Country guide · Spain
Repatriation from Spain
Spain’s coasts are home to large expatriate communities, and millions of tourists visit every year. When someone dies there, bringing them home to another European country usually takes one to two weeks from the death to arrival.
What happens in the country of death
The death is registered with the local Registro Civil. If it was unexpected, a judicial procedure has to finish before the deceased can be released. This is routine in Spain, and we keep track of it so your family does not have to. Your loved one is cared for at a local tanatorio, and the health authority issues the permit needed for international transfer.
The journey home
There are direct flights from Málaga, Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid and Palma de Mallorca, which makes air freight to most of Europe straightforward. Family members can usually travel on the same flight.
Good to know
Spanish authorities issue their documents in Spanish. If the destination country requires certified translations, we arrange them.
Read more
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.
Mon–Fri 10–17 (EET) · we usually respond outside these hours too