How Much Does It Cost to Repatriate a Body?

When a loved one dies overseas, the planning and cost of bringing their body home can feel overwhelming at first.

Thankfully, there are seasoned professionals ready to help and support you, providing a clear answer when you ask; ‘How much does it cost to repatriate a body to the UK?’

What costs are there to repatriate a body?

In most cases, repatriation of a body costs between £2,000 and £6,000.

However, the figure varies depending on your individual circumstances.

Our professional repatriation service can give an accurate, personalised estimate of repatriation costs tailored to your specific circumstances.

This removes the guess from trying to understand price ranges you may see elsewhere online while you’re trying to process the death of a loved one.

Which factors influence the cost of repatriating a body?

According to Citizens Advice, the requirements that must be considered for how much it costs to repatriate a body include:

a certified English translation of the foreign death certificate from the country in which the person died
authorisation to remove the body from the country, and
a certificate of embalming

Other factors that can impact the overall costs are:

the distance between the place of death and the UK. Long haul flights will be significantly more expensive than shorter distances
legislative requirements of the country from which the body is being repatriated
the cause of death, and whether a police or coronial inquiry is required
documentation expenses vary between countries, particularly if an infectious disease cannot be ruled out and quarantine is required
whether the mortal remains are being returned as ashes or a body requiring embalming and a zinc-lined coffin for transport
the official language for the country where a person has died may impact whether translation and interpretation costs are accrued
whether someone is required to escort your loved one’s remains home

What happens when someone dies overseas?

In the unfortunate event of someone dying overseas, repatriation refers to the process of their mortal remains being returned for burial or cremation in the UK.

Experienced repatriation professionals such as Middleton’s Funeral Services can assist at this challenging time to ensure your loved one is given a dignified final goodbye.

Given the potentially significant costs associated with repatriating of a body, as outlined above, arranging suitable travel insurance can help.

Repatriation is included as a standard provision in most travel insurance policies, but the definitions and level of cover may vary.

It’s important to understand whether repatriation of a body is part of that standard cover, or if more comprehensive protection is required.

It’s also important to be aware of caps and exclusions on policies, particularly if your loved one has preexisting conditions or is first medically evacuated and later passes away while still abroad.