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 final price depends on the flight routing to Banjul, the legalisation fees and any UK mortuary fees. 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.
When someone dies in the UK and is to be returned to The Gambia for burial, the process brings together the UK coroner's formalities, the requirements of the Gambian authorities, and a long-haul flight to Banjul. Because The Gambia is a predominantly Muslim country, families usually wish to hold the burial as soon as the deceased arrives, and we work to move the paperwork and the journey forward without delay. We manage the whole process on both sides so the family does not have to deal with UK offices in English. Our repatriation hub sets out the essentials if you are just starting.
Taking a body out of England and Wales follows a set UK procedure; the requirements of the Gambian authorities then set the standard for the documents that must accompany the deceased and for the way the coffin is prepared.
Before a deceased person can be taken out of England and Wales, the law requires that the coroner for the district be given at least four clear days' notice (the Removal of Bodies Regulations 1954). The coroner then issues an acknowledgement — the "out of England" notice — confirming there is no objection to removal, and can release the deceased sooner where satisfied that no further enquiries are needed. We give this notice and obtain the acknowledgement on the family's behalf. In Scotland the equivalent authority is the procurator fiscal; in Northern Ireland, the coroner.
The deceased travels embalmed and placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin, accompanied by the UK death certificate, the coroner's out-of-England acknowledgement, and certificates of embalming and freedom from infection. Those documents are legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Gambia's High Commission before departure. On arrival at Banjul, a local funeral director receives the deceased and handles the local formalities for the burial. We prepare the document file and coordinate directly with the receiving family or funeral director so no one is left to arrange matters from a distance.
The deceased is embalmed and placed in a sealed transport coffin suitable for international carriage. The journey is made by air to Banjul on a scheduled service, generally connecting through a European or West African hub. Our team collects the deceased from the UK hospital, mortuary or funeral home, completes the airline's requirements for carrying human remains, and manages the journey through to the receiving family or funeral director in The Gambia.
A repatriation from the UK to The Gambia typically takes 5–7 days from first contact, over a distance of roughly 4,500 km. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner (which can sometimes be shortened at the coroner's discretion), the legalisation of the documents through the FCDO and the High Commission, and flight availability to Banjul. Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation, the timeline can be longer. We press to keep the interval as short as the process allows, mindful of the wish for an early burial.
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, fixed quote at first contact, with no hidden costs. The final figure depends on the flight routing to Banjul, the legalisation fees, 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, a community fund or the deceased's own arrangements may cover part of the cost, and we are glad to discuss this openly.
We handle the UK coroner's formalities, the Gambian receiving requirements, and the flight to Banjul as one coordinated process, so the family in The Gambia does not have to deal with UK offices, and we remain contactable 24/7. You can read more about repatriating a body from the UK in our guidance.
Last verified July 2026.
Common questions about repatriating someone who has died in the UK to their home country — the paperwork, timescales, costs, and who arranges each step.
Before removal, the coroner must be given at least four clear days' notice and issues an "out of England" acknowledgement. The deceased then travels embalmed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin, accompanied by the UK death certificate and certificates of embalming and freedom from infection.
The documents are legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Gambia's High Commission before departure. We complete the coroner notification and the legalisation on the family's behalf.
Typically 5–7 days from first contact, over a distance of roughly 4,500 km. The distance to Banjul, the legalisation of the UK documents, and flight availability are the main factors.
Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation, the timeline can be longer. We press to keep the interval as short as the process allows, mindful of the wish for an early burial.
We do everything we can to respect the wish for an early burial. International air transport still requires embalming and a sealed transport coffin, set by the airline and Gambian customs rather than by choice, and we carry these out with dignity.
We work to keep the interval before burial as short as the documents and flights allow, and we adapt where the family follows another faith or custom.
No. We handle the UK coroner's formalities and registration in English, and arrange the legalisation of the documents through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Gambia's High Commission.
The family provides a simple written authorisation, and we coordinate both sides of the process remotely.
The quoted price covers the coroner notification, the legalisation of the documents, embalming, a sealed transport coffin, the transport certificates, and air transport to Banjul with handover to the receiving family or 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.
