Repatriation

Whether you wish for your loved one to be repatriated to the UK from abroad or your loved one has passed away in the UK and you wish for them to be repatriated abroad. At Jack Warwick Funeral Service we have extensive experience in worldwide repatriation (transportation of the deceased) to and from the UK.

Repatriation from Abroad

If your loved one dies overseas it can be incredibly stressful and complicated to arrange for them to be brought back home. At Jack Warwick Funeral Service we can help you so it’s less stressful and more manageable as we have extensive experience in repatriating (transporting of the deceased) back to the UK from across the world.

What to do if a loved one dies abroad?

If a loved one dies abroad and you would like them to be repatriated, there are official processes that have to be completed prior to repatriation and at Jack Warwick’s we can help you with these:

Inform the local authorities in the country in which they died, this will involve contacting the British Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. These authorities will offer advice and provide support to help you manage the process of repatriation.
Register your loved ones death in the country where they passed away, following local regulations. You will need your passport, their passport and details of their next of kin (if not yourself) in order to register the death.

For repatriation into the UK, you will require your loved one’s passport, their death certificate (with a certified English translation) and a certificate of embalming. Repatriation transportation is usually by air, but depending on where they pass away they may be transported via road or sea. The cost of repatriation will vary depending on the repatriation service and transport required and we will always provide you with an estimate of fees in advance. If your loved one was covered with travel insurance, repatriation services are usually included in the policy.

Once your loved one is back in the UK, you will need to report the death to the coroner for the jurisdiction of the chosen cemetery or crematorium, they will review the circumstances of the death to decide if the funeral can proceed or further investigation is required.
You will also need a certificate for cremation or burial. For cremation this will come from the Coroner’s Office. For burial it will usually come from the Registrar’s Office.

Arranging the funeral following repatriation

Repatriation timescales do vary from country to country. At Jack Warwick Funeral Service you can begin funeral arrangements with us even before the repatriation process begins, which may make it a little easier for you and your family when your loved one arrives into the UK. We will arrange the funeral service to reflect the wishes of you and your loved one, and the date of the funeral can be booked as soon as the certificate for cremation or burial has been issued.

Repatriation Abroad

If your loved one dies in the UK and their wishes were to be repatriated to an overseas destination, we can help you with repatriation process as we have extensive experience in repatriating deceased persons from the UK back to their home country.

What to do if your loved one is to be repatriated abroad?

As soon as possible, we will need the Next of Kin’s permission to collect the deceased from their place of death and once in our care we will carry out embalming of the deceased which is mandatory for repatriation overseas (except Ireland). If required, family and friends can then arrange to wash and dress the deceased in accordance with their customs. At Jack Warwick’s we have a wide range of wooden zinc lined coffins and metal American-style caskets suitable for international repatriation that can be hermetically sealed and conform to international air and shipping regulations.

At Jack Warwick Funeral Service we can arrange a funeral or “Celebration of Life” service in the UK to reflect the wishes of you and your loved one. Alternatively we can provide the opportunity for extended chapel visits at our funeral homes for family and friends to pay their respects prior to repatriation overseas.
In preparation for repatriation abroad we will require the passport and a copy of the Death Certificate, and we will then handle the preparation of all other documentation required to repatriate the deceased by air or sea. All of the original documentation must accompany the coffin/casket during repatriation and is inspected by officials in the destination country in order to clear through customs. Repatriation regulations differ from country to country and we will obtain Embassy or Consular authority as necessary for the repatriation and ensure the completion of all necessary documentation, inspections and seals as required.

At Jack Warwick Funeral Service we work in partnership with a range of trusted international repatriation organisations, airlines and ferry operators and will liaise with your chosen overseas funeral directors to ensure the safe and secure repatriation of your loved one on their final journey to their final overseas destination, funeral service or committal.

Taking Cremated Remains Abroad

If you intend to take your loved ones cremated remains abroad, at Jack Warwick Funeral Service we can help you with the process.

You will need to obtain specific documentation and ensure the ashes are securely packaged in the appropriate container. Every country has its own regulations for importing ashes and every airline has its own policy on transporting ashes, so it’s crucial to check the requirements with the embassy or consulate and contact the airline before you travel abroad with your loved ones cremated remains, in general you will need the following documents:

A Certified Copy of the Cremation Certificate
A Certified Copy of the Death Certificate, while this is not always required, it’s advisable to have a copy available, as some countries may require it
Official confirmation from Jack Warwick Funeral Service signed by the funeral director on letter headed paper, this may be required to confirm the ashes are the deceased’s and that the container is sealed
Some countries may require a specific Overseas Certificate from the crematorium, also known as a “Certified Copy of an Entry of Cremation”.

When transporting your loved ones ashes overseas, they must be packaged in a secure and sealed container and consider labelling the container as “Cremated Remains”. The ashes must be contained in a durable, leak-proof, and sift-proof container. It is important to check with your airline to confirm their specific requirements for transporting ashes as some airlines have certain restrictions on the type of container and prefer or require a non-metallic container for x-ray purposes and some airlines require ashes to be carried in hand luggage whilst others may require you to place ashes in checked baggage to be placed in the hold.

At Jack Warwick Funeral Service we have a range of cremated remains urns suitable for international transit, including zinc lined traditional wooden urns. If you are planning on taking your loved ones ashes abroad please contact the embassy or consulate and the airline first to confirm their policies on transporting ashes. If required, we can then transfer your loved ones cremated remains into the appropriate container for overseas travel.

For all repatriation queries and more information about all of our repatriation services including a non-obligation estimate of fees, please contact us today on 01536 485635 or 01933 824824 or email us at: office@jwfs.co.uk.

We are contactable by telephone 24 hours a day

Kettering: 01536 485 635

Wellingborough: 01933 824 824

Repatriation

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Repatriation Abroad

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