged remotely on the basis of a simple written authorisation.
South Africa is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so where a public document needs to be recognised in the UK it can be apostilled rather than passing through a longer legalisation chain.
Because English is one of the official languages of South Africa, the documents are issued in English and no translation is usually required. We advise on any document that needs an apostille for a specific purpose, such as probate.
The quoted price covers the South African documentation, embalming, a transport coffin suitable for the UK funeral, the transfer permission, air transport 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.
