Death abroad
Bringing someone home after a death abroad
We arrange everything in the country where they died, the flight, and the handover to your funeral director at home. You deal with us throughout, and you receive one written quote before anything is booked.
- From any country, to wherever home is
- You do not need to travel there
- Documents are not needed for the quote
Prefer to message? WhatsApp +44 7703 577246
How it works
It is never too early to ask, even before any documents exist.
Tell us what has happened
Where they died, where home is, and how to reach you. Documents are not needed for the quote.
We reply within the hour
By email, day or night, with the few details we still need.
We check the requirements
The official rules for leaving the country where they died and for arriving home, and any faith or timing needs you tell us about.
You receive one written quote
It sets out what is included and what is not. Nothing is booked until you accept it.
We arrange everything
When you accept, we tell you which funeral directors are carrying out each stage. Then we arrange the documents, the coffin for air travel and the flight, and keep you updated until they arrive home.
What we arrange
- Collection from the hospital or mortuary
- Mortuary care, and embalming where it is required
- A coffin suitable for air transport, usually zinc-lined
- Local registration and the export documents
- The cargo flight, with the airline's human remains service
- Collection at the arrival airport and delivery to your funeral director or chosen funeral home
If your family prefers, we can arrange cremation where they died and send the ashes home. Cremation and ashes
What you can do now
- If they had travel insurance, find the policy and the insurer's emergency number.
- Keep their passport, or a copy, somewhere safe.
- If you already know which funeral director will arrange the funeral at home, tell us their name.
- Tell us about any faith or timing needs at the start.
That is all. You do not need to contact funeral directors abroad yourself.
How long it usually takes
The biggest factor is whether the local authorities order a post-mortem or an investigation.
| Where they died | Typical time | With a post-mortem or investigation |
|---|---|---|
| Spain | 7 to 14 days | 3 to 6 weeks |
| Thailand | 2 to 4 weeks | 4 to 12 weeks or longer |
| Greece | 10 to 21 days | 4 to 12 weeks |
| Turkey | 10 to 21 days | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Portugal | 7 to 14 days | 3 to 6 weeks |
| France | 7 to 14 days | 3 to 8 weeks |
| Italy | 10 to 21 days | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Cyprus | 7 to 14 days | 3 to 6 weeks |
| United States | 10 to 21 days | 3 to 8 weeks |
| India | 4 to 6 weeks | 8 to 16 weeks or longer |
| Philippines | 3 to 6 weeks | 8 to 16 weeks |
| United Arab Emirates | 7 to 21 days | 4 to 12 weeks |
Typical ranges from official country guidance and industry averages. Your quote sets out the timing for your case.
What it costs
Within Europe
£3,000 to £7,000
For example from Spain, France, Greece or Italy.
From further afield
£5,000 to £12,000 or more
Asia, Africa, the Americas and Australasia.
Bringing ashes home
Often £1,000 to £3,000
After cremation where they died.
Typical ranges from published UK funeral sector guides (2026) for routes to and from the UK. Routes between other countries are often in a similar range but can differ. Figures in pounds sterling. Your written quote is the figure for your case. What affects the cost
If they had travel insurance
Many travel policies cover repatriation. Some insurers want to approve the provider and the cost before anything is booked, so tell us who the insurer is. You can send our written quote to them for approval first.
Faith and timing
If your faith asks for burial within a day or two, ritual washing, or cremation by the family, tell us at the start. We plan around it as far as the local authorities and the airline allow, and tell you plainly what the timing will be.
Tell us what has happened
Send the details any time, or message us on WhatsApp. Asking costs nothing.