Greece is a frequent location for British holiday and expat deaths, particularly across the islands and the mainland coastal resorts. Families contacting us after a death in Greece ask a consistent set of questions. This guide answers them directly.
For the full process and embassy detail, see our complete guide to repatriation from Greece. This article focuses on the questions families raise first.
The timeline families can expect
The honest answer to “how long will it take” depends on whether a forensic examination is required. An expected death, certified by a treating doctor, can move through registration, embalming, and documentation in 7 to 14 days. A sudden death goes to the iatrodikastis first, and the family cannot set a date until that examination is complete.
Greek public administration can be slow in August, when much of the country pauses for the summer. A death during the peak holiday period sometimes takes longer for purely administrative reasons.
The forensic examiner
The iatrodikastis is the forensic medical examiner who handles sudden and unexplained deaths. Their examination is a legal requirement, not an optional step, and it has to conclude before the body is released to the funeral director. Families sometimes ask whether they can decline the post-mortem. They cannot. It is part of the Greek legal process.
Islands and the Athens transfer
Most British deaths in Greece happen on the islands and the coastal resorts. Crete, Rhodes, Kos, Corfu, and Zakynthos see the highest numbers. From these locations, the body is transferred to Athens before the flight home, because the international cargo routes for human remains run through the Athens hub. This is routine, but it adds a step.
Documents and what comes next
The Greek death certificate, the embalming certificate, and the transport permit form the core of the export pack, with translations for UK use. Once the documentation is complete and the flight is booked, the receiving UK funeral director collects the body from the UK airport and proceeds with the funeral.
For further guidance, see our articles on the repatriation timeline by cause of death and documents needed to repatriate a body to the UK.