Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Australia
This guide explains what happens after a death in Australia, who to contact, and how to arrange for your loved one to be brought home, to the UK, Ireland or any other country. Facts for British nationals come from FCDO and government sources. Every situation is different, and if you would like us to take over the arrangements, send us the details.
Typical timeline
10-21 days
FCDO 24hr helpline
+44 (0)20 7008 5000
The Cost Reality: Distance Has a Price
Australia is consistently one of the most expensive repatriation destinations for British families. The reasons are straightforward: 22-24 hours of flight distance translates directly into freight costs. Air cargo pricing is driven by weight, volume, and route distance. A coffin travelling from Sydney or Melbourne to London is going further than almost any other repatriation route.
Families who have travel insurance should review their policy carefully before assuming repatriation is covered. Policies vary significantly in what they cover, up to what limits, and whether death from pre-existing conditions is excluded.
Six Coroner Systems, Not One
Australia has six states and two territories, each with its own coroner or medical examiner legislation. The Coroners Court of Queensland operates differently from the State Coroner’s Court of New South Wales, which operates differently from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. For unexpected deaths (and most tourist and visitor deaths are unexpected) the relevant state coroner will be involved.
In practical terms, this means you cannot assume what happened in one state will happen identically in another. The Australian process is English-speaking, familiar in structure, and generally efficient, but the specific authority, the specific forms, and the specific contact points depend entirely on which state your loved one died in.
Call triple zero (000) in an emergency, not 999.
The Western Australia Advantage (and the Outback Problem)
For deaths in or near Perth, the Qantas Perth to London Heathrow direct service simplifies cargo logistics considerably. A direct route means no connecting freight stops, faster transit, and one point of accountability. Deaths in other Australian cities route through Sydney or Melbourne, which adds a domestic leg but still connects to reliable UK cargo services.
Outback deaths, or deaths in remote national parks or coastal areas, present a very different situation. Internal transport from a remote location to the nearest capital city can be complex, expensive, and time-consuming. Bush ambulance services and road distances that would take days to cover mean the overall timeline stretches. Allow additional time and budget from the outset for any death that did not occur in or near a major city.
Time Zones and the Communication Gap
Australia runs eight to eleven hours ahead of the UK depending on state and season. Real-time phone communication between a bereaved UK family and an Australian funeral director, coroner’s office, or British High Commission is genuinely difficult. The UK day begins when Australia is late evening; by Australian working hours, the UK has finished its day. This is not a problem any specialist can eliminate, but families should know it exists and build it into their expectations. A call that seems urgent at 9am UK time may not be answered until 6pm UK time because Australia is sleeping.
Sources: FCDO Australia guidance (updated March 2026); Australian Institute for Health and Welfare, state coroner contact information; British High Commission Canberra guidance.
First things first
What to do in the first 24 hours
The immediate period after a death abroad is disorienting. Here are the steps in the order they normally need to happen.
Contact local emergency services
Call 000 (triple zero) for emergency services. If death occurs in hospital, hospital staff handle initial procedures. If death is unexpected, police and the state/territory coroner may be involved. Contact the British High Commission in Canberra or nearest consulate.
Local emergency number: 000
Contact the embassy or consulate
Tell the embassy or consulate of your loved one's own country as soon as possible. It can register the death, give you a list of local funeral directors and explain what the local authorities will need.
British nationals, FCDO 24hr: +44 (0)20 7008 5000
Appoint a local funeral director
A local funeral director in Australia will take care of the body, arrange embalming, obtain the necessary documents, and coordinate with airlines. The embassy can recommend accredited directors. You can also contact a specialist UK repatriation company, who will coordinate with a local partner on your behalf.
Contact your travel insurer
If your loved one had travel insurance with repatriation cover, contact the insurer immediately. They will often have an emergency assistance line and may appoint their own funeral director. Many policies cover the full cost of repatriation, subject to the limit set out in the policy schedule.
Gather the required documents
Repatriation from Australia requires specific paperwork before a body can be transported. Your local funeral director will handle most of this.
- Australian death certificate (state-issued)
- Embalming certificate
- Freedom from infection certificate
- Passport of deceased (or copy)
- Export permit for human remains
- Airline cargo documentation
Documentation typically takes 5-14 days to complete.
What the embassy can do
What the embassy cannot do
What to expect
How long does it take?
Factors that can extend the timeline
- State-by-state variation in coronial and registration processes
- Coronial investigation (coroner holds body until released in all reportable deaths)
- Remote or outback death (significant internal transport required)
- Distance: 22-24 hour flight minimum adds days to the process
- Time zone difference (8-11 hours ahead of UK) slows communication
- Indigenous community deaths may involve cultural protocols
- Weekend and public holiday closures at state registries
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Australia alone. Our cost page sets out the ranges repatriation firms publish, each named and dated. What you pay turns on the specifics of the case.
| Where the death happened | Distance to the departure airport, and any island or overland transfer, changes the freight arrangement |
| Whether a post-mortem is ordered | An investigation holds the release and adds mortuary time |
| Documentation required | Australia paperwork, translation, and any legalisation step |
| Coffin and preparation | Airline and destination rules dictate what is needed |
| Flight availability | Direct services cost less to arrange than multi-leg cargo routing |
| Insurance | Whether a policy covers repatriation, and up to what limit |
Send us the details and we will give you a figure for your case, with no obligation.
Common questions
Questions families ask about deaths in Australia
We do not publish a figure for Australia, because the cost turns on the specifics of the case. What moves it is where the death happened, whether an investigation must conclude first, the documentation Australia requires, and the flight routing available. Send us the details and we will price your case, with no obligation.
Repatriation from Australia typically takes 10-21 days. The fastest cases complete in 10-14 days where nothing is contested. Cases involving a post-mortem or a police investigation can take 4-8 weeks.
Cremation is available in Australia. Widely available across Australia. Cremation is the majority practice. Where cremation has taken place, ashes can usually be carried to the UK in hand luggage with the cremation certificate, which is the least costly way to bring someone home. Do NOT cremate abroad if a UK coroner may need to hold an inquest. Cremation destroys evidence.
Australia is one of the most expensive repatriation destinations due to extreme distance. Air freight dominates the total cost. Local Australian funeral industry costs are also high (comparable to UK). Perth deaths may be slightly cheaper due to the Qantas direct London route. Sydney and Melbourne are mid-range. Remote, outback, or Northern Territory deaths add substantial internal transport costs.
One of the longest repatriation routes. Freight costs are high due to distance. Qantas Perth-London direct is the fastest option. Internal Australian transport may be needed for deaths in regional or remote areas. Northern Territory and outback deaths involve significant internal logistics.
The British post covering Australia is in Canberra. Consular staff register the death with UK authorities, provide a list of local funeral directors, and help you reach an insurer. They cannot pay any cost, arrange the repatriation, or release the body. The FCDO 24 hour line is +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
Full repatriation guide for Australia
Detailed information on the full repatriation process, embassy contacts, what affects the cost, cultural considerations, and more.
View full guideCremation in Australia
If local cremation is the right choice for your family, our country guide covers the documentation, airline rules, and costs.
Cremation guideSend us the details
If you need someone to take over the arrangements, tell us what has happened. We arrange repatriation from Australia to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in Australia
Send us the details and we will explain what happens next and prepare a quote for bringing your loved one home, to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) guidance, official embassy contacts, and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Official lists for Australia
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.
- Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Repatriation from Australia · Frequently asked questions