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Landscape in Lebanon
“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 Lebanon

£4,500

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 Lebanon 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 Lebanon 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 Lebanon 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 Lebanon 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 Lebanon

    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 Lebanon and the United Kingdom

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

Repatriation from Lebanon to the United Kingdom

The UK is home to a large and long-established Lebanese community, and many families keep close ties between the two countries, so bringing a loved one home from Lebanon is a route we handle with care. It draws together the local formalities in Lebanon, the certificates required for international air transport, and the receiving arrangements in the UK. We coordinate the whole process with the authorities and funeral service in Lebanon, so the family does not need to travel or deal with foreign offices directly. If you are at the start of this, our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms.

Lebanon is not part of the European Union, so there is no multilingual EU death certificate. The death is registered locally 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 Lebanon

A doctor first certifies the death. The death is then registered at the local registry via the Mukhtar (the neighbourhood official). Before your loved one can be repatriated, the Lebanese Ministry of Health grants permission to move them out of the country, and the British Embassy in Beirut issues a no-objection letter that accompanies your loved one. Where a death is sudden, unnatural or of unknown cause, a local investigation may be required before release, 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 Lebanese death certificate is issued in Arabic, it is legalised through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Lebanese 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 3,470 km, and we make sure every certificate is complete before a flight is booked, to avoid delays at the airport.

Bringing your loved one into the UK

On arrival in the UK, the family can arrange the funeral. For a burial, the translated Lebanese 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. Many Lebanese families, whether of Muslim, Christian or Druze tradition, wish to bury quickly; an international repatriation cannot match the speed of a local burial, and we explain the timescale and handle it with care.

Timelines and what affects them

A repatriation from Lebanon usually takes 2 to 7 days from first contact. The main factors are how quickly the death certificate is issued and legalised, the certified translation, the hygienic treatment and preparation, and the availability of a suitable flight to the UK. Where a local investigation is required, 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 region of Lebanon, the airport routing, and local funeral-service 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

  • Attending doctor: certifies the death, on which local registration is based.
  • Local registry (via the Mukhtar): registers the death and issues the Lebanese death certificate.
  • Lebanese Ministry of Health: grants permission to repatriate your loved one out of Lebanon.
  • British Embassy in Beirut: issues the no-objection letter that accompanies your loved one.
  • Local funeral service in Lebanon: 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

  • Lebanese death certificate: issued by the local registry via the Mukhtar, legalised through the FCDO and the Lebanese embassy and translated into English.
  • Ministry of Health permission to repatriate: authorising removal of your loved one from Lebanon.
  • British Embassy no-objection letter: from the British Embassy in Beirut, accompanying your loved one.
  • 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 Lebanon

When someone dies in the UK and is to be returned to Lebanon for the funeral, the process brings together the UK coroner's formalities, the requirements set by the Lebanese authorities, and the flight itself. Lebanon lies beyond the range of a road transfer, so your loved one travels by air, and the accompanying documents must be recognised by the Lebanese authorities before your loved one can be received. We manage the transport and the paperwork on both sides so the family in Lebanon 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; Lebanon'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 Lebanese embassy before it is recognised in Lebanon.

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 Lebanon: 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 Lebanese embassy, the coroner's out-of-England acknowledgement, and certificates of hygienic treatment and freedom from infection. In Lebanon, the Ministry of Health grants permission to receive your loved one, the British Embassy in Beirut can issue a no-objection letter, 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 Lebanon. 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 Lebanon, a distance of roughly 3,470 km, generally into Beirut, 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 Lebanon 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 to Beirut. 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 departure airport, the flight route to Beirut, 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 Lebanon.
  • Embalmer / UK funeral director: carries out hygienic treatment and provides the sealed transport coffin required for air transport.
  • Lebanese Ministry of Health: grants permission to receive your loved one into Lebanon.
  • British Embassy in Beirut: can issue a no-objection letter accompanying your loved one.
  • Receiving funeral director in Lebanon: collects your loved one at Beirut and arranges the funeral according to the family's tradition.

Documents required

  • UK death certificate: issued by the registrar, then legalised through the FCDO and the Lebanese embassy for use in Lebanon.
  • Coroner's "out of England" acknowledgement: after at least four clear days' notice.
  • Ministry of Health permission: from the Lebanese Ministry of Health to receive your loved one.
  • 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 air carriage to Lebanon.

Questions families ask us about bringing someone home from Lebanon

Your loved one travels with the Lebanese death certificate from the local registry, the Ministry of Health permission to repatriate, a no-objection letter from the British Embassy in Beirut, and hygienic treatment and freedom-from-infection certificates for transport.

Because the Lebanese documents are issued in Arabic, they are legalised through the FCDO and the Lebanese 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 need to legalise and translate the Lebanese documents before they can be used in the UK.

The timing depends on how quickly the death certificate is issued and legalised, the hygienic treatment and preparation, and flight availability. Where a local investigation is required, release can take longer.

No. We coordinate directly with the local registry, the Ministry of Health, the British Embassy in Beirut, the funeral service and the airline, so the family does not need to travel or deal with foreign offices.

The process is arranged remotely on the basis of a simple written authorisation.

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

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

The quoted price covers the Lebanese 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 Lebanon

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 Lebanese embassy, and your loved one travels after hygienic treatment, in a sealed, transport-standard coffin with certificates of hygienic treatment and freedom from infection.

In Lebanon, the Ministry of Health grants permission to receive your loved one and the receiving funeral director handles the local arrangements. We complete the coroner notification and arrange the legalisation on your behalf.

Usually 2 to 7 days from first contact, your loved one travelling roughly 3,470 km by air to Beirut. 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 keep both sides informed of progress throughout.

Lebanon is home to Muslim, Christian and Druze communities, and several of these traditions call for burial as soon as possible. We understand the legalisation steps can feel at odds with this, so we prioritise the paperwork and work to the shortest realistic timeline the Lebanese requirements allow.

We coordinate with the receiving funeral director in Lebanon so that arrangements are ready for your loved one's arrival at Beirut.

No. We handle the UK coroner's formalities and the registration in English, arrange the legalisation of the death certificate through the FCDO and the Lebanese embassy, and coordinate with the receiving funeral director in Lebanon.

The family provides a simple written authorisation, and we manage both sides of the process remotely, answering at any hour.

The quoted price covers the coroner notification, the legalisation of the death certificate, hygienic treatment, a sealed transport coffin, the transport certificates, and a flight to Beirut 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 Turkey, UAE and Barbados.

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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