The process

How it works, from first call to homecoming

Every repatriation follows roughly the same path. First come the local formalities in the country of death, then the documents, the preparation and the transport, and last the handover to a funeral home at home. You only need to talk to us. We deal with everyone else.

If someone has just died abroad

  1. If the deceased had travel insurance or was on a package holiday, call the insurer’s or tour operator’s 24-hour emergency number. Repatriation is often covered.
  2. The local authorities take the deceased into their care. You do not need to arrange this.
  3. Your country’s embassy or consulate can help with the formalities and let the authorities at home know.
  4. Then contact us. From that point on we coordinate everything and keep you informed.

  1. You contact us

    Call us or use the form. It helps if you know where and when the death happened, where your loved one needs to go and whether there is travel insurance. If you don’t know all of this yet, we can still begin.

  2. We coordinate in the country of death

    We bring in a trusted local funeral director, make sure the deceased is being cared for and open the case with the local authorities. If it helps, we involve the consulate too.

  3. Documents

    We obtain the death certificate, the medical certificates, the laissez-passer and any other permit the route requires, along with certified translations where they are needed.

  4. Preparation

    For a coffin: preparing the deceased, embalming if required, and the sealed zinc-lined coffin. For ashes: the cremation and the transport urn.

  5. The journey home

    We book the air freight or road transport and check every connection. Then we tell you exactly when and where your loved one will arrive. Family can often travel on the same flight.

  6. Arrival and handover

    A funeral home in your home country receives your loved one. We hand everything over to them, so the funeral arrangements can carry on without a gap.

What you will not have to do

  • Negotiate with foreign authorities or funeral homes in a language that isn’t yours
  • Chase documents, stamps or translations from one office to the next
  • Guess what it will cost. Every quote comes in writing before you commit.

Talk to us when you’re ready

One call or message is enough to get things started. We’ll explain honestly what happens next and what it requires, and tell you what it is likely to cost.

Contact us +358 00 000 0000
Mon–Fri 10–17 (EET) · we usually respond outside these hours too