How to Bring a Body Back to the UK From Abroad

Learning that a family member or close friend has died abroad is distressing at any time. Dealing with the practical and legal requirements of bringing their body home — often in an unfamiliar country, in a foreign language, and under significant emotional strain — adds a further layer of difficulty. This guide sets out the process step by step so you know who to contact and what to expect.

The Role of the FCDO and British Consulate

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the British consulate or high commission in the country where the death occurred are your primary point of contact in the immediate aftermath of a death abroad.

The British consulate can:

• Confirm that a death has occurred and help locate the body if necessary (for example, following an accident)
• Provide a list of local funeral directors with experience in international repatriation
• Advise on the local legal requirements for releasing a body for repatriation — these vary significantly by country
• Liaise with local police or authorities on your behalf if the death is subject to local investigation
• Help you understand the official documents required by the UK to accept the body

To contact the nearest British consulate outside normal office hours, call the FCDO's 24-hour number: +44 20 7008 5000. This line is specifically for British nationals who need emergency consular assistance abroad.

The Paperwork Required for Repatriation

The paperwork required to repatriate a body to the UK is substantial. The specific documents vary by country, but the following are typically required:

• Foreign death certificate: issued by the authorities in the country of death. This must usually be officially translated into English if it is not already in English. A certified translation (not just a photocopy) is required.
• Freedom from Infection Certificate (also called a Certificate of Embalming in some countries): issued by the embalming authority in the country of death, confirming the body has been prepared to a standard safe for air transport. Some countries have equivalent documentation — the consulate can advise.
• Coroner's Order for Burial (or Cremation) in England and Wales: the HM Coroner for the district in England or Wales where the funeral is to take place must issue an Order for Burial (Form 104) or authorisation for cremation. The coroner will usually require copies of the foreign death certificate and other documents before issuing this.
• Airline cargo documentation: bodies travelling by air are transported as cargo (not in the passenger cabin) and require specific paperwork from the airline and the funeral director.

For deaths in countries that have their own coroner or equivalent system (including much of Europe), there may also be a local authorisation or release certificate to be obtained before the body can leave the country.

How Repatriation Works in Practice

Repatriation is a specialist service and not all funeral directors in the UK have the expertise or international contacts to handle it. You will need a funeral director with specific experience in international repatriation cases.

How the process typically unfolds:

1. A local funeral director in the country of death prepares the body (embalming, appropriate transportation casket) and handles the local paperwork
2. The body is transported to the appropriate airport and loaded as cargo on a scheduled or charter flight to the UK
3. A UK-based repatriation funeral director meets the body on arrival, handles UK customs formalities, and transports the body to their premises
4. The UK funeral director then handles the UK funeral arrangements in the normal way once the coroner has issued the Order for Burial

Typical timescales for repatriation vary from 1–2 weeks for deaths in Western Europe to 3–6 weeks for deaths in more distant countries, particularly those where local investigations or bureaucratic processes take longer.

Cost of Repatriation and Travel Insurance

Repatriation is expensive. Indicative costs in 2025–26:

• Western Europe (Spain, France, Greece, etc.): typically £3,000–£6,000 in total for the repatriation service (excluding UK funeral costs)
• Further afield (USA, Australia, South-East Asia, Africa): typically £6,000–£12,000+ depending on the specific country, airline charges, and complexity
• Embalming and preparation: usually included in the package price from the local funeral director, but occasionally charged separately (£500–£1,500)
• Translation of documents: certified translations typically cost £100–£300 per document

Travel insurance typically covers the full cost of repatriation — including the local funeral director's fees, air transport, and the UK reception — as a standard benefit of most policies. However, insurers must be contacted at the earliest opportunity, as they will usually want to manage the repatriation through their own approved service providers. Important exclusions to check:

• Pre-existing medical conditions that were not disclosed at the time the policy was taken out
• Deaths caused by activities excluded from the policy (extreme sports, alcohol-related incidents)
• Deaths occurring in countries listed as "do not travel" by the FCDO at the time of travel — some policies are invalidated by travelling to such destinations

Deaths Involving Police Investigations or Inquests

If the death abroad was sudden, unexplained, or occurred in suspicious circumstances, local police or judicial authorities may open an investigation — and the body cannot be released until that investigation is complete. This can significantly delay repatriation.

In these situations:

• The British consulate will liaise with local authorities on your behalf and can push for updates on the timeline for release of the body
• If the investigation may result in criminal proceedings, the consulate can provide a list of local lawyers who can advise on the family's rights under local law
• In England and Wales, the HM Coroner may wish to open a parallel inquest even after the body is returned to the UK — this is separate from any foreign proceedings
• Travel insurance policies sometimes have specific provisions for extended accommodation and family support costs if repatriation is delayed due to an investigation — check your policy carefully

Delays of several months are not uncommon where a local criminal investigation is underway. The consulate is the most important point of contact in these cases, as they are best placed to understand and navigate the local legal system on your behalf.