Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in the Czech Republic
This guide explains what happens after a death in the Czech Republic, 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
10-14 days
FCDO 24hr helpline
+44 (0)20 7008 5000
Prague is one of the most visited city break destinations in Europe. British visitors are frequent, and deaths in the Czech Republic are a regular occurrence for UK repatriation specialists. The process is well-defined and, for natural cause deaths, is among the more efficient EU repatriations.
Step 1: Notify the British Embassy Prague
The British Embassy in Prague must be notified immediately. Address: Thunovska 14, 118 00 Prague 1. Phone: +420 257 402 111. FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
Do not wait until business hours. The Embassy’s consular team will register the death with UK authorities and advise on next steps.
Step 2: Matrika death registration
Deaths are registered at the local Matrika (registry office) in the district where the death occurred. The Umrtni list (death certificate) is issued in Czech. For hospital deaths in Prague, this process is typically handled by the hospital administration and is relatively quick.
For unnatural deaths, the police are notified immediately. The case is referred to the State Prosecutor’s Office, which decides whether a forensic post-mortem is required.
Step 3: State Prosecutor and forensic post-mortem
When the State Prosecutor orders a post-mortem, the Institute of Forensic Medicine conducts the examination. Prague has the main institute. Regional centres across Bohemia and Moravia have capacity for standard examinations.
The Prosecutor’s post-mortem is mandatory for all sudden, violent, or undiagnosed deaths regardless of apparent cause. An unexplained death at a hotel or on the street will always trigger this process. Results typically arrive within 5 to 10 days of the examination. The Prosecutor must formally authorise the body’s release before embalming can proceed.
Step 4: Embalming and laissez-passer
Embalming is mandatory for international repatriation from the Czech Republic under the Council of Europe Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses (Strasbourg, 1973, ETS No. 080). The laissez-passer is issued by the Ministry of Interior or delegated regional authority.
The laissez-passer application requires: the Umrtni list, embalming certificate, freedom from contagious disease clearance (issued by the regional public health authority). With all documents in order, the laissez-passer is typically issued within 2 to 5 days.
Step 5: Air freight to the UK
Vaclav Havel Airport Prague (PRG) has direct flights to London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, and other UK airports. British Airways, easyJet, and Ryanair all serve this route. The frequency of direct flights is an advantage: cargo bookings are rarely delayed by flight availability.
For deaths in Brno or other Czech cities, transfer to PRG by road or domestic transport is standard.
Certified translations
All Czech documentation is in Czech and requires certified translation for UK use. Your repatriation specialist will arrange this. Factor it into your expected timeline. It does not add significant time if arranged alongside the air cargo booking. Source: FCDO guidance on death in the Czech Republic; Council of Europe Agreement ETS No. 080; Czech Civil Registry Act (2023).
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
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 the Czech Republic 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 the Czech Republic requires specific paperwork before a body can be transported. Your local funeral director will handle most of this.
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 Prosecutor must authorise release for unnatural deaths
- Forensic institute post-mortem (adds 5-10 days)
- Czech bureaucratic documentation from smaller regional offices
- Weekend and public holiday closures
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for the Czech Republic 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 | Czech Republic 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.
If a post-mortem is required
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Common questions
Questions families ask about deaths in the Czech Republic
Repatriation from the Czech Republic typically takes 10-14 days. The fastest cases complete in 7 days where nothing is contested. Cases involving a post-mortem or a police investigation can take 21+ days.
We do not publish a figure for the Czech Republic, 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 the Czech Republic requires, and the flight routing available. Send us the details and we will price your case, with no obligation.
The UK funeral director collects from the cargo terminal. Czech documentation must be translated. A UK death registration can be applied for if required.
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.
For violent, sudden or suspicious deaths, the State Prosecutor must authorise the body's release. A forensic post-mortem is conducted by the Institute of Forensic Medicine. Prague's institute is well-staffed; regional centres may be slower.
Full repatriation guide for the Czech Republic
Detailed information on the full repatriation process, embassy contacts, what affects the cost, cultural considerations, and more.
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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 .
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Repatriation from the Czech Republic · Frequently asked questions