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Our funeral ambulance in a town square in Belgium
“Reliable, professional, a reasonable price, and most important of all, my brother arrived exactly on time.”
Gezimon Trustpilot
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 Europe

Estimates depend on the country

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 Europe that apply.

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

Work out an estimate for another country

How body repatriation works, step by step

Four steps between Europe 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 Europe 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 Europe 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 Europe

    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 Europe and the United Kingdom

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

Repatriation from Europe to the United Kingdom

This is a general overview of bringing a loved one home to the UK from anywhere in Europe. For most European countries we also have a dedicated route page with the specific authorities, documents and timelines, this page explains the shared process and principles that apply across the continent. When a death occurs abroad, we coordinate the authorities in the country of death, the transport, and the receiving arrangements in the UK, so the family does not have to travel or deal with foreign 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.

How the paperwork works across Europe

For deaths in a European Union member state, the death certificate can be accompanied by a multilingual standard form under Regulation (EU) 2016/1191, which serves as an optional translation aid so the receiving funeral director and registrar in the UK can generally read it without a separate translation. Most European countries are also members of the Hague Apostille Convention, so where a document needs to be legalised for use in the UK it can be apostilled. For some non-EU European countries, for example parts of the Western Balkans, documents may need legalisation and a certified English translation; we advise on the specific requirements for the country involved.

The general process

A doctor certifies the death; it is registered with the local civil registry, which issues the official death certificate; and the relevant authority issues the authorisation for international transport of your loved one. Your loved one receives hygienic treatment (embalming) and is placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin. For most of Europe your loved one travels by road, in one of our own vehicles, and we go by air only where the road is not possible; how the transport is chosen explains the choice. We obtain the documents and stay with them through to the receiving funeral director in the UK.

Bringing your loved one into the UK

Once in the UK, a burial can generally proceed on the foreign death certificate. For a cremation in England and Wales, the coroner must first give authority using the Cremation Form 6, once satisfied that no further investigation is needed (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 when your loved one arrives.

Timelines and what affects them

A repatriation from within Europe usually takes 2 to 7 days from first contact, depending on the country, the local formalities and the circumstances of the death. Where an autopsy or investigation is ordered, release can take longer. Non-EU European countries that require document legalisation may sit at the longer end of that range.

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 country and region of departure, the mode of transport, the cause of death, and local funeral-home and registry fees. A UK-based estate or an insurance policy may cover part of the cost, and we help you check what the policy covers.

Find your specific country

For the exact authorities, documents and timelines, see the dedicated page for the country concerned in our directory of routes to the UK. If your country is not listed, contact us: we handle repatriations from across the whole of Europe, and we will confirm the specific process for you at first contact.

Authorities involved

  • The doctor: certifies the death and its cause.
  • Local civil registry: registers the death and issues the official death certificate (within the EU, a multilingual standard form under Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 is available as a translation aid).
  • Relevant transport authority: issues the authorisation for international transport of your loved one.
  • Local funeral director: carries out hygienic treatment and preparation to international transport standard.
  • Court / investigating authority: in sudden or suspicious deaths, orders any autopsy and authorises release.
  • UK coroner / procurator fiscal: authorises a cremation in England and Wales via Cremation Form 6 (in Scotland, the procurator fiscal).

Documents required

  • Death certificate: from the country of death (with a multilingual standard form within the EU; legalised and translated for non-EU Europe).
  • Transport authorisation: the authorisation for international transport of your loved one.
  • Hygienic treatment certificate: confirming preparation to international transport standard.
  • Free from infection certificate: confirming 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 Europe

This is a general overview of returning someone who has died in the UK to a European country for the funeral. For most destinations we also have a dedicated route page with the specific requirements, this page explains the shared process that applies across the continent. We manage the UK coroner's formalities, the receiving country's requirements, and the transport, so neither the family in the UK nor the family abroad has to deal with two systems in two languages. Our repatriation hub sets out the essentials if you are at the start.

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 be given at least four clear days' notice (the Removal of Bodies Regulations 1954). The coroner then issues the "out of England" acknowledgement 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 on the family's behalf. In Scotland the equivalent authority is the procurator fiscal; in Northern Ireland, the coroner.

The receiving country's requirements

Each destination country's own consular and import requirements set the standard for the documents that must accompany your loved one. Most European countries are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, so where a UK public document needs to be legalised for use abroad it can be apostilled in the UK. For some countries the destination's embassy or consulate in the UK legalises the documents instead, through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. Within the European Union, multilingual standard forms under Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 can accompany the documents as optional translation aids. We identify and arrange exactly what each country requires.

Preparation and transport

Your loved one receives hygienic treatment (embalming) and is placed in a sealed, transport-standard coffin. For most of Europe your loved one travels by road, in one of our own vehicles with two of our own staff, and we go by air only where the road is not possible; how a road repatriation from the UK to Europe works explains the drive. We collect your loved one from the UK hospital, mortuary or funeral director and manage the transport to the receiving funeral director in the destination country.

Timelines and what affects them

A repatriation from the UK to a European country 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 destination country's requirements, and whether the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation.

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 country and region, the mode of transport, 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.

Find your specific destination

For the exact requirements, see the dedicated page for the destination country in our directory of routes from the UK. If your country is not listed, contact us: we arrange repatriations from the UK to anywhere in Europe and will confirm the specific process at first contact.

Authorities involved

  • UK coroner (or procurator fiscal in Scotland): must be given at least four clear days' notice before removal and issues the "out of England" acknowledgement.
  • UK registrar: registers the death and issues the death certificate that accompanies your loved one.
  • UK funeral director / embalmer: carries out hygienic treatment and provides the sealed transport coffin.
  • Destination consular authorities: advise on and, where required, legalise the UK documents for entry.
  • Receiving funeral director abroad: arranges the funeral in the destination country.

Documents required

  • UK death certificate: issued by the registrar.
  • Coroner's "out of England" acknowledgement: after at least four clear days' notice.
  • Hygienic treatment certificate: for international transport.
  • Free from infection certificate: confirming no public-health risk in transit.
  • Sealed transport coffin: as the destination requires.
  • Document legalisation: apostille, or the destination embassy's legalisation through the FCDO, where the destination country requires it.

Questions families ask us about bringing someone home from Europe

We handle repatriations to and from the UK across the whole of Europe. EU member states and non-EU countries alike. We have dedicated pages for the main origins with country-specific detail; if yours isn't listed, contact us and we'll confirm the exact process.

Within the EU, the death certificate can be issued with a multilingual standard form under Regulation (EU) 2016/1191, which serves as a translation aid. Most European countries are also Hague Apostille members, so where a document needs legalising for the UK it can be apostilled. For some non-EU European countries, documents may need legalisation and a certified English translation, we arrange this for the country involved.

Usually 2 to 7 days from first contact, depending on the country, the local formalities and the circumstances of the death. Non-EU countries with document legalisation, or cases where an autopsy is ordered, can take longer.

Yes. A burial can usually proceed on the foreign death certificate. For a cremation in England and Wales, the coroner must first give authority using Cremation Form 6 (in Scotland, the procurator fiscal). We liaise with the coroner's office so this is ready on arrival.

No. We coordinate directly with the authorities and funeral director in the country of death in the local language, and manage the transport and UK reception. The family arranges everything remotely with a simple written authorisation.

Questions families ask us about repatriation to Europe

We arrange repatriations from the UK to anywhere in Europe. EU and non-EU. We have dedicated pages for the main destinations; if yours isn't listed, contact us and we'll confirm the exact process.

The coroner must be given at least four clear days' notice before a loved one is taken out of England and Wales (the Removal of Bodies Regulations 1954), and issues an "out of England" acknowledgement (in Scotland, the procurator fiscal). We complete this on your behalf.

It depends on the destination. Most European countries are members of the Hague Apostille Convention, so where a UK document needs legalising it can be apostilled. For some countries the destination's embassy in the UK legalises the documents through the FCDO instead, and within the EU multilingual standard forms can accompany them as translation aids. We arrange whatever the destination requires.

Usually 2 to 7 days. The main factor is the four clear days' notice to the coroner, plus the destination country's requirements. A coroner's investigation can extend this.

The quoted price covers the coroner notification, hygienic treatment, a sealed transport coffin, the transport certificates, and transport to the destination 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.

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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