Repatriation from Dubrovnik, Croatia

Dubrovnik is one of the most visited destinations in the Mediterranean and receives a very high volume of British tourists annually. Its administrative area is governed by Dubrovnik-Neretva County (Dubrovačko-neretvanska županija), and repatriation cases are processed through Croatian national law with regional county and municipal authorities handling the documentation.

What Croatian law requires

Under the Zakon o kaznenom postupku (Croatian Criminal Procedure Code), any sudden, violent, or unexplained death must be reported to the police. The Dubrovnik Police Administration (Policijska uprava Dubrovačko-neretvanska) attends and, where the cause is unclear, refers the case to the state attorney (Državno odvjetništvo) and the on-call forensic physician.

Official forensic post-mortems for Dubrovnik-Neretva County are conducted at the forensic medicine department of the Clinical Hospital Centre Split (Klinički Bolnički Centar Split — KBC Split) in Split, approximately 3.5 hours north by road. For deaths in Dubrovnik requiring a forensic examination, the body may be transferred to Split. This transfer adds time and requires the family’s awareness.

Deaths with a clear medical cause certified by the treating physician at a Dubrovnik hospital (primarily Opća Bolnica Dubrovnik — Dubrovnik General Hospital) proceed without the Split transfer.

The documentation chain

1. Smrtovnica (notification of death) and Potvrda o smrti (medical death certificate). Issued by the treating physician or police-appointed forensic physician.

2. Smrtni list (death register entry). Registered at the Dubrovnik State Civil Registry (Matični ured). Processing: 3 to 7 working days.

3. Smrtovnica za inozemstvo (international death certificate). A certified copy of the death register entry, suitable for international use.

4. Dozvola za prijevoz posmrtnih ostataka (permit to transport remains abroad). Issued by the Dubrovnik-Neretva County Health Authority (Zavod za javno zdravstvo Dubrovačko-neretvanske županije).

5. Embalming certificate. Required for air transport.

6. Freedom from infection certificate.

7. IATA cargo documentation.

Source: Zakon o kaznenom postupku (Croatia), Narodne novine; Zavod za javno zdravstvo Dubrovačko-neretvanska županija, 2024.

Airport and cargo routing

Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) operates direct UK services — British Airways, easyJet, and Jet2 all fly DBV-LGW or DBV-LHR. However, cargo capacity for human remains at Dubrovnik Airport is limited. Many cases route via Split Airport (SPU, 3 hours north) or Zagreb Airport (ZAG, 5 hours north) for cargo, both of which have better international cargo infrastructure.

Some repatriation coordinators use road transfer to Split, then cargo SPU-LHR via connecting services through ZAG or VIE.

British consular contacts

The British Embassy Zagreb covers all of Croatia including Dubrovnik. For Dubrovnik-area deaths, the British Honorary Consul in Split can provide initial assistance. British Embassy Zagreb (Ivana Lučića 4, 10000 Zagreb). FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

Timeline from Dubrovnik

• Natural death with certifiable cause: 10 to 14 days
• Forensic case (including Split transfer): 21 to 35 days
• Extended police investigation: 4 to 8 weeks

Key local considerations

Dubrovnik’s old city walls attract high volumes of visitors on organised walking tours in summer heat. Heatstroke and cardiac events among older tourists are a documented cause of death during July and August, when temperatures regularly exceed 35°C. Sea kayaking and cliff jumping accidents around the Elafiti islands are a secondary risk category.

The summer tourist season compresses Dubrovnik’s administrative resources significantly. Death certificate processing at the Matični ured can slow during August when staff are reduced.

For information on the wider repatriation process from Croatia, see our Croatia repatriation guide.

For guidance on next steps, contact our team via our enquiry form or WhatsApp.

Information based on the Zakon o kaznenom postupku (Croatia) and Zavod za javno zdravstvo Dubrovačko-neretvanske županije documentation. Last reviewed May 2026.