Last Flight Ticket

Repatriating a body to England after death abroad involves several steps and requires the assistance of an international funeral director. The process typically includes embalming the body, placing it in a zinc-lined coffin, and obtaining necessary documentation like a death certificate translation and authorization to remove the body.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

1. Engage an International Funeral Director:

• Contact an international funeral director who can handle the logistics of repatriation.
  
• They will work with a local funeral director in the country where the death occurred.
• You’ll need to sign a form authorizing both funeral directors to act on your behalf.

2. Embalming and Coffin:

• The body must be embalmed to prevent decomposition during transportation.
• It will be placed in a zinc-lined coffin, or sometimes a hermetically sealed bag and coffin.

3. Documentation:

• Death Certificate: Obtain a certified English translation of the foreign death certificate.
• Authorization to Remove: Get authorization to remove the body from the country where the death occurred.
• Embalming Certificate: A certificate confirming embalming is usually required.
• Other Documents: Depending on the circumstances and country, additional documents like a “Freedom from Infection Certificate” or the deceased’s passport might be needed.

4. Local Procedures:

• Ensure all local procedures in the country of death are completed, including any post-mortem examinations or police investigations.

5. Transport and Arrangements:

• The international funeral director will arrange for the transportation of the body to England, usually via air freight.
• They will also coordinate with a funeral director in the UK to handle the funeral arrangements.