Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Ireland
This guide explains what happens after a death in Ireland, 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
5-10 days
FCDO 24hr helpline
+44 (0)20 7008 5000
Ireland is the one country where repatriation to the UK might not need to involve an aircraft at all. That proximity shapes everything about how this process works.
Call 999 or 112 for emergency services. A registered medical practitioner certifies the death. If the death is sudden, violent, or the cause is unclear, the Garda Síochána (Irish police) are notified, and the case is referred to the local Coroner under the Coroners Act 1962. The Coroner decides whether an inquest is required.
Ireland has 35 Coroner districts. The Coroner for the district where the death occurred holds jurisdiction. Outside Dublin, Cork, and Galway, Coroners may have smaller caseloads and less administrative support, which can mean slower processing in rural areas.
Contact the British Embassy Dublin at +353 1 205 3700. Ireland is one of the few countries where families can often manage the process directly with Irish funeral directors and the Coroner’s office, without Embassy intermediary. English is the administrative language. Legal processes are familiar. However, if you are struggling to get information or responses, the Embassy is the right escalation point.
The Brexit point many families miss
Since the UK left the EU, GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) no longer covers healthcare costs in Ireland for UK nationals. Irish hospital costs are significant. If your family member received hospital treatment before death, those bills are the family’s responsibility. This is the most common financial shock for UK families dealing with a death in Ireland, and it is entirely preventable with travel insurance.
Road and ferry as an alternative to air freight
For families who want to bring their loved one home by road, Irish and UK funeral directors can coordinate a road and ferry transfer via Dublin-Holyhead, Rosslare-Fishguard, or Cork-Swansea. This is sometimes faster than air freight and can be less expensive. It also gives families more control over the journey. Embalming and proper preparation are still required. Discuss this option with both the Irish funeral director and your UK funeral director before committing.
The Irish death certificate is issued in English and is directly valid in the UK. Processing takes one to five working days after the Coroner’s release.
For the full process, costs and documentation checklist, see our repatriation from Ireland guide.
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 999 or 112 for emergency services. A registered medical practitioner must certify the death. In Ireland, sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths are reported to the Garda (police) and referred to the local Coroner under the Coroner's Act 1962 (as amended). Contact your insurer and FCDO. Note: the British Embassy in Dublin can assist, but Ireland's English-language system means families can often deal directly with Irish funeral directors without embassy intermediary.
Local emergency number: 999 or 112
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.
For British nationals, that is the British Embassy in Dublin.
Embassy: +353 1 205 3700
British nationals, FCDO 24hr: +44 (0)20 7008 5000
Appoint a local funeral director
A local funeral director in Ireland 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 Ireland requires specific paperwork before a body can be transported. Your local funeral director will handle most of this.
- Irish Death Certificate
- Coroner's release (if applicable)
- Embalming certificate
- Freedom from infection certificate
- Passport of deceased
Documentation typically takes 2-5 working days to complete.
Official support
British Embassy in Dublin
The embassy can provide information and a list of local funeral directors, but they cannot arrange or pay for repatriation. Contact them early to register the death with consular services.
What the embassy can do
What the embassy cannot do
What to expect
How long does it take?
Factors that can extend the timeline
- Irish Coroner's inquest for sudden or violent deaths
- Death in a remote rural area (Connemara, Donegal, west coast)
- Bank holiday delays (Ireland has frequent public holidays)
- Post-mortem required before death certificate can be issued
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Ireland 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 | Ireland 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
Required for sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths under the Irish Coroner's Act 1962. The Irish Coroner must be satisfied with the cause of death before releasing the body. Road accidents and drownings are the most common triggers for British nationals.. Adds 3-14 days. Post-mortem results and the Coroner's formal release are required before repatriation can proceed.
Common questions
Questions families ask about deaths in Ireland
Repatriation from Ireland typically takes 5-10 days. The fastest cases complete in 3 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 Ireland, 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 Ireland requires, and the flight routing available. Send us the details and we will price your case, with no obligation.
1-2 hours by air; 3-8 hours by ferry depending on route. Aer Lingus, British Airways, Ryanair cargo. Dublin (DUB) to London Heathrow (LHR), Dublin (DUB) to Manchester (MAN), Dublin to Holyhead (ferry/road).
Contact the insurer before anything is arranged, because most policies require authorisation first and many appoint their own funeral director. Look for repatriation of remains as a named benefit in the policy schedule. Where there is no insurance, the family meets the cost directly, and we can talk you through the options.
Required for sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths under the Irish Coroner's Act 1962. The Irish Coroner must be satisfied with the cause of death before releasing the body. Road accidents and drownings are the most common triggers for British nationals. Adds 3-14 days. Post-mortem results and the Coroner's formal release are required before repatriation can proceed.
Full repatriation guide for Ireland
Detailed information on the full repatriation process, embassy contacts, what affects the cost, cultural considerations, and more.
View full guideCremation in Ireland
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 Ireland to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in Ireland
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 Ireland
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 Ireland · Frequently asked questions