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 destination region in Ghana, the airline and route and any onward transfer beyond Accra. 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 home to Ghana for the funeral, the process brings together the UK coroner's formalities, the recognition of the documents by the Ghanaian authorities, and a long-haul flight to Accra. We manage the full journey and the paperwork on both sides so the family in Ghana does not have to deal with UK offices in English. Our repatriation hub sets out the essentials if you are just starting.
Ghana is outside the European Union, so its own import requirements set the standard for the documents that accompany the deceased. UK public documents are legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Ghana High Commission so they are recognised on arrival.
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 body sooner where satisfied that no further enquiries are needed. We complete this notification 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 coffin suitable for air transport, accompanied by the UK death certificate, the coroner's out-of-England acknowledgement, and confirmation of embalming and freedom from infection. Before travel, the UK documents are legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Ghana High Commission so they are recognised on arrival. In Ghana, a receiving funeral home takes the deceased into care and arranges the funeral in the home region. We prepare the document file and coordinate directly with the funeral home.
The deceased is embalmed to international transport standard and placed in a sealed coffin suitable for air carriage. The journey is by air as cargo on a scheduled flight to Accra, with any onward transfer to the home region arranged at the Ghanaian end. Our team collects the deceased from the UK hospital, mortuary or funeral home, manages the airline documentation, and coordinates with the receiving funeral home through to arrival.
A repatriation from the UK to Ghana typically takes 5–7 days from first contact, the deceased travelling roughly 5,100 km by air. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner, the time to have the documents legalised for recognition in Ghana, and airline scheduling. Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation, the timeline can be longer.
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 region in Ghana, the airline and route, any onward transfer beyond Accra, 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 a church or community fund may cover part of the cost, and we are glad to discuss this openly.
We handle the UK coroner's formalities, the legalisation of the documents for Ghana, the sealed coffin and the air transport as one coordinated process, keeping the family in both countries informed and remaining 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 in a sealed coffin with embalming and freedom-from-infection certificates.
The UK documents are legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Ghana High Commission so they are recognised on arrival. We complete the coroner notification and arrange the legalisation on your behalf.
Typically 5–7 days. The distance to Accra, the air-freight schedule, and the time needed to legalise the documents for recognition in Ghana all affect the timing.
The four clear days' notice to the coroner, and any referral of the death to the coroner for investigation, can also affect timing. Where the family's faith calls for a swift burial, we prioritise the file accordingly.
No. We handle the UK coroner's formalities, the registration and the legalisation of the documents, and we liaise with the receiving funeral home in Ghana.
The family provides a simple written authorisation, and we coordinate both sides of the process remotely and keep everyone informed.
Where the family's faith calls for a swift burial — as in Muslim practice — we prioritise the file, book the earliest suitable flight, and legalise the documents as quickly as possible.
Some steps, such as the coroner's notice and any coroner's investigation, are set by law and cannot be waived, but we move everything within our control without delay.
We confirm a firm, all-in quote at first contact, with no hidden costs. It covers the coroner notification, the legalisation of the documents, embalming, a sealed coffin, the transport certificates, and air transport to Accra with handover to the receiving funeral home.
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.
