Repatriation of a deceased body from abroad to England or Wales

Information about repatriation of a deceased body from abroad to England or Wales.

Repatriation of a Body

If the death occurs abroad and you wish to bring the body back to England or Wales, the Coroner may need to be involved. In certain circumstances an inquest may be necessary. You can ask advice from the Coroner's office, please use the contact details given on this page.

If a death occurs abroad, the death should be registered according to the local regulations of that country and a Death Certificate should be obtained. To bring a body back to England or Wales you will need either the Death Certificate or an authorisation for the removal of the body from the country of death by someone authorised to do so.

To arrange a funeral in England or Wales you will need:

• an authenticated translation of a Death Certificate showing the cause of death and
• a Certificate of No Liability to Register from the registrar in England and Wales. This certificate must be obtained from the registrar in whose area it is intended to bury or cremate the deceased.

To arrange a cremation, a cremation order from the Home Office or a form E from the coroner will be required. If the death was from natural causes, the Home Office will require the following documentation;

• application for cremation (form A)
• all original documentation from the country where death occurred
• translation of documents if necessary

If the death was not natural it will be referred to the coroner who will open an inquest to investigate the cause and circumstances of death. In this case the coroner will issue form E for cremation

Contact Details

For more information please contact Bereavement Services

Telephone: 0121 744 1121

Email: robinhoodcemetery@solihull.gov.uk