Repatriation to and from the UK

When someone has died abroad, they can be repatriated and brought back to their home country to be buried or cremated.

Roses can offer help both in repatriating non-UK citizens and also bringing UK citizens who have died abroad, safely home. We have considerable experience in arranging repatriations to and from many different countries. Rest assured at every point you can expect us to uphold the highest standards of dedication, compassionate care and respect.

Repatriation

Registering the death

When someone dies abroad, the death must be registered in the country where the person died. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office, British Embassy, High Commission or British Consulate can all advise on how to do this.

In the absence of valid travel insurance, you will need to instruct a local funeral director to arrange care before returning to the UK and cover the costs of repatriation.

Once the death has been registered, the local funeral director in association with the local authority in that country will arrange for the necessary documentation to proceed with repatriation. The deceased’s passport is essential to this process. Timescales vary slightly but, unfortunately, it’s not unusual to face significant delays.

Obtaining a death certificate

Death certificates will be issued in the language of the country of death. If need be, we can arrange for these to be translated into any language.

Making funeral arrangements

Whether we have been instructed to repatriate to or from the UK, before funeral arrangements can be finalised, authorisation will be required from the local authorities in the destination country. Also, whilst every care is taken, repatriation services employ third parties including airlines, ferries, and trains whose timetables and schedules can be subject to last minute changes. We therefore recommend that no funeral arrangements are finalised or announced until the deceased – and the paperwork – has arrived in the destination country and all necessary permissions obtained.

Returning ashes to the UK

Returning to the UK with human ashes will require a death certificate and a certificate of cremation from the country where death occurred. Each country has its own rules about departing with human ashes and there may be additional requirements. On arrival to the UK, expect to complete a standard customs form. It is also worth checking with your transport provider to find out how you can safely carry the ashes securely.

Notifying the authorities

The ‘Tell Us Once’ service can be used if the person died in a Commonwealth country, a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. Using the deceased’s National Insurance number, central and local Government agencies are informed of the death and centrally update records relating to: council tax, passport, state pension, benefits, disability blue badge, and driving licences.

NO OBLIGATION

REQUEST A BROCHURE

CHECK OUT OUR

FUNERAL PLANS

FUNERAL NOTICES

VIEW HERE