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 Moldova and the legalisation and translation 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 Moldova for the funeral, the process brings together the UK coroner's formalities, the requirements of the Moldovan authorities, and a longer international journey by air. Chișinău lies roughly 2,100 kilometres from the UK, so the deceased almost always travels by air freight, most often to Chișinău. We manage the full journey and the paperwork on both sides so the family in Moldova 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; Moldova's own requirements then set the standard for the documents that accompany the deceased. As Moldova is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the UK death certificate is legalised with an apostille and accompanied by a certified translation for use there.
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, transport-standard coffin, accompanied by the UK death certificate — apostilled and translated for use in Moldova — together with certificates of embalming and freedom from infection. In Moldova the local undertaker handles the receiving formalities, the death is recorded with the civil registry office of the Public Services Agency (Agenția Servicii Publice), and a certificate giving permission to transfer the remains is arranged for the funeral. Most Moldovan funerals follow Orthodox Christian tradition, and we plan the timeline so the family can observe it with dignity. You can read more about repatriating a body from the UK in our guidance.
The deceased is embalmed and placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin. Our team collects the deceased from the UK hospital, mortuary or funeral home, completes the export formalities at the departure airport, and arranges air freight to Chișinău, where a local undertaker receives the deceased and continues the arrangements. Where a family prefers, we can also coordinate an onward road transfer to the home town or village.
A repatriation from the UK to Moldova typically takes 5–7 days from first contact, the deceased travelling roughly 2,100 kilometres by air. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner, the apostille and certified translation of the death certificate, and the availability of suitable flights to Chișinău. Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation, the timeline can be longer, and we keep the family informed at each stage.
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 flight routing to Moldova, the legalisation and translation fees, and any UK funeral-home and mortuary charges. 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.
We handle the UK coroner's formalities, the apostille and certified translation, the receiving formalities in Moldova and the flight as one coordinated process, keeping both sides of the family informed and remaining contactable 24/7.
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. Because Moldova is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the UK death certificate is then apostilled and translated for use in Moldova.
The deceased travels embalmed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin, accompanied by the apostilled certificate and certificates of embalming and freedom from infection. We complete every step on your behalf.
Typically 5–7 days, the deceased travelling roughly 2,100 kilometres by air. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner, the apostille and certified translation of the death certificate, and the availability of suitable flights to Chișinău.
Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation, the timeline can be longer. We keep you informed at each stage.
Yes. Moldova is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so the UK death certificate is legalised with an apostille rather than by a longer consular chain, and it is accompanied by a certified translation into Romanian.
We arrange both the apostille and the translation, so the documents are ready for the receiving formalities in Moldova.
Yes. Most Moldovan funerals follow Orthodox Christian tradition, with a vigil over the deceased before the service and burial in the home town or village.
We plan the timeline and the presentation of the deceased so the family can hold a proper wake and the parish priest can lead the service.
No. We handle the UK coroner's formalities and registration in English, arrange the apostille and certified translation, and coordinate the receiving undertaker in Moldova.
The family provides a simple written authorisation, and we manage both sides of the process remotely, so no one needs to travel to the UK.
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.
