Montenegro has grown steadily as a British holiday destination, with the Bay of Kotor and the Adriatic coast attracting visitors who previously went to Croatia or Greece. Deaths there most often involve tourists, and travel insurance is the starting point for most cases. The country is small and the administrative system is centred on Podgorica. This guide answers the questions UK families ask after a death in Montenegro.
For the full process detail, see our complete guide to repatriation from Montenegro. This article focuses on the practical questions.
Coastal deaths and Tivat Airport
Deaths along the Adriatic coast, in Budva, Kotor, or Herceg Novi, fall under local civil registry jurisdiction. Tivat Airport on the coast handles some international cargo, with Podgorica as the main alternative for UK-bound freight. A coordinator familiar with Montenegro manages the routing based on what cargo capacity is available at the time.
The prosecutor and documentation
Sudden or unexplained deaths go to the public prosecutor’s office, which determines whether a forensic examination is needed. For a natural death in a hotel or medical setting, the civil registry issues the death certificate without this step. Documents are in Montenegrin and require certified translation.
Travel insurance as the first step
Most British visitors to Montenegro have travel insurance. Finding the policy is the first practical move, as it typically covers the full repatriation cost and appoints both the local funeral director and the UK coordinator.
For further guidance, see our articles on does travel insurance cover repatriation of remains and repatriation from tourist destinations: typical timeline.