“Reliable, professional, a reasonable price, and most important of all, my brother arrived exactly on time.”
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.
The paperwork at both ends
Collection
Hygienic treatment
A sealed coffin
Transport, by road or by air
One specialist, start to finish
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.
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.
Repatriation to and from Russia
£4,000£4,500
Estimated, all inclusive
- 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 Russia 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 Russia and the UK, and we do all of them. You hear from us at each one, not only at the end.
The first call
You tell us where your loved one is, in Russia or in the UK. We tell you the cost and what happens next, at any hour.
The paperwork
The death certificate, the permit to travel and the papers the carrier needs. We obtain them in Russia and here.
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.
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.
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Out of England permission
From the coroner, when the death happened in England.
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Free from infection certificate
Confirms there is no infectious disease, for the carrier and the receiving country.
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Funeral director’s declaration
Our signed declaration for the transport.
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Embalming certificate
Where the route or the receiving country requires one.
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Apostille
Where the receiving country asks for one.
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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
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The death certificate
Or the coroner’s interim certificate, where there is an inquest.
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Their passport
Or a copy to begin with. We tell you if the original is needed.
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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
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Their passport, or a copy
Whatever you have to hand. We tell you what else is needed.
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Any papers you already hold from Russia
A death certificate or a hospital letter, if you have one. If not, we obtain it.
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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 
Russia and the 
United Kingdom
The whole route in plain terms, in both directions, written for someone reading it for the first time.
Repatriation from Russia to the United Kingdom
Bringing a loved one home from Russia is a long-haul repatriation that brings together the death-registration formalities of the region where the death occurred, the authentication and translation of the Russian documents for use in the UK, and the receiving arrangements here at home. Distances are considerable and the paperwork is more involved than a European transfer, but the process is well established. We coordinate it end to end, across the time difference and the language barrier, so the family does not have to deal with Russian registry offices, funeral directors or airlines directly. If you are just starting, our repatriation hub explains the process in plain terms.
The distance from Moscow to the UK is roughly 2,500 km, and considerably more from regions further east, so your loved one travels by air. Russia is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention; the Russian death certificate must be apostilled for use in the UK, and because it is issued in Russian a certified English translation is arranged alongside it. The British Embassy in Moscow is also involved before your loved one leaves Russia, and we deal with it on the family's behalf.
The process in Russia
A medical organisation or mortuary issues a medical death certificate stating the cause of death. This is presented to the local civil registry office, the ЗАГС (ZAGS), or a Multi-Functional State Services Centre (МФЦ / MFC) acting for it, which registers the death and issues the official Russian death certificate (свидетельство о смерти). This certificate must be apostilled and given a certified English translation before it is used here. Where a death is sudden, unattended or its cause is unclear, a forensic examination may be required before your loved one can be released, which can lengthen the timeline.
Preparation and transport
A funeral director in Russia prepares your loved one for the flight, hygienic treatment (embalming), a sealed transport-standard coffin, and the certificates of hygienic treatment and freedom from infection that airlines require, and assembles the export documentation for the flight. Your loved one then travels by air, with the documents accompanying them to a UK airport, often on a connecting service. We arrange the airline booking and the airline formalities and confirm that every document is complete and correctly apostilled before the flight is booked.
Bringing your loved one into the UK
On arrival in the UK, the family can arrange the funeral. A burial can generally proceed on the apostilled and translated Russian 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, the procurator fiscal; in Northern Ireland, the coroner). You can read more about the coroner's role in England in our resource centre. Where a family observes religious customs that call for a prompt burial, we do everything possible to move quickly, though the distance and legalisation steps mean a Russian repatriation cannot usually be completed as swiftly as a funeral held locally.
Timelines and what affects them
A repatriation from Russia usually takes 2 to 7 days from first contact, over a distance of roughly 2,500 km from Moscow and considerably more from further east. The timing depends on how quickly the ZAGS issues the death certificate, whether a forensic examination is required, how long the apostille and certified translation take, and the availability of a suitable flight, which may involve a connection. Long-haul logistics and connections can extend the timing.
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 and city of departure, the flight routing and connections, and local funeral, hygienic treatment and legalisation fees, which vary considerably across so large a country. A UK-based estate, travel insurance or a life-insurance policy may cover part of the cost, and we help you check what the policy covers.
Authorities involved
- Medical organisation or mortuary: issues the medical death certificate stating the cause of death.
- ЗАГС (ZAGS) registry office or МФЦ (MFC): registers the death and issues the official Russian death certificate (свидетельство о смерти), which must be apostilled for use in the UK.
- Funeral director in Russia: carries out hygienic treatment and preparation for carriage and assembles the export documentation for the flight.
- Airline: carries your loved one by air, with the documents accompanying them, under international regulations, often on a connecting service.
- British Embassy in Moscow: is involved before your loved one leaves Russia; we deal with it on the family's behalf.
- 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
- Russian death certificate (свидетельство о смерти): issued by the ZAGS registry office or MFC; must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified English translation.
- Medical death certificate: issued by the medical organisation or mortuary, stating the cause of death.
- Certified English translation: of the death certificate and related documents.
- Hygienic treatment and freedom from infection certificates: for international carriage.
- Export documentation assembled for the flight: prepared by the funeral director.
- Coroner's authority (Cremation Form 6): only where a cremation is planned in England and Wales.
Repatriation from the United Kingdom to Russia
When someone dies in the UK and is to be returned to Russia for the funeral, the process brings together the UK coroner's formalities, the receiving requirements in Russia, and a long-haul flight. Russia is a distant destination, roughly 2,500 km to Moscow, and considerably more to regions further east, so your loved one travels by air, with the documents accompanying them, usually to Moscow or St Petersburg, with an onward domestic leg where the funeral is held elsewhere. We manage the transport and the paperwork on both sides, so the family does not have to deal with UK offices directly. 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 receiving country's requirements then determine the documents that must accompany your loved one and the way the coffin is prepared. Both the UK and Russia are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so a UK public document required in Russia can generally be legalised with an apostille rather than a longer legalisation chain. Before your loved one leaves the UK, the papers also go to the consular section of the Russian Embassy in London, which signs them off. We prepare and lodge that application, so no one in the family needs to attend in person.
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 Russia: the receiving formalities
Your loved one travels with the UK death certificate, legalised with an apostille and accompanied by a certified Russian translation, together with the coroner's out-of-England acknowledgement and the certificates of hygienic treatment (embalming) and freedom from infection prepared for the flight. On arrival in Moscow or St Petersburg, a receiving funeral director in Russia handles the local formalities and, where the funeral is in another region, arranges the onward domestic transport to the place of the funeral. We prepare the document file and coordinate directly with the receiving 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 sealed coffin suitable for international air carriage, accompanied by certificates of hygienic treatment and freedom from infection. Because of the distance, the transport is by air; there is no practical road option. Our team collects your loved one from the UK hospital, mortuary or funeral director, completes the airline documentation and airline formalities, and stays with them to the destination airport, coordinating with the receiving funeral director, including any onward domestic leg within Russia, so the family has a single point of contact throughout. Russia is home to a range of religious traditions, and the funeral timeline often reflects them; we are mindful of these expectations and keep the family informed of realistic timings given the distance and paperwork.
Timelines and what affects them
A repatriation from the UK to Russia usually takes 2 to 7 days from first contact, over a distance of roughly 2,500 km to Moscow and considerably more to regions further east. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner (which can occasionally be shortened at the coroner's discretion), the legalisation and certified translation of the death certificate, flight availability, and any onward transport within Russia. Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation, the timeline can be longer, and long-haul logistics can extend the timing.
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 within Russia, flight availability and the onward 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.
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.
- Consular section of the Russian Embassy in London: signs off the documents before your loved one leaves the UK.
- UK legalisation (apostille) authorities: apostille the UK death certificate for recognition in Russia under the Hague Convention.
- Embalmer / UK funeral director: carries out hygienic treatment and preparation to international transport standard and provides the sealed, transport-standard coffin.
- Receiving funeral director in Russia: takes your loved one on arrival and arranges the funeral, including any onward domestic transport, in the destination region.
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.
- Apostille and certified Russian translation: legalising the death certificate for use in Russia under the Hague Convention.
- Hygienic treatment and freedom from infection certificates: for international carriage.
- Sealed coffin: as required for international air carriage.
UK procedure
- The Removal of Bodies Regulations 1954 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Cremation (E&W) Regulations 2008: form Cremation 6 (gov.uk)
Legalisation
Receiving country (Russia)
Last verified July 2026.
Questions families ask us about bringing someone home from Russia
Your loved one travels with the Russian death certificate (свидетельство о смерти) from the ZAGS registry office, the medical death certificate, and certificates of hygienic treatment and freedom from infection, together with the export documentation the funeral director assembles for the flight.
Because the documents are issued in Russian, the death certificate must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified English translation before use here. We obtain and authenticate everything on your behalf.
Usually 2 to 7 days from first contact, over a distance of roughly 2,500 km from Moscow and considerably more from regions further east.
The timing depends on how quickly the ZAGS issues the death certificate, whether a forensic examination is required, how long the apostille and certified translation take, and flight availability, which may involve a connection. Long-haul logistics can extend the timing.
Yes. Russian documents are issued in Russian, so the death certificate must be apostilled for use in the UK. Russia is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostille replaces a longer legalisation chain, and accompanied by a certified English translation.
We arrange the apostille and the certified translation as part of the service, so the documents are ready to use here.
No. We coordinate directly with the funeral director in Russia, the ZAGS registry office and the airline, across the time difference and the language barrier, so the family does not need to travel or make calls to Russian offices.
The process is arranged remotely on the basis of a simple written authorisation.
Yes. A burial can generally proceed on the apostilled and translated Russian 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).
We liaise with the coroner's office so this authority is ready when your loved one arrives.
Questions families ask us about repatriation to Russia
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 by air in a sealed, transport-standard coffin, accompanied by the UK death certificate (apostilled and translated into Russian) and certificates of hygienic treatment and freedom from infection.
On arrival, the receiving funeral director in Russia handles the local formalities and any onward transport. We prepare the file and coordinate both sides.
Usually 2 to 7 days from first contact, over a distance of roughly 2,500 km to Moscow and considerably more to regions further east. The main factors are the four clear days' notice to the coroner, the apostille and certified Russian translation, flight availability, and any onward transport within Russia.
Where the death has been referred to the coroner for investigation, or long-haul logistics intervene, the timeline can be longer.
Both the UK and Russia are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so the UK death certificate can be apostilled in the UK rather than going through a longer legalisation chain, and is then given a certified Russian translation.
The consular section of the Russian Embassy in London also signs off the papers before departure. We arrange the apostille, the translation and the consular step and prepare the file so the family does not have to.
Repatriation to Russia is by air, usually to Moscow or St Petersburg, in a sealed, transport-standard coffin that meets airline requirements. Where the funeral is in a region far from the point of arrival, an onward domestic transport is arranged.
We plan the whole route to the destination airport, coordinating with the receiving funeral director so the family has a single point of contact throughout.
No. We handle the UK coroner's formalities and registration in English, arrange the apostille and translation, and liaise with the receiving funeral director in Russia in Russian.
The family provides a simple written authorisation, and we coordinate both sides of the process remotely so they are not left dealing with foreign offices.
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 Serbia, Slovakia and Spain. For the road across the continent, read about repatriation between Europe and the UK.
Europe
Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
North Macedonia
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania- Russia
San Marino
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Ukraine
Vatican City
Africa
Algeria
Angola
Benin
Botswana
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Central African Rep.
Chad
Comoros
Congo
Cote d'Ivoire
Djibouti
DR Congo
Egypt
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Gabon
Gambia
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Kenya
Lesotho
Liberia
Libya
Madagascar
Malawi
Mali
Mauritania
Mauritius
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Niger
Nigeria
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Senegal
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
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South Africa
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Asia
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In a family's own words
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Tell us where your loved one is and we will tell you what happens next, and what it costs.