Practical guidance
What to do if someone dies in Montenegro
This guide explains what happens after a death in Montenegro, 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
14-21 days
FCDO 24hr helpline
+44 (0)20 7008 5000
If a British National Dies in Montenegro
Call the British Embassy Podgorica emergency line immediately. The Embassy covers the whole of Montenegro. Staff have experience with British national deaths given the high volume of UK coastal tourists, particularly during the summer season in Budva, Kotor, and Tivat.
Then contact a specialist repatriation company. The first practical point to understand: seasonal charter flights to Tivat cannot be used for repatriation cargo. Human remains must travel on scheduled carriers via Belgrade or Istanbul.
Step 1: Report the Death
Deaths in Montenegro are reported to the nearest police station (Uprava policije). The death certificate (Izvod iz matične knjige umrlih) is issued by the Matični ured (registry office) for the area where the death occurred.
For sudden, unnatural, or suspicious deaths, the police take jurisdiction. The body is referred to the Institut za sudsku medicinu (Institute for Forensic Medicine) at the University of Montenegro in Podgorica.
Step 2: Forensic Post-Mortem
The Institut za sudsku medicinu in Podgorica is the sole national forensic facility. Deaths from anywhere in Montenegro transfer to Podgorica for forensic post-mortem if required.
Coastal deaths: bodies transfer from the coast to Podgorica by road, approximately one to two hours from Budva or Tivat.
Durmitor deaths: road transfer from Zabljak (nearest town to Durmitor NP) to Podgorica takes approximately two and a half to three hours.
Post-mortem turnaround: five to ten working days for straightforward cases.
Step 3: Coastal Deaths
Drowning and swimming-related deaths are the most common British tourist fatalities on the Montenegrin coast. The coastal police are accustomed to tourist deaths in the Bay of Kotor, Budva, Sveti Stefan, and Ulcinj areas.
Deaths at sea (boat accidents, diving) involve the Maritime Police (Uprava pomorske sigurnosti).
Step 4: Durmitor Mountain Deaths
Durmitor National Park is in northeast Montenegro (Zabljak municipality), accessible from Podgorica via a mountain road. Bobotov Kuk (2523m) attracts hikers. The Tara Canyon has white-water rafting.
Deaths in Durmitor require Gorska Sluzba Spasavanja (Mountain Rescue Service) recovery. Zabljak Hospital has basic medical capacity only. Complex forensic cases transfer to Podgorica.
Step 5: Documentation and Export Permit
Required documents:
- Izvod iz matične knjige umrlih (death certificate) from Matični ured
- Police investigation closure for unnatural deaths
- Institut za sudsku medicinu post-mortem report if required
- Ministry of Health export permit
- Certified English translations of Montenegrin documents (Cyrillic or Latin script)
- Embalming certificate
Montenegro is not a Strasbourg Convention signatory. The full national export permit process applies.
Step 6: Translation
Montenegrin uses both Cyrillic and Latin scripts officially. Certified translators must be accredited in Montenegrin legal language specifically. Serbian and Croatian accreditation is not equivalent.
Step 7: Routing: Why Charter Flights Cannot Help
TUI and Jet2 operate seasonal direct flights from UK airports to Tivat Airport (TIV). These are passenger charter services only. They do not carry human remains cargo and are not scheduled carriers.
For repatriation cargo: human remains must travel via Podgorica Airport (TGD) and connect via Belgrade (BEG) on Air Serbia, or via Istanbul (IST) on Turkish Airlines, before reaching London.
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 Montenegro 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 Montenegro 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?
Factors that can extend the timeline
- Institute for Forensic Medicine (Institut za sudsku medicinu) at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Montenegro, Podgorica, conducts post-mortems for unnatural deaths
- No Strasbourg Convention; full export permit process required through the Ministry of Health; Montenegro is an EU candidate state but has not yet acceded
- Montenegrin language documentation, closely related to Serbian and Croatian but with distinct official status, requires certified translation; translators must work in Montenegrin (Cyrillic and Latin script both used officially)
- Seasonal coastal tourism (Tivat, Budva, Kotor Bay) generates higher British tourist volume in summer; Durmitor National Park trekking deaths require mountain rescue in a remote area with limited infrastructure
- No scheduled direct UK-Montenegro flights; seasonal charter services (TUI, Jet2) fly to Tivat (TIV) and Podgorica (TGD) but cargo for human remains does not route on charter flights
Cost guide
What affects the cost?
Nobody publishes a reliable figure for Montenegro 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 | Montenegro 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 Montenegro
Detailed information on the full repatriation process, embassy contacts, what affects the cost, cultural considerations, and more.
View full guideSend us the details
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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 .
Official lists for Montenegro
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 Montenegro · Frequently asked questions