How to repatriate a body from the UK to Romania: step by step

Losing someone while they are living in the UK, and wanting to bring them home to Romania, brings practical questions at the hardest possible time. This guide explains the whole process in plain language, step by step, so you know what happens and what is needed at each stage. A repatriation funeral director handles most of it for you, but it helps to understand the journey.

Step 1: Register the death in the UK

The first legal step is registering the death. In England and Wales this is normally done at the local register office within five days, and you receive the death certificate. In Scotland the death is registered within eight days. If the death was sudden, unexpected or its cause is unknown, it is reported to the coroner (or the procurator fiscal in Scotland), who may need to release the deceased before anything else can proceed.

Ask for several certified copies of the death certificate. You will need more than one, in the UK and in Romania.

Step 2: Appoint a repatriation funeral director

Repatriation is specialist work, and it is where we come in. A repatriation funeral director coordinates everything: caring for your loved one, preparing the documents, liaising with the coroner and the Romanian consulate, arranging the transport and handling the formalities. You can appoint one from anywhere in the UK, whether the death occurred in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Luton or Leicester.

Step 3: Care and preparation of the deceased

For the journey, the deceased is normally embalmed and placed in a sealed coffin. Embalming preserves the body, and the sealed coffin meets the requirements of the authorities receiving the deceased in Romania. Your funeral director arranges all of this.

Step 4: Gather the documents

The paperwork for a repatriation to Romania typically includes:

• a certified copy of the death certificate;
• an embalming (hygienic treatment) certificate;
• a "freedom from infection" certificate confirming there is no public-health risk;
• a declaration that the coffin contains only the deceased and has been correctly sealed;
• authorisation from the coroner to remove the body out of England and Wales. You must give the coroner notice of your intention to move the body abroad, and there is normally a short waiting period before removal is permitted.

Step 5: Consular authorisation from the Romanian embassy

Romania requires its own authorisation before it will receive the deceased. The Romanian Embassy or Consulate in the UK issues a repatriation certificate once the UK documents are in order. Papers are usually translated into Romanian. Again, your funeral director handles this liaison so you do not have to navigate two systems yourself.

Step 6: The journey to Romania

We repatriate mainly by road, in a specialised private vehicle that travels from the UK across Europe directly to the destination in Romania. Road repatriation is often the most affordable and flexible option, and it allows your loved one to be delivered straight to the family or the local funeral home in almost any town or city. Where a family prefers it, or where timing requires, we can also arrange air transport.

Step 7: Arrival and the funeral in Romania

On arrival, a local funeral partner or the family receives the deceased and completes the formalities for the burial or service in Romania. We can coordinate with a partner in Romania so the handover is smooth and nothing is left to chance.

How long does it take?

Most repatriations from the UK to Romania take one to two weeks from start to finish. The timeline depends mainly on how quickly the death can be registered, whether a coroner is involved, and the travel arrangements. If you need to move quickly, tell us, and we will do everything possible to help.

Frequently asked questions

How long does repatriation from the UK to Romania take?

Usually one to two weeks. It depends on the documentation, whether a coroner is involved, and the travel arrangements. Without a coroner's inquiry it can be quicker.

Does a body have to be embalmed?

Yes, in almost all cases. The deceased is embalmed and placed in a sealed coffin, which is standard practice for the journey and for the receiving authorities.

Can you help from outside London?

Yes. We arrange repatriation from any UK city, including Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Luton and Leicester, and coordinate collection wherever the death occurred.