How Much Does International Repatriation Cost?

International repatriation is the transfer of a deceased person from the country where the death occurred to another country. It involves the local funeral provider, the documentation required by both countries, the preparation of the deceased, a suitable coffin, and transport, usually by air, through to a receiving party at the destination.

In most cases the deceased is transported by air, as cargo on a scheduled commercial flight, in a coffin prepared to meet the carrier's requirements. The exact arrangement depends on the airline, the route and the requirements of both countries.

The cost is built from four main components: the care of the deceased in the country of death, the documentation and consular authorisations, a transport coffin meeting airline requirements, and the airline's cargo charge. Cargo is usually the largest single item, calculated by weight and distance. Ground transport at both ends and the receiving funeral director complete the total. Tell us the route and we will price that case.

It depends primarily on how quickly the required documents can be issued in the country where the death occurred, and on flight availability for the route. Some countries process the documentation quickly, others do not, and circumstances such as an investigation or a post-mortem can extend it. We give an assessment for the specific case rather than a general timeframe.

The set differs by country, but commonly includes a death certificate, an authorisation to transfer the deceased out of the country, documentation regarding the preparation of the deceased, and documentation required by the destination country, sometimes including consular certification. We identify the specific list for the route as part of the assessment.