Repatriation of the deceased from abroad requires obtaining the consent of the district authority (starosta) competent for the place of burial in Poland and a certificate from the Polish consul in the country of death, along with a full set of transport documents and a special coffin. We arrange everything - the formalities, the transport and the clearances - from start to finish. It usually takes from a few days to about 2–3 weeks, depending on the country. 24h assistance: 660 950 600.
The death of a loved one abroad is a particularly difficult situation - the grief is compounded by complicated formalities in a foreign country. We explain what repatriation involves and what we take on, so that the family does not have to face this alone.
What is repatriation of the deceased?
This is repatriation to Poland of the body or ashes of a person who died abroad for the purpose of burial. The process combines formalities in the country of death and in Poland, international transport (by road or air) and customs clearance. It requires experience - which is why it is usually handled by a specialised funeral home.
Required documents and permits
- Permit from the district governor competent for the place of burial in Poland, for the repatriation of the body.
- Certificate from the Polish consul in the country where the death occurred.
- Death certificate issued in the country of death (with a sworn translation).
- Certificate of the cause of death and the sanitary and transport documents.
- Coffin for international transport (with a metal/hermetic liner).
How the process works step by step
- Contact and arrangements - we establish the country, the town and the circumstances of the death.
- Local formalities - we cooperate with the local funeral home and the authorities.
- Consents - obtaining the district governor's consent and a consular certificate.
- Preparation and transport - a suitable coffin, clearance procedures, transport to Poland.
- Funeral in Poland - we arrange the ceremony at the chosen place.
Bringing back the ashes (after a cremation abroad)
When the cremation took place abroad, bringing back urns with ashes is usually simpler and cheaper than transporting the body, although it also requires documents (death certificate, cremation certificate, transport papers). We will advise which option is best in a given situation.
Time and costs
The time depends on the country and the completeness of the documents - usually from a few days to about 2–3 weeks. The cost covers the formalities, the preparation, a transport coffin and the transport itself; it is set individually and depends on the distance and the means of transport. We prepare transparent pricing covering everything.
We arrange everything
Repatriation is our speciality. We handle the process from start to finish - including coordination with the foreign funeral home, translations and customs clearance - so that the family can entrust everything to us and focus on the farewell.