Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Holy See (Vatican City)
This guide explains what happens after a death in Holy See (Vatican City), 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.
What to Do When Someone Dies in Vatican City
Deaths of non-Vatican citizens within Vatican City territory are among the rarest repatriation cases a UK family will encounter. Vatican City is a sovereign state of 0.44 km²: a nation entirely enclosed within Rome. Every case here is specialist.
Step 1: Contact the FCDO and the Correct Embassy
Call the FCDO on 020 7008 5000 (24 hours). Then contact the British Embassy to the Holy See at +39 06 4220 2431. This is a separate mission from the British Embassy to Italy. Contact the correct one: they have different jurisdictions.
Step 2: Appoint a UK Repatriation Specialist Immediately
Given the extreme rarity of Vatican deaths, you need a firm with experience in both Italian and Vatican administrative processes. Do not proceed without one.
Step 3: Governorate Civil Registration
The Governorate of Vatican City State handles death registration. Documentation is in Italian and requires certified English translation for the UK Coroner.
Step 4: Gendarmerie Clearance (Non-Natural Deaths)
Non-natural deaths are investigated by the Gendarmerie Corps of Vatican City State. Their clearance is required before the body can be moved.
Step 5: Italian Transit Documentation
Once the body leaves Vatican territory, Italian law applies. Italian transit and export documentation (via the Questura) must be arranged before transport to Rome Fiumicino (FCO).
Step 6: Routing
Rome Fiumicino (FCO), approximately 30 minutes from the Vatican, has direct flights to London Heathrow, Gatwick, and Stansted.
Realistic Timeline
Expect 5 to 21 days depending on the circumstances. Church administrative involvement may add steps.
For full country detail, see the Vatican City repatriation guide. For a general overview, read what happens when someone dies abroad.
Source: British Embassy to the Holy See consular services. Governatorato dello Stato della Città del Vaticano administrative 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
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 Holy See (Vatican City) 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 Holy See (Vatican City) requires specific paperwork before a body can be transported. Your local funeral director will handle most of this.
What to expect
How long does it take?
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Holy See (Vatican City) 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 | Holy See (Vatican City) 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.
Full repatriation guide for Holy See (Vatican City)
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 Holy See (Vatican City) · Frequently asked questions