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Landscape in Egypt
“Reliable, professional, a reasonable price, and most important of all, my brother arrived exactly on time.”
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Our funeral ambulance on an airport apron, a plane behind it

By air, arranged end to end

Routes this far go by air. We book the flight, prepare the papers the airline asks for, and our partners receive your loved one at the other end.

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 Egypt

£3,000£3,400

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 Egypt 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 Egypt 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 Egypt 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 Egypt 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 Egypt

    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 Egypt and the United Kingdom

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

Repatriation from Egypt to the United Kingdom

Egypt is home to a large British and dual-national community, and the UK in turn has a substantial Egyptian and Coptic diaspora, so many families face bringing a loved one home from Egypt each year. The process brings together the Egyptian health authorities, the legalisation of documents for use in the UK, the certificates required for international air transport, and the receiving arrangements at home. We coordinate all of this, working with the local funeral director and the British Embassy in Cairo, so the family does not have to deal with Egyptian offices or airlines directly. If you are at the start of this, our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms.

Egypt is not part of the European Union, so there is no multilingual EU death certificate. The death is registered in Egypt and the documents are issued in Arabic, which means they must be legalised and translated into English before they can be used in the UK. We take care of this on the family's behalf.

The process in Egypt

A licensed doctor first certifies the death. The district health office then registers it and issues the Egyptian death certificate. For a death being repatriated, the local funeral director also obtains a permission letter from the British Embassy in Cairo, which accompanies your loved one on arrival. Where a death is sudden, unexplained or the result of an accident, the Egyptian authorities may order a post-mortem before your loved one is released, which can add time.

Preparation and transport

Your loved one receives hygienic treatment (embalming) and is placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin, accompanied by an hygienic treatment certificate and a freedom-from-infection certificate confirming there is no public-health risk in transit. Because the Egyptian death certificate is issued in Arabic, it is legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Egyptian embassy and given a certified English translation, so it is accepted by UK registrars, coroners and funeral directors. The transport home is by air to a UK airport, a distance of roughly 3,510 km, and we make sure every certificate is complete before a flight is booked, to avoid delays at the terminal.

Bringing your loved one into the UK

On arrival in the UK, the family can arrange the funeral. For a burial, the translated Egyptian 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. Where the family follows Islamic or Coptic tradition and hopes for a swift burial, we understand that hygienic treatment for transport means the usual timeframe cannot be met, and we work as quickly as the formalities allow.

Timelines and what affects them

A repatriation from Egypt usually takes 2 to 7 days from first contact. The timing depends on how quickly the district health office issues the death certificate, the legalisation and translation, the hygienic treatment and preparation, and the availability of a suitable flight from Cairo or another Egyptian airport. Where a post-mortem is ordered, release can take 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 city of departure, the airport routing, and local funeral-director and legalisation fees. A UK-based estate, a life-insurance policy or your loved one's own travel insurance may cover part of the cost, and we help you check what the policy covers.

Authorities involved

  • Licensed doctor: certifies the death, on which registration is based.
  • District health office: registers the death and issues the Egyptian death certificate.
  • British Embassy in Cairo: issues the permission letter that accompanies your loved one on arrival, and can advise on local formalities.
  • Local funeral director in Egypt: arranges hygienic treatment and prepares your loved one for air transport.
  • Airline: carries your loved one by air, with the documents accompanying them, under international regulations.
  • 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

  • Egyptian death certificate: issued by the district health office in Arabic, legalised through the FCDO and the Egyptian embassy and translated into English.
  • British Embassy permission letter: from the British Embassy in Cairo, accompanying the repatriation.
  • Hygienic treatment certificate: confirming preparation to international transport standard.
  • Freedom-from-infection certificate: confirming no public-health risk in transit.
  • Certified English translation: of the Arabic documents, for use with UK authorities.
  • Coroner's authority (Cremation Form 6): only where a cremation is planned in England and Wales.

Repatriation from the United Kingdom to Egypt

When someone dies in the UK and is to be returned to Egypt for the funeral, the process brings together the UK coroner's formalities, the requirements set by the Egyptian authorities, and the flight itself. Egypt lies beyond the range of a road transfer, so your loved one travels by air, and the accompanying documents must be recognised by the Egyptian authorities before your loved one can be received. We manage the transport and the paperwork on both sides so the family in Egypt 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; Egypt's own import requirements then set the standard for the documents that must accompany your loved one. Because the UK death certificate is issued in English, it is legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Egyptian embassy before it is recognised in Egypt.

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 Egypt: the receiving formalities

Your loved one travels after hygienic treatment (embalming), placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin, accompanied by the UK death certificate, legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Egyptian embassy, the coroner's out-of-England acknowledgement, and certificates of hygienic treatment and freedom from infection. On arrival, a permission letter from the British Embassy in Cairo accompanies your loved one, and the receiving funeral director takes them into care for the funeral. We prepare the document file and coordinate directly with the funeral director in Egypt. 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 suitable for air transport. Our team collects your loved one from the UK hospital, mortuary or funeral director, arranges the flight to Egypt, a distance of roughly 3,510 km, most often into Cairo, with onward travel to the destination region from there, and manages the handover to the receiving funeral director, who takes your loved one into their care for the funeral.

Timelines and what affects them

A repatriation from the UK to Egypt usually takes 2 to 7 days from first contact. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner (which can sometimes be shortened at the coroner's discretion), the legalisation of the documents, and flight availability. Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation, the timeline can be longer, and we work to compress every stage we can, particularly where the family wishes to hold the funeral quickly.

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 Egypt, airline charges, 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 is then legalised for use in Egypt.
  • Embalmer / UK funeral director: carries out hygienic treatment and provides the sealed transport coffin required for air transport.
  • British Embassy in Cairo: issues the permission letter that accompanies your loved one on arrival in Egypt.
  • Receiving funeral director in Egypt: collects your loved one at the airport and arranges the funeral in the destination region.

Documents required

  • UK death certificate: issued by the registrar, then legalised through the FCDO and the Egyptian embassy for use in Egypt.
  • Coroner's "out of England" acknowledgement: after at least four clear days' notice.
  • Hygienic treatment certificate: confirming preparation to international transport standard.
  • Free from infection certificate: confirming no public-health risk in transit.
  • British Embassy permission letter: from the British Embassy in Cairo, accompanying your loved one on arrival.
  • Sealed transport coffin: as required for international air carriage to Egypt.

Questions families ask us about bringing someone home from Egypt

Your loved one travels with the Egyptian death certificate from the district health office, a permission letter from the British Embassy in Cairo, and hygienic treatment and freedom-from-infection certificates for transport.

Because the Egyptian documents are issued in Arabic, they are legalised through the FCDO and the Egyptian embassy and translated into English. We obtain, legalise and translate everything on your behalf.

Usually 2 to 7 days from first contact. This mainly reflects the distance and because the Egyptian documents need legalising and translating into English.

The timing depends on how quickly the district health office issues the death certificate, the legalisation and translation, the preparation, and the availability of a suitable flight. Where a post-mortem is ordered, release can take longer.

Yes. The Egyptian death certificate is issued in Arabic, so it is legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Egyptian embassy and given a certified English translation before it can be used in the UK.

We arrange both as part of the service, so the paperwork is ready when your loved one arrives.

Yes. A burial can generally proceed on the translated Egyptian death certificate. 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 ready when your loved one arrives.

The quoted price covers the Egyptian documentation, the legalisation and translation, hygienic treatment, a transport coffin suitable for the UK funeral, the flight home, and reception and handover to your funeral director. We put a firm price in writing on the first call, and that is the figure on the invoice.

Questions families ask us about repatriation to Egypt

Before removal, the coroner must be given at least four clear days' notice and issues an "out of England" acknowledgement. The UK death certificate is then legalised through the FCDO and the Egyptian embassy, and your loved one travels after hygienic treatment, in a sealed, transport-standard coffin with certificates of hygienic treatment and freedom from infection.

On arrival, a permission letter from the British Embassy in Cairo accompanies your loved one. We complete the coroner notification and arrange the legalisation on your behalf.

Yes. Repatriation to Egypt is coordinated with the Egyptian Consulate in the UK, who stamps the British death certificate and issues a consular certificate that serves as the permit for your loved one to enter Egypt and be buried, 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.

Usually 2 to 7 days from first contact, your loved one travelling roughly 3,510 km by air. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner, the legalisation of the documents, and flight availability.

Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation, the timeline can be longer. We work to compress every stage we can, particularly where the family wishes to hold the funeral quickly.

We understand that Egyptian families, whether Muslim or Coptic Christian, usually wish to bury your loved one very soon after death. International air transport does require hygienic treatment and a sealed coffin, so we explain what is legally unavoidable and prepare your loved one respectfully.

We compress every stage we can and keep the receiving imam or church informed, so the funeral can proceed without further delay once your loved one arrives.

The quoted price covers the coroner notification, the legalisation and consular application, hygienic treatment, a sealed transport coffin, the transport certificates, and a flight to Egypt with handover to the receiving funeral director. We put a firm price in writing on the first call, and that is the figure on the invoice.

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 Eritrea, Ethiopia and Gambia.

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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