Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Lithuania
This guide explains what happens after a death in Lithuania, 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 Lithuania
Lithuania is an EU member with a resident British Embassy in Vilnius and direct UK flights. The process is manageable, with Lithuanian documentation requiring certified translation and non-natural deaths involving Prokuratūra clearance.
Step 1: Contact the FCDO or the Embassy
Call the FCDO on 020 7008 5000 (24 hours), or the British Embassy Vilnius directly at +370 5 246 2900. Full consular support is available in Lithuania.
Step 2: Appoint a UK Repatriation Specialist
A specialist firm manages the Registrų centras process, certified translation, and coordination with Lithuanian funeral directors.
Step 3: Death Registration at the Registrų centras
The Registrų centras (Register Centre, Civil Metrical Records division) issues the official death certificate (Mirties liudijimas) in Lithuanian. Your specialist firm coordinates this locally.
Step 4: Prokuratūra Clearance (Non-Natural Deaths)
Where death was not from natural causes, the Prokuratūra must authorise release. Establish early whether this applies.
Step 5: Certified Translation
The Lithuanian death certificate requires certified English translation for the UK Coroner.
Step 6: Routing
Direct flights from Vilnius (VNO) or Kaunas (KUN) to London. Frequent Ryanair and Wizz Air services.
Cremation
Cremation is available: crematoria in Vilnius and Kaunas.
Realistic Timeline
Expect 5 to 14 days for natural deaths. Prokuratūra cases extend this.
For full country detail, see the Lithuania repatriation guide. For a general overview, read what happens when someone dies abroad.
Source: FCDO guidance: When someone dies in Lithuania. British Embassy Vilnius consular services. Registrų centras 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 Lithuania 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 Lithuania 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 Lithuania 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 | Lithuania 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 Lithuania
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 Lithuania to the UK, Ireland or any other country.
Send an enquiryTell us what has happened in Lithuania
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 Lithuania
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 Lithuania · Frequently asked questions