How much does repatriation cost?

Families ask about cost first, and they deserve a straight answer. We could not find an official figure for repatriating a body from any government or insurer: the UK government’s guidance on a death abroad gives none, and nor did the large insurer and the two price comparison sites we checked. The figures below come from repatriation firms that publish their own price guides. Each is named and dated, and each is a range rather than a quote.

Published price ranges

Read these with three cautions. Both firms are based in the UK, so the figures are in pounds and describe routes that start or end in the UK or Ireland. A corridor between two other countries, such as India to Canada or the Philippines to the UAE, has its own airline rates and local fees, and nobody publishes a reliable range for it. And a range is not a quote: a post-mortem, a remote place of death or a long wait for documents can take a case above it.

What makes one case cost more than another

Flight distance and routing. Airlines charge for cargo by weight and route. Homeland International’s guide says short-haul routes usually cost less than long-haul routes, mainly because of the flight. A direct service costs less to arrange than a connection through a third country.

Care and preparation where the death happened. Collection, embalming, the zinc-lined coffin most airlines require, and the certificate that the body is free from infection are all charged by the funeral director in the country of death. Their fees vary by country.

Documentation. Some countries require notarised translations, ministry countersignatures or consular certificates. Rosy International’s guide lists legalisation, translation and notary fees for each document, so a case that needs several documents costs more.

Post-mortem. Where the local authorities order a post-mortem, the body stays in their custody until it is complete, and mortuary storage fees can build up.

The place of death. A death in a capital city is simpler to manage than one on a small island or far from an airport that handles human remains, where an overland or inter-island transfer comes first.

The funeral director at the receiving end. The funeral director who collects from the arrival airport and arranges the funeral at home charges separately from the repatriation itself.

Ashes cost far less

Cremation in the country of death, followed by bringing the ashes home, avoids the cargo flight and the sealed coffin. That is why the published range for ashes is a fraction of the range for a body. Whether local cremation is possible depends on the country and on the family’s beliefs. Our guides to bringing ashes home cover the rules country by country.

What travel insurance covers

Most comprehensive travel insurance policies cover repatriation costs. The policy will usually set a maximum amount and may require the repatriation to be arranged through a provider the insurer approves.

If the person had travel insurance, contact the insurer on the first day. Do not appoint a repatriation firm and present the bill afterwards: the insurer may decline to reimburse costs it did not approve. Cover can also sit with a credit card used to book the trip, or with an employer’s travel policy if the trip was for work.

When there is no insurance

The family or the estate bears the cost. That is a heavy burden for many people, and there are a few options.

Help from the person’s own government. Ask the embassy or consulate of the person’s own country what it can offer. For British nationals, the FCDO can make emergency loans in some circumstances for people in genuine distress. These are loans, not grants, and must be repaid.

Charitable or community help. Some charities, religious organisations and community groups help families with repatriation costs. This is uncommon but worth asking about.

Local burial or cremation. Sometimes a funeral in the country of death is the only affordable choice. It is a hard decision, and one to make with care rather than under pressure.

Crowdfunding. Some families raise the money through a crowdfunding page. Our article on crowdfunding repatriation costs explains how it works.

See also who pays for repatriation.

Getting a figure for your case

Any reputable repatriation firm should give you a clear, itemised quote before you commit, with the flight shown separately. Be cautious of anyone who is vague about cost at the start. Send us the details through the enquiry form below, tell us where the death happened and where your loved one needs to go, and we will give you a figure for your case with no obligation.