International Repatriation

Many airlines allow cremated remains to be taken outside of the UK as hand luggage; don't hesitate to contact us to discuss how we can help.

We can issue a signed 'Qualified Funeral Directors Declaration', which you may require for customs purposes; you will need to take this declaration along with a certified copy of the death certificate & the cremation certificate issued by the crematorium.

Not everyone will be comfortable carrying cremated remains, so we can arrange for professional transportation on your behalf within the UK and internationally.

Before you can repatriate someone who died in England & Wales, several legal requirements must be met before travelling. We can provide full support to you, and our services include:

• Liaison with official organisations to apply for and submit on your behalf the required legal documentation for transport, including:

1. HM Coroner
2. Consulate/Embassy
3. UK Customs
4. Embalmer
5. Overseas Agents (Funeral Director/Repatriation Agent)
6. Medical Professional(s)

• Provision of a coffin of your choice, which will be lined and sealed as per consular regulations. We have a selection of options available*.

*It is worth bearing in mind that a transportation coffin might not be suitable for burial or cremation for environmental reasons.

• Full Embalming will be completed to a professional standard per consular regulations, and the Embalmer will issue an official certificate.

• Arranging transportation for the deceased, including flights/boat travel – we can reserve seats* for any family members wishing to travel at the same time.

*Flights will need to be paid directly to the airline by you before travel.

• If you want to hold a funeral service before travel, we can assist with arranging this for you.

If a person has died abroad and is travelling to England & Wales to have a burial or cremation, we are able to provide the following services to help support you:

• Liaison with official organisations for the person who has died to be released into our care and for a funeral to take place, including:

1. HM Coroner
2. UK Customs
3. Overseas Agents (Funeral Director/Repatriation Agent)
4. Cemetery/Crematoria
5. Minister/Celebrant

• Attending the Airport/Port to receive the person who has died, including waiting time for customs clearance.

• Payment of customs charges and tariffs for handling.

• Provision of a coffin of your choice*

*It is worth bearing in mind that a transportation coffin might not be suitable for burial or cremation in this country for environmental reasons.

• Making arrangements for a funeral service to be held, including booking the time and date, provision of vehicles and other services.

Repatriation can be expensive, depending on the distance to be travelled and how the person who has died is transported. Before making a financial commitment, we advise you to check whether the person had travel insurance or private medical cover, which would help cover the costs. If they are covered, contact the insurance company as soon as possible.

If there is no travel insurance/private medical cover, as with many other countries, the government does not give financial assistance with the cost of repatriation. In that case, you may want to consider arranging for cremation if this is available in the country where the person has died, and travel back with the cremated remains, if cremation is not available in that particular country, you may want to hold a burial there, with a memorial service back in the UK.

On average, it takes ten to fifteen days to repatriate someone who has died to the chosen country. This can vary depending on circumstances:

• If someone died of natural causes, it could take between five and seven days to transport their body, depending on where they passed away.  
• However, if a post-mortem is required due to suspicious circumstances then repatriation can potentially be delayed by up to three months.