Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Latvia
This guide explains what happens after a death in Latvia, 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 Latvia
Latvia is an EU member with a resident British Embassy in Riga and direct UK flights. For UK families, it is one of the more manageable European repatriations. Latvian documentation requires certified translation, and non-natural deaths involve Prokuratūra clearance.
Step 1: Contact the FCDO or the Embassy
Call the FCDO on 020 7008 5000 (24 hours), or the British Embassy Riga directly at +371 6777 4700. Full consular support is available.
Step 2: Appoint a UK Repatriation Specialist
A specialist firm manages the PMLP registration process, certified translation, and coordination with Latvian funeral directors who understand international documentation requirements.
Step 3: Death Registration at the PMLP
The PMLP (Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs) issues the official death certificate (Miršanas apliecība) in Latvian. Your specialist firm coordinates this at local authority level.
Step 4: Prokuratūra Clearance (Non-Natural Deaths)
Where death was not from natural causes, the Prokuratūra (Prosecutor’s Office) must authorise release of the body before repatriation can proceed. Establish early whether this applies.
Step 5: Certified Translation
The Latvian death certificate must be certified translated into English for the UK Coroner. Your specialist firm arranges this.
Step 6: Routing
Direct flights from Riga (RIX) to London Gatwick, Stansted, and Luton. Frequent services with Ryanair, Wizz Air, and airBaltic.
Cremation
Cremation is available in Latvia: crematoria in Riga and Daugavpils.
Realistic Timeline
Expect 5 to 14 days for natural deaths. Prokuratūra involvement extends this.
For full country detail, see the Latvia repatriation guide. For a general overview, read what happens when someone dies abroad.
Source: FCDO guidance: When someone dies in Latvia. British Embassy Riga consular services. PMLP civil registration 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 Latvia 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 Latvia 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 Latvia 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 | Latvia 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 Latvia
Detailed information on the full repatriation process, embassy contacts, what affects the cost, cultural considerations, and more.
View full guideSend us the details
If you need someone to take over the arrangements, tell us what has happened. We arrange repatriation from Latvia to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in Latvia
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 Latvia
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.
- Translators and interpreters, for certified translation of the death certificate and permits
- Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Repatriation from Latvia · Frequently asked questions