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 departure, the cause of death and local registry 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.
Spain is one of the most frequent routes we handle, with large British communities settled along the Costa Blanca, the Costa del Sol and in the Canary and Balearic Islands, as well as thousands of visitors each year. When a death occurs in Spain, bringing your loved one home to the UK involves the Spanish 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 Spain or deal directly with Spanish 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.
Because Spain is a member of the European Union, the paperwork is comparatively predictable. The Spanish death certificate is available in a multilingual (plurilingual) standard form, which the receiving funeral director and registrar in the UK can generally read without a separate translation. The main variables are distance and the local formalities in the province where the death occurred.
A doctor first certifies the death and issues the certificado médico de defunción — the attending doctor at home or in hospital, or, where the death was sudden or unexplained, the duty Juzgado (court). The death is then registered at the local Registro Civil, which issues the official certificado de defunción. For international transport, the health authority issues the autorización de traslado del cadáver — the mortuary passport — under the control of Sanidad Exterior. We obtain these on the family's behalf while the body is prepared.
The deceased is embalmed and placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin, as required for international carriage by air. For most of Spain the deceased travels by air freight to a UK airport; from the nearest points on the mainland a road transfer is occasionally an option. Our team collects the deceased from the local funeral home (tanatorio) 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 foreign 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 after 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 Spain typically takes 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK. This depends on the province of departure, appointments with the Registro Civil and the health authority, and the circumstances of the death: where an autopsy is ordered by the Juzgado, release can take several days 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 departure, the cause of death, and local funeral-home and registry 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 Spanish and in English, keep the family informed at every stage, and are contactable 24/7. Our aim is that the distance between Spain 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 certificado de defunción from the Registro Civil (available in multilingual standard form), the autorización de traslado del cadáver (mortuary passport) from the health authority, 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 Spanish documents on your behalf.
Typically 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK. As an EU member state, Spain's paperwork is predictable.
The timing depends on the province of departure, appointments with the Registro Civil and health authority, and the circumstances of the death. Where the court orders an autopsy, release can take several days longer.
No. We have Spanish-speaking coordinators who deal directly with the Registro Civil, the health authority, the tanatorio and, if necessary, the court. The family does not need to travel or communicate with the Spanish 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).
We liaise with the coroner's office so this authority is in place when the deceased arrives.
The quoted price covers the Spanish documentation, embalming, a transport coffin suitable for the UK funeral, the mortuary passport, transport to the UK and handover to your funeral director.
We confirm a firm quote at first contact with no hidden costs. The final figure depends on the region of departure, the cause of death and local 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.
