Ukraine → United Kingdom
Repatriation of a body from Ukraine to the United Kingdom
We collect the deceased from your town in Ukraine and prepare them for the journey to the United Kingdom. We handle the Ukrainian paperwork ourselves and check the British requirements for the town where the burial will take place. We hand the deceased over to the funeral home chosen by the family. The rest is on us.
We will call you back within 5 minutes and quote the price once we have confirmed the route.
Get a price- Since 2015 repatriation in both directions
- Ukrainian company Company code (EDRPOU) 46261246
- Contract with a fixed price
- Own workshop coffins and funeral goods
- 24/7 one number from start to finish
What the United Kingdom requires when a body is brought in
These requirements come from official UK sources, and each one links to the page it was taken from, so you can read the original wording yourself. Rules differ by nation.
Entry rules differ between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so we check them for the place of burial.
Permits and the coroner
- England and Wales: a coroner in England or Wales must be told if the cause of death was unknown, violent or unnatural. gov.uk
- Scotland: a person who died abroad can be buried or cremated in Scotland only with authorisation from the Death Certification Review Service (Healthcare Improvement Scotland). healthcareimprovementscotland.scot
Documents and translation
- England and Wales: to bring a body in, you need permission to remove the body issued by a coroner (or an equivalent authority) in the country where the person died. gov.uk
- England and Wales: a certified English translation of the death certificate is required. gov.uk
- Scotland: before a body can be repatriated, authorisation to remove the body from the country where the death happened is required. healthcareimprovementscotland.scot
- Northern Ireland: the documents needed to bring the body include a certificate of embalming. nidirect.gov.uk
Embalming and the coffin
- According to government guidance (FCDO), bodies usually need to be embalmed before they are brought to the UK. gov.uk
- Northern Ireland: according to Northern Ireland government guidance (nidirect), the body will need to be embalmed and placed in a zinc-lined coffin before it can be removed from the country where the death occurred. nidirect.gov.uk
UK government guidance on a death in Ukraine
The UK government publishes separate guidance for when someone dies in Ukraine. It covers documents and transport.
The Ukrainian side
Permits for taking the body out of Ukraine, certificates, translations: we obtain them all.
The Ukrainian paperwork is the same for every country; it is all on the page “Repatriation of a body from Ukraine to another country”.
Who receives the deceased in the United Kingdom
We arrange the transport and hand the deceased over to the funeral home in the United Kingdom that the family chooses.
- An international funeral director in the UK works with a local funeral director in Ukraine; the family gives both permission to act on its behalf. gov.uk
We speak Ukrainian, English, Polish and German, so we can make arrangements with the family and the funeral home in the UK in English.
An urn with ashes
- No permit is needed to bring ashes into the UK. The urn can usually be taken on the plane or carried in the hold as luggage, but you should tell the airline in advance and carry the cremation certificate. gov.uk
- If you take ashes out of Ukraine yourself, you need both the death certificate and the cremation certificate; you must inform the airline in advance and follow Ukrainian regulations. Ashes cannot be sent by post or courier. gov.uk
We can also take an urn with ashes to the UK. We will give you the price once we have talked: press “Get a price”.
The price for your route
Tell us the country and your city in Ukraine. Once the route is clear, we will give you the price.
Questions about repatriation from Ukraine to the UK
Will a Ukrainian death certificate be accepted in the UK?
The Ukrainian death certificate is issued in Ukrainian; with a certified translation it can usually be used in the UK for most purposes. (gov.uk) According to UK government guidance, Ukrainian death certificates do not include the cause of death. (gov.uk) We take care of the translations and certification.
What happens once the body has arrived in England or Wales?
England and Wales: once the body has arrived, the death certificate is taken to the register office where the funeral will take place. The registrar issues a ‘certificate of no liability to register’, which is given to the funeral director so the funeral can go ahead. (gov.uk)
Does the body need to be embalmed for the UK?
Usually. UK government guidance from the FCDO expects embalming before a body is brought in. We prepare the body and the coffin for the journey.
When is a coroner involved?
In England and Wales, when the cause of death is unknown, violent or unnatural. The coroner must be told.
Send a request for repatriation to the United Kingdom
Thank you. We will call you back. For urgent matters, write to us on WhatsApp or call +380 77 882 77 77.