Repatriation of a deceased body
Relatives who need to either bring a body back to England or send a body abroad should discuss this matter with a funeral director who will then liaise with the Coroner's Office and arrange for any necessary paperwork to be issued.
Taking a body out of England.
You will need to register the death, but before doing so approval is required from the Coroner.
Bringing a body back to England or Wales
If a death occurs abroad, the death should be registered according to the local regulations of that country and a death certificate should be obtained.
To bring a body back to England or Wales you will need either the death certificate or an authorisation for the removal of the body from the country of death by someone authorised to do so.
To arrange a burial in England or Wales you will need:
- Coroner's approval
- an authenticated translation of a death certificate showing the cause of death, and
- a 'certificate of no liability to register' from the registrar in England and Wales. This certificate must be obtained from the register office in the district where the funeral is to take place.
To arrange a cremation, a cremation order from the Home Office or a form from the Coroner will be required.
If the death was from natural causes, the Home Office will require the following documentation:
- application for cremation (Form A)
- all original documentation from the country where death occurred - documents to be translated if necessary.
If the death was not from natural causes it will be referred to the Coroner who will open an inquest to investigate the cause and circumstances of death.
Further information about what to do when someone dies abroad, and the support available, can be found on the Directgov web-site.
