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 province in the Philippines and air-freight charges. 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 Philippines for the funeral, the process brings together the UK coroner's formalities, the requirements set by the Philippine authorities, and a long-haul flight of roughly 10,700 km. The large Filipino community in Britain — many in the NHS and in seafaring — makes this a familiar journey for us, and the deceased travels by air, usually through an international airport and on to the home province. We manage the full journey and the paperwork on both sides so the family does not have to deal with UK offices in English or approach the Philippine authorities directly. Our repatriation hub sets out the essentials if you are just starting.
Because both the United Kingdom and the Philippines are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, the UK documents that accompany the deceased are legalised with an apostille rather than a longer legalisation chain.
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 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.
On arrival, the remains are cleared by the Bureau of Quarantine and received by a licensed funeral establishment, which completes the local formalities and takes your loved one on to the home province for the funeral. Where the death is to be recorded locally, the certified death certificate is issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) after registration with the local civil registrar. We coordinate with the receiving funeral establishment so that everything is ready for the family before the coffin arrives.
The deceased is embalmed to international transport standard and placed in a hermetically sealed container for the flight. Our team collects your loved one from the UK hospital, mortuary or funeral home, prepares them for carriage, and books the coffin as documented air cargo on a long-haul service to the Philippines, managing the journey through to the receiving funeral establishment.
A repatriation from the UK to the Philippines typically takes 5–7 days from first contact, the deceased travelling roughly 10,700 km by air. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner, the consular and legalisation steps, and the availability of a suitable long-haul flight. 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 province in the Philippines, air-freight charges, 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.
We handle the UK coroner's formalities, the Philippine consular and legalisation requirements and the long-haul transport as one coordinated process, keeping the family informed and remaining contactable 24/7. You can read more about repatriating a body from the UK in our guidance.
Last verified July 2026.
Repatriation to the Philippines is coordinated with the Philippine Embassy in London, who issues a Consular Mortuary Certificate required for the shipment of the remains before the coffin is dispatched. We prepare and lodge the consular application on the family's behalf, so no one needs to attend the embassy in person.
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 hermetically sealed container, accompanied by the UK death certificate, the embalming and freedom-from-infection certificates, and the apostille legalising the documents for use in the Philippines.
The Philippine Embassy in London also issues a Consular Mortuary Certificate for the shipment. We prepare the whole file and coordinate both sides.
The Consular Mortuary Certificate is issued by the Philippine Embassy in London and is required for the shipment of the remains to the Philippines. It confirms to the airline and the Philippine authorities that the accompanying documents are in order.
We prepare and lodge the consular application on the family's behalf, so no one needs to attend the embassy in person.
Typically 5–7 days from first contact, the deceased travelling roughly 10,700 km by air. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner, the consular and legalisation steps, and the availability of a suitable long-haul flight.
Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation, the timeline can be longer. We give a realistic estimate at first contact and keep the family updated throughout.
By air freight, usually through an international airport and then onward to the home province. The deceased is embalmed to international transport standard and placed in a hermetically sealed container for carriage.
Our team manages collection in the UK, preparation, and the long-haul journey through to the receiving funeral establishment.
The quoted price covers the coroner notification, the apostille and the consular application, embalming, a hermetically sealed container, the transport certificates, and air freight to the Philippines with handover to the receiving funeral establishment. 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.
