Repatriation

What is repatriation?

A repatriation takes place when the body of a person who has died is transported from one country to another.

Arranging a repatriation into or out of the UK for someone who has died can be complicated, however most funeral directors will be able to guide you through the process.

Clouds of various density over the sea.

Things to consider when thinking about a repatriation

Whether you are considering taking the body of a person who has died home to their country of origin or bringing someone back to the UK who died abroad, there are two key things to consider:

  • The wishes of the person who died and the wishes of the surviving family: Did the person who died wish to be repatriated? What meaning would the repatriation hold to you and your family?
  • Cost: The cost of a repatriation can be substantially more than the cost of a local funeral and there may be fewer options for raising money towards the cost.
Raising money towards funeral costs
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How to arrange a repatriation

  1. Register the death and inform the relevant authorities. If the person has died in the UK, you may find our “Admin and benefits after a death” guide helpful.  If the person has died outside the UK, the government have a helpful guide on what to do if someone dies abroad.
  2. If the person was on holiday, be sure to check whether they had travel insurance.  Insurance companies often have a preferred provider and agreed payment arrangements.
  3. Choose a funeral director or repatriation specialist: If the person who died did not have travel insurance, or you need to choose your own service provider, get quotes from
    several different companies to compare their costs and services.
    When you are advised of the cost, make sure it includes all services you require, as well as any disbursements or third-party fees, such as airline costs. If you are working to a budget, ask the funeral director if they can help you to plan within your budget, or if
    they have flexible payment terms. Many companies ask for full payment before the flight, but may care for the person who has died for longer to allow time for money to be raised.
  4. Provide the relevant documents: The funeral director, or repatriation company, will know the legal requirements and what paperwork is needed for the repatriation. These can differ between countries. You will need to provide the death certificate and the
    passport of the person who died, even if it has expired.
  5. If you wish to travel as well, you will need to make your own travel arrangements. Some funeral directors can arrange for you to travel on the same flight as the person who has died, although this may not be the most affordable option.
Admin & benefits after a death
An asian woman and a white man working on a laptop.

Costs associated with a repatriation

There are often a lot of organisations involved in arranging a repatriation, and fees associated with their services.  Below is a list of the most common ones, however some countries may have additional requirements which can add to the cost.

  • Funeral director or repatriation specialist fees for co-ordinating the arrangements
  • Care of the person who has died
  • Embalming (normally required for repatriation)
  • A coffin or casket which meets airline and destination country requirements (sometimes, the coffin may not be suitable for the funeral arrangements in the destination country and a second coffin or casket may need to be purchased)
  • Documentation required from the Foreign & Commonwealth office or Embassy
  • Documents required from medical professionals or coroners office
  • Translation of documents where required
  • Airline and freight fees
  • Transporting the person who has died to the airport or port, and collecting the person who has died at the destination country.

Some people choose to have a funeral service in the country where the person died before the repatriation happens.  There will be costs associated with these arrangements.  It’s also important to note that there will be separate charges for the funeral arrangements in the destination country.

There are various ways of raising money towards a repatriation.  See our guide for detailed information about this.

Raising money towards funeral costs
A mobile phone with the calculator screen open. The calculator shows zero.

Photo credits:
Roberto Nickson, Josh Willink, Mikhail Nikov and Leeloo the First on Pexels