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Landscape in Czech Republic
“Reliable, professional, a reasonable price, and most important of all, my brother arrived exactly on time.”
Gezimon Trustpilot
Our funeral ambulance on an English country road

By road, in our own funeral ambulances

Most repatriations to and from the UK go by road, driven by our own team, so your loved one stays in our care the whole way. We book a flight only where the road is not possible.

Everything in the estimate

  • The paperwork at both ends
  • Collection
  • Hygienic treatment
  • A sealed coffin
  • Transport, by road or by air
  • One specialist, start to finish
A written quote on a desk

One price, in writing, before anything moves

Before anything is booked you have an itemised quote in writing, and nothing is added to it afterwards, so you can plan without surprises.

In the families’ own words

“We were so worried about the process of getting my mum safely back home to Slovakia, but every detail was handled with care, compassion and professionalism.”
Sofia BartkovaUK to Slovakia
“Our loved one died on holiday in Egypt and what felt impossible was made possible. They kept us informed every step, translated everything, and their reps in Egypt worked so hard for us.”
NatEgypt to UK
“Their pricing was competitive and the process was incredibly fast. What stood out most was the attentive and caring staff who spoke Italian fluently.”
GenovesiUK to Italy
Two of our team at the front desk of our office

One specialist, from the first call to the last

The same person holds your case, deals with the offices at both ends and tells you when each step is done, so you never have to explain it twice.

Rated excellent, 4.8 out of 5

See reviews

Repatriation to and from Czech Republic

£2,700

Estimated, all inclusive

Enquire now, no obligation
  • Usually 2 to 7 days
  • Agreed in writing
  • We answer any hour

  • Our fees, and one specialist from the first call to the last
  • Collection from the hospital or mortuary
  • Hygienic treatment, and care until your loved one travels
  • A sealed coffin that meets the route’s requirements
  • All the paperwork required
  • Transport by road in our own refrigerated funeral ambulances, or by air where the road is not possible

When your loved one needs an urgent collection, usually from a home: the estimate covers collection from a hospital or mortuary. Tell us where they are on the first call and the written quote includes it, with any of the costs specific to Czech Republic that apply.

The estimate for any country, in either direction, and what it covers.

Work out an estimate for another countryWork out an estimate for another country

How body repatriation works, step by step

Four steps between Czech Republic and the UK, and we do all of them. You hear from us at each one, not only at the end.

  1. The first call

    You tell us where your loved one is, in Czech Republic or in the UK. We tell you the cost and what happens next, at any hour.

  2. The paperwork

    The death certificate, the permit to travel and the papers the carrier needs. We obtain them in Czech Republic and here.

  3. Care and transport

    Hygienic treatment and a sealed coffin. Most routes travel by road in our own vehicles, by air only where the distance calls for it.

  4. Arrival

    By road, we drive on to the funeral director you have chosen, or to ours. By air, collection at the destination is an optional extra.

The papers we obtain for you

This is the set most routes need. Where a country asks for something else, we tell you before we quote, and we obtain that too.

  • Out of England permission

    From the coroner, when the death happened in England.

  • Free from infection certificate

    Confirms there is no infectious disease, for the carrier and the receiving country.

  • Funeral director’s declaration

    Our signed declaration for the transport.

  • Embalming certificate

    Where the route or the receiving country requires one.

  • Apostille

    Where the receiving country asks for one.

  • Translations

    Certified, where a document is not in the receiving country’s language.

Procedures change from time to time, so this list may lag behind them. We keep up with every change and confirm what your case needs on the first call.

What we need from you

  • The death certificate

    Or the coroner’s interim certificate, where there is an inquest.

  • Their passport

    Or a copy to begin with. We tell you if the original is needed.

  • Your permission for us to act

    A short form we send you to sign, so we can deal with the offices for your family.

What we need from you

  • Their passport, or a copy

    Whatever you have to hand. We tell you what else is needed.

  • Any papers you already hold from Czech Republic

    A death certificate or a hospital letter, if you have one. If not, we obtain it.

  • Your permission for us to act

    A short form we send you to sign, so we can deal with the offices for your family.

Repatriation between Czech Republic and the United Kingdom

The whole route in plain terms, in both directions, written for someone reading it for the first time.

Repatriation from the Czech Republic to the United Kingdom

When a death occurs in the Czech Republic, bringing your loved one home to the UK brings together the Czech authorities, the receiving arrangements in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, and the transport itself. This is a route we handle for British families whose relatives lived, worked or were visiting in Prague and across Bohemia and Moravia. We coordinate all three, so the family does not have to travel to the Czech Republic or deal directly with Czech offices in a language they may not speak. If you are at the very start of this, our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms.

Because the Czech Republic is a member of the European Union, the paperwork is comparatively predictable. The Czech death certificate (úmrtní list) is available on an EU multilingual standard form, which the receiving funeral director and registrar in the UK can generally read without a separate translation. That form is a convenience for reading the certificate; it does not remove any requirement to legalise a document where a UK authority asks for it, and as a Hague member the Czech Republic can issue an apostille in that event.

The process in the Czech Republic

A doctor first examines your loved one and issues the cause-of-death certificate. The death is then registered at the local registry office (matriční úřad), which issues the official death certificate, the úmrtní list. For international carriage, permission to move your loved one, the transport authorisation, must be obtained, and the international funeral director assembles this together with the supporting documentation. Where a death is sudden, unexplained or occurs outside a medical institution, a forensic post-mortem may be ordered before your loved one can be released. We obtain and manage these on the family's behalf.

Preparation and transport

Your loved one receives hygienic treatment (embalming) and is placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin suitable for international transport. When a death occurs away from the capital, your loved one is usually transferred to a funeral director for preparation before the transport home. From there, most repatriations come to the UK by road in our own funeral ambulances, roughly 1,040 km overland with the Channel crossing. A flight is arranged only where the road is not possible or the family needs it sooner. Our team collects your loved one from the funeral director or hospital and stays with them through to the receiving funeral director in the UK.

Bringing your loved one into the UK

Once in the UK, the family can arrange the funeral. For a burial, the foreign death certificate is generally sufficient. For a cremation, the coroner in England and Wales must give authority first: this is the Cremation Form 6, issued once the coroner is satisfied there is no need for further investigation (in Scotland this role falls to the procurator fiscal; in Northern Ireland, the coroner). You can read more about the coroner's role in England in our resource centre. We liaise with the coroner's office so this is in place without delay.

Timelines and what affects them

A repatriation from the Czech Republic usually takes 2 to 7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK, over a distance of roughly 1,040 km by road. The timing depends on how quickly the registry office issues the úmrtní list and the permission to move your loved one is obtained, and on the circumstances of the death: where a forensic post-mortem is ordered, release can take several days longer.

This estimate is counted from when the death is registered, and our team does everything possible to complete the repatriation sooner.

Costs and financial support

We put a firm price in writing on the first call, and that is the figure on the invoice. The figure depends on the region of departure, the cause of death, and local funeral-home and registry fees. Families are often unaware that a UK-based estate or insurance policy, or travel insurance held by your loved one, may cover part of the cost, and we help you check what the policy covers.

Authorities involved

  • The examining doctor: examines your loved one and issues the cause-of-death certificate.
  • Matriční úřad (registry office): registers the death and issues the official úmrtní list, available on an EU multilingual standard form.
  • International funeral director: carries out the hygienic treatment and preparation and assembles the transport documentation, including the permission to move your loved one.
  • Police (sudden or unexplained deaths): order any forensic post-mortem and authorise release of your loved one.
  • UK coroner / procurator fiscal: where a cremation is planned in England and Wales, authorises it via Cremation Form 6 (in Scotland, the procurator fiscal; in Northern Ireland, the coroner).

Documents required

  • Úmrtní list: the official Czech death certificate from the registry office, available on an EU multilingual standard form.
  • Doctor's cause-of-death certificate: recording the cause of death.
  • Permission to move your loved one: the transport authorisation for international carriage.
  • Hygienic treatment certificate: confirming preparation to international transport standard.
  • Free from infection certificate: confirming your loved one poses no public-health risk in transit.
  • Coroner's authority (Cremation Form 6): only where a cremation is planned in England and Wales.

Repatriation from the United Kingdom to the Czech Republic

When someone dies in the UK and is to be returned to the Czech Republic for the funeral, the process brings together the UK coroner's formalities, the requirements set by the Czech authorities, and the transport itself. The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe, and most of our repatriations there go by road, in our own funeral ambulances, across the Channel. A flight to Prague or another Czech airport is booked only where the road is not possible or the family asks for a faster option. We manage the transport and the paperwork on both sides so the family in the Czech Republic does not have to deal with UK offices in English. Our repatriation hub sets out the essentials if you are at the start.

Taking a loved one out of England and Wales follows a set UK procedure; the destination country's import requirements then set the standard for the documents that must accompany your loved one and for the way the coffin is prepared. For the Czech Republic, an EU member state, those requirements are comparatively predictable, and as a Hague member the Czech Republic recognises a UK document legalised with an apostille where legalisation is asked for.

Telling the coroner: taking a loved one out of England and Wales

Before a loved one 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 your loved one 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.

Arriving in the Czech Republic: the receiving formalities

Your loved one travels after hygienic treatment (embalming), placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin, accompanied by the UK death certificate, the coroner's out-of-England acknowledgement, and certificates of hygienic treatment and freedom from infection. For international carriage, permission to move your loved one, the transport authorisation, is required, and the receiving international funeral director assembles this and handles the local formalities with the registry office (matriční úřad) in the district where the funeral will take place. We prepare the document file and coordinate directly with the funeral director. You can read more about repatriating a loved one from the UK in our guidance.

Preparation and transport

Your loved one receives hygienic treatment and is placed in a transport-standard sealed coffin that meets the requirements for international transport. Our team collects your loved one from the UK hospital, mortuary or funeral director and drives the roughly 1,040 km to the Czech Republic in one of our own funeral ambulances, coordinating with the receiving funeral director. Where a flight is needed, we book a scheduled flight to Prague or a regional Czech airport and manage the handling on arrival.

Timelines and what affects them

A repatriation from the UK to the Czech Republic usually takes 2 to 7 days from first contact, over a road route of roughly 1,040 km. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner (which can sometimes be shortened at the coroner's discretion), the permission to move your loved one and, if a flight is used, its availability. 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.

Costs and financial support

We put a firm price in writing on the first call, and that is the figure on the invoice. The figure depends on the destination region in the Czech Republic, whether the transport is by road or by air, and any UK funeral-home and mortuary fees. A UK estate, a life-insurance policy or your loved one's own arrangements may cover part of the cost, and we help you check what the policy covers.

Authorities involved

  • UK coroner (or procurator fiscal in Scotland): must be given at least four clear days' notice before your loved one is taken out of England and Wales, and issues the "out of England" acknowledgement.
  • UK registrar: registers the death and issues the death certificate that accompanies your loved one.
  • Embalmer / UK funeral director: carries out hygienic treatment to international transport standard and provides the sealed transport coffin.
  • Receiving international funeral director in the Czech Republic: assembles the permission to move your loved one and completes the local formalities.
  • Matriční úřad (registry office): handles the registration formalities in the destination district and arranges the funeral records.

Documents required

  • UK death certificate: issued by the registrar once the death is registered.
  • Coroner's "out of England" acknowledgement: after at least four clear days' notice.
  • Permission to move your loved one: the transport authorisation for international carriage.
  • Hygienic treatment certificate: confirming preparation to international transport standard.
  • Free from infection certificate: confirming no public-health risk in transit.
  • Sealed transport coffin: as required for international transport.

Questions families ask us about bringing someone home from Czech Republic

The core documents are the úmrtní list from the registry office, the doctor's cause-of-death certificate, the permission to move your loved one (the transport authorisation), and hygienic treatment and freedom from infection certificates.

Where a cremation is planned in England and Wales, the coroner must also authorise it (Cremation Form 6). We obtain all of the Czech documents on your behalf.

Usually 2 to 7 days from first contact to arrival in the UK, over a distance of roughly 1,040 km by road.

The timing depends on how quickly the registry office issues the úmrtní list and the permission to move your loved one is obtained. Where a forensic post-mortem is ordered, release can take several days longer.

Yes. The Czech Republic issues the úmrtní list on an EU multilingual standard form, which the receiving funeral director and registrar in the UK can generally read without a separate translation.

That form is a convenience for reading the certificate; it does not remove any requirement to legalise a document where a UK authority asks for it. As a Hague member, the Czech Republic can issue an apostille in that event, and we arrange it if it is needed.

Yes. A burial can usually proceed on the foreign death certificate alone. For a cremation in England and Wales, the coroner must first give authority using Cremation Form 6, once satisfied that no further investigation is needed (in Scotland, the procurator fiscal; in Northern Ireland, the coroner).

We liaise with the coroner's office so this authority is in place when your loved one arrives.

No. We deal directly with the registry office, the international funeral director and, if necessary, the police. The family does not need to travel or communicate with the Czech authorities.

The whole process is arranged remotely on the basis of a simple written authorisation sent by email or WhatsApp.

Questions families ask us about repatriation to Czech Republic

Before removal, the coroner must be given at least four clear days' notice and issues an "out of England" acknowledgement. Your loved one then travels after hygienic treatment, in a sealed, transport-standard coffin, accompanied by the UK death certificate and certificates of hygienic treatment and freedom from infection.

For international carriage, permission to move your loved one is required, which the receiving international funeral director assembles. We prepare the file and coordinate both sides.

Usually 2 to 7 days, for the roughly 1,040 km from the UK, which we usually cover by road. The main factor is the four clear days' notice to the coroner, which can occasionally be shortened at the coroner's discretion.

The permission to move your loved one also affects timing, as does flight availability when a flight is used. Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation the timeline can be longer.

Most repatriations to the Czech Republic go by road, in our own funeral ambulances, roughly 1,040 km from the UK with the Channel crossing.

Our team collects your loved one in the UK and stays with them through to the receiving international funeral director. Where the road is not possible or the family needs a faster option, we book a scheduled flight to Prague or a regional Czech airport and manage the handling on arrival.

The Czech Republic is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so where the Czech authorities require a UK public document to be legalised, it can be apostilled in the UK rather than going through a longer legalisation chain.

In practice the receiving international funeral director advises on exactly which documents the destination district requires, and we prepare the file accordingly.

No. We handle the UK coroner's formalities and registration in English, and liaise with the receiving international funeral director and registry office in the Czech Republic in Czech.

The family provides a simple written authorisation, and we coordinate both sides of the process remotely, so no one needs to travel to the UK.

Every other country, in both directions

We bring loved ones home to the UK from anywhere, and from the UK to anywhere in the world. Three more routes written up in the same detail: repatriation to and from Finland, France and Georgia. For the road across the continent, read about repatriation between Europe and the UK.

Talk to a specialistRepatriation routes for every country

“We were so worried about the process of getting my mum safely back home to Slovakia, but every detail was handled with care, compassion and professionalism.”

Sofia Bartkova
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