Repatriation

Bereavement Services

Repatriation of the deceased into or out of the UK can be a very complicated procedure. There are a few specialist companies that can perform this task for you.

Registration

If the deceased was from England or Wales:

Register the death according to the local regulations in the country in which it took place, and get a local death certificate. Register the death with the British Consul, so that a record of the death will be kept in England. You will be able to get a copy of the death certificate from the consulate later, or from the:

Overseas Registration Section
Smedley Hydro
Trafalgar Road
Birkdale 
Southport PR8 2HH.

If the death abroad occurred in particular circumstances or the information about the death abroad is incomplete, this must be reported to a coroner in the same way as if the death occurred in England or Wales. See the section on Coroners for more details of the circumstances.

If the deceased was from Scotland:

Register the death according to the local regulations in the country and get a local death certificate. Register the death with the British Consul, so that a record of the death will be sent to Scotland; you will be able to get a copy of the death certificate later from:

The General Register Office for Scotland
New Register House
3 West Register Street
Edinburgh EH1 3YT
Telephone: (0131) 334 0380.
https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/ 

If the deceased was from Northern Ireland:

Register the death according to the local regulations in the country and get a local death certificate. Register the death with the British Consul, so that a record of the death will be sent to Northern Ireland; you will be able to get a copy of the death certificate later from:

General Register Office
Oxford House
49 Chichester Street
Belfast BT1 4HL
Telephone: (028) 9027 0274
Fax: (028) 9027 0520
registar@belfastcity.gov.uk
Website: https://geni.nidirect.gov.uk/

Holding a Funeral Abroad

You can arrange a local burial or cremation. The British Consul in the country in which the death occurred can register the death and a record will be kept at the registry offices listed above. 

Moving a Body

Alternatively, you may wish to repatriate the deceased to the UK for cremation or burial. Most funeral directors should be able to advise you on the practicalities of the particular case and the likely cost. There are several firms that specialise in repatriation. View a list of Funeral Directors in the region you live.

You will need an authenticated translation of a foreign death certificate - this must show the cause of death - from the place where the person died, and an authorisation for the removal of the body from the country of death from the coroner or relevant authority. You must contact the registrar once the body is back in the UK.