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 province and city of departure, the airport routing and connections 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 Vietnam is a long-haul repatriation in which the paperwork matters as much as the distance. It brings together the authorities in Vietnam that register the death and release the deceased, the certificates required for international air transport, and the receiving arrangements in the UK. The United Kingdom is home to a large and long-established Vietnamese community, and this is a route we manage from first contact to arrival, so the family never has to deal with Vietnamese offices or airlines directly. If you are at the very start of this, our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms.
Vietnam is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so where a Vietnamese public document must be recognised in the UK it can carry a single apostille rather than passing through a longer legalisation chain. The documents are issued in Vietnamese and travel with a certified English translation.
The death is registered by the local ward People's Committee, which issues the Vietnamese death certificate (Giấy chứng tử). Before the deceased can leave the country, the quarantine and customs authorities must give their clearance to release the remains, and a local funeral director prepares the deceased and arranges the transfer to the airport. We appoint a trusted local partner to complete these steps on the family's behalf.
The deceased travels with the Vietnamese death certificate and its certified English translation, an international medical quarantine certificate and a certificate of preservation of the remains, together with the deceased's passport and the consignment documentation the airline requires. Where these documents need to be recognised by the UK authorities, they can be legalised by apostille.
The deceased is prepared and placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin suitable for the funeral in the UK, and carried as documented air cargo on a long-haul flight, usually with a connection through a regional hub. Our team manages the collection, the airline booking and the journey through to the receiving funeral director in the UK, and makes sure every certificate is complete before a flight is confirmed.
Once in the UK, the family can arrange the funeral. For a burial, the Vietnamese death certificate is generally sufficient once translated. 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 Vietnam typically takes 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK. The timing depends on how quickly the death is registered, the quarantine and customs clearance, any apostille and translation of the documents, and the availability of a suitable long-haul flight. Where the death was sudden or unexplained and a local investigation is required, 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, fixed price at first contact, with no hidden costs. The final figure depends on the province and city of departure, the airport routing and connections, and local funeral-home, translation and administrative 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. Families are often unaware that a UK-based estate or a life-insurance or travel-insurance policy may cover part of the cost, and we are happy to talk this through openly.
We manage the Vietnamese formalities, the legalisation and translation, the airline logistics and the UK reception as one coordinated process, in Vietnamese and English and across the time difference. We keep the family informed at every stage and remain contactable 24/7, so the distance never adds to the 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 deceased travels with the Vietnamese death certificate (Giấy chứng tử) and a certified English translation, an international medical quarantine certificate and a certificate of preservation of the remains, together with the deceased's passport and the airline's consignment documentation.
Because Vietnam is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, documents that must be recognised in the UK can be legalised by apostille. We obtain, legalise and translate everything on your behalf, so the paperwork is complete before a flight is booked.
Typically 5–7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK. This mainly reflects the distance and the certification the airline and the authorities require.
The timing depends on how quickly the death is registered, the quarantine and customs clearance, any apostille and translation, and the availability of a suitable long-haul flight. Where the death was sudden or unexplained, a local investigation can extend it.
No. We support the UK's large Vietnamese community with a route that is arranged entirely remotely. Our coordinators deal directly with the local People's Committee, the quarantine and customs authorities, our local funeral partner and the airline, in Vietnamese and across the time difference.
The family does not need to travel or contact any Vietnamese office; the process begins with a simple written authorisation sent by email or WhatsApp.
Yes. A burial can generally proceed on the Vietnamese death certificate once translated. 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.
The quoted price covers the Vietnamese documentation, apostille and translation, preparation and a transport coffin suitable for the UK funeral, the quarantine and consignment certificates, the air freight to a UK airport and handover to your funeral director. We confirm a firm, fixed 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.
