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 town in Serbia and the onward road transfer from Belgrade. 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 Serbia for the funeral, the process brings together the UK coroner's formalities, the requirements set by the Serbian authorities, and the journey itself — most often by air to Belgrade, with an onward road transfer to the town or village where the funeral will take place. We manage the full journey and the paperwork on both sides so the family in Serbia 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; Serbia's own receiving and import requirements then set the standard for the documents that must accompany the deceased and for the way the coffin is prepared. Because Serbia is outside the European Union, the UK death certificate usually has to be legalised with an apostille and, in most cases, translated into Serbian so that it is recognised on arrival. Serbia is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so a single apostille is sufficient.
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, the coroner's out-of-England acknowledgement, and certificates of embalming and freedom from infection. In Serbia the receiving funeral operator takes the deceased into their care and arranges the funeral in the destination place, and the apostilled and translated UK documents are presented so they are recognised locally. We prepare the document file and coordinate directly with the funeral operator in Serbia. You can read more about repatriating a body from the UK in our guidance.
The deceased is embalmed and placed in a transport-standard sealed coffin suitable for air freight. We collect the deceased from the UK hospital, mortuary or funeral home, arrange the flight to Belgrade, roughly 1,690 km, and manage an onward road transfer to the receiving funeral operator, who takes the deceased into their care for the funeral.
A repatriation from the UK to Serbia typically takes 5–7 days from first contact, the deceased travelling roughly 1,690 km by air with an onward road transfer. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner (which can sometimes be shortened at the coroner's discretion), the legalisation and translation of the UK documents, and flight availability. Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation, the timeline can be longer, and where the family's faith calls for a swift burial we prioritise the paperwork accordingly.
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 town in Serbia, the onward road transfer from Belgrade, and any UK funeral-home and mortuary fees. 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 Serbian receiving requirements and the transport as one coordinated process, in English and in Serbian, keeping both sides of the family informed and remaining contactable 24/7.
Last verified July 2026.
Repatriation to Serbia is coordinated with the Serbian diplomatic mission or consulate in the UK, which issues the docket required to transfer the remains to Serbia before the coffin is dispatched. We prepare and lodge the consular application on the family's behalf, so no one needs to attend the consulate 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. Because Serbia is outside the EU, the UK death certificate is legalised with an apostille and usually translated into Serbian, and the Serbian consulate in the UK issues the docket to transfer the remains.
The deceased then travels embalmed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin with the embalming and freedom-from-infection certificates. We complete every step on your behalf.
Yes. Repatriation to Serbia is coordinated with the Serbian diplomatic mission or consulate in the UK, which issues the docket required to transfer the remains to Serbia before the coffin is dispatched.
We prepare and lodge the consular application on the family's behalf, so no one needs to attend the consulate in person.
Yes. Serbia is outside the EU, so the UK death certificate usually has to be legalised with an apostille and, in most cases, translated into Serbian to be recognised on arrival.
Serbia is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so a single apostille is sufficient rather than a longer legalisation chain. We arrange the apostille and translation as part of the file.
Typically 5–7 days, the deceased travelling roughly 1,690 km by air to Belgrade with an onward road transfer. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner, the legalisation and translation of the UK documents, and flight availability.
Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation the timeline can be longer, and where the family's faith calls for a swift burial we prioritise the paperwork.
No. We handle the UK coroner's formalities and registration in English, prepare and lodge the consular application for the transfer docket, and liaise with the receiving funeral operator in Serbia in Serbian.
The family provides a simple written authorisation, and we coordinate both sides of the process remotely, so no one has to approach a foreign mission directly.
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.
