A dignified, fully-managed repatriation from the United Kingdom. We handle the paperwork, coordinate with the authorities in both countries, and bring your loved one home with care.
The agreed price is settled once the flight is confirmed, with no deposit or advance required, before your loved one departs, with no hidden costs. The final figure depends on the destination country and region and the mode of transport. We confirm a firm quote at first contact. The base covers transport to the destination airport; customs clearance and onward delivery are quoted separately, where available.
*Estimated from when the death is registered. Our team does everything possible to complete the repatriation sooner.
This is a general overview of returning someone who has died in the UK to a European country for the funeral. For most destinations we also have a dedicated route page with the specific requirements — this page explains the shared process that applies across the continent. We manage the UK coroner's formalities, the receiving country's requirements, and the transport, so neither the family in the UK nor the family abroad has to navigate two systems in two languages. Our repatriation hub sets out the essentials if you are just starting.
Before a deceased person can be taken out of England and Wales, the law requires that the coroner be given at least four clear days' notice (the Removal of Bodies Regulations 1954). The coroner then issues the "out of England" acknowledgement confirming there is no objection to removal, and can release the deceased sooner where satisfied that no further enquiries are needed. We complete this on the family's behalf. In Scotland the equivalent authority is the procurator fiscal; in Northern Ireland, the coroner.
Each destination country's own consular and import requirements set the standard for the documents that must accompany the deceased. Most European countries are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, so where a UK public document needs to be legalised for use abroad it can be apostilled in the UK. For some countries the destination's embassy or consulate in the UK legalises the documents instead, through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Within the European Union, multilingual standard forms under Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 can accompany the documents as optional translation aids. We identify and arrange exactly what each country requires.
The deceased is embalmed and placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin. For most of Europe the deceased travels by air freight; for near neighbours a road transfer via the Channel is sometimes an option. We collect the deceased from the UK hospital, mortuary or funeral home and manage the journey to the destination airport, coordinating with the receiving funeral director in the destination country.
A repatriation from the UK to a European country typically takes 5–7 days from first contact. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner (which can sometimes be shortened at the coroner's discretion), the destination country's requirements, and whether the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation.
This estimate is counted from when the death is registered, and our team does everything possible to complete the repatriation sooner.
We confirm a firm quote at first contact, with no hidden costs. The final figure depends on the destination country and region, the mode of transport, and any UK funeral-home and mortuary 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 the deceased's own arrangements may cover part of the cost, and we are glad to discuss this openly.
For the exact requirements, see the dedicated page for the destination country in our directory of routes from the UK. If your country is not listed, contact us: we arrange repatriations from the UK to anywhere in Europe and will confirm the specific process at first contact.
Common questions about repatriating someone who has died in the UK to their home country — the paperwork, timescales, costs, and who arranges each step.
We arrange repatriations from the UK to anywhere in Europe — EU and non-EU. We have dedicated pages for the main destinations; if yours isn't listed, contact us and we'll confirm the exact process.
The coroner must be given at least four clear days' notice before a body is removed out of England and Wales (the Removal of Bodies Regulations 1954), and issues an "out of England" acknowledgement (in Scotland, the procurator fiscal). We complete this on your behalf.
It depends on the destination. Most European countries are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, so where a UK document needs legalising it can be apostilled. For some countries the destination's embassy in the UK legalises the documents through the FCDO instead, and within the EU multilingual standard forms can accompany them as translation aids. We arrange whatever the destination requires.
Typically 5–7 days. The main factor is the four clear days' notice to the coroner, plus the destination country's requirements. A coroner's investigation can extend this.
The quoted price covers the coroner notification, embalming, a sealed transport coffin, the transport certificates, and transport to the destination with handover to the receiving funeral director. 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. We confirm a firm quote at first contact with no hidden costs.
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.
