Repatriation from Zagreb, Croatia

Zagreb is the capital of the Republic of Croatia and its dominant administrative, financial, and transport centre. It serves a different British traveller profile from the Dalmatian coast — visitors here are on city breaks, attending business meetings, and passing through Croatia’s main international airport. A growing British resident and digital-nomad community has also established itself in Zagreb in recent years, drawn by EU membership combined with lower living costs than Western European capitals.

This site has pages for the coastal cities of Dubrovnik, Split, and Hvar. Zagreb is the administrative hub, and many deaths occurring in Croatia — including in coastal areas — will route documentation through Zagreb.

Consular coverage

The British Embassy Zagreb (Ivana Lučića 4, 10000 Zagreb) is the resident UK diplomatic mission. It provides consular services for British nationals throughout Croatia.

British Embassy Zagreb: +385 1 600 9100. FCDO 24-hour: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

What Croatian law requires

Zakon o kaznenom postupku (Criminal Procedure Act, Official Gazette NN 152/08, consolidated): All sudden, unnatural, or unexplained deaths are reported to the Policija (Croatian Police), who notify the Državno odvjetništvo (State Attorney’s Office). The State Attorney may order a forensic autopsy.

Matični ured (Civil Registry): Deaths are registered at the local Matični ured, which issues the Izvadak iz matice umrlih (death certificate extract).

Zavod za sudsku medicinu (Institute of Forensic Medicine, KBC Zagreb, Šalata 11): The Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University Hospital Centre Zagreb (Klinički bolnički centar Zagreb) on Šalata is the primary forensic medicine facility for Zagreb and the continental region. It is affiliated with the School of Medicine at the University of Zagreb.

Državni inspektorat / Ministry of Health permit: International transport of human remains requires an authorisation from the health authorities. The Ministarstvo zdravstva (Ministry of Health) oversees compliance with the international transit requirements, including the Strasbourg Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses (1973) to which Croatia is a signatory.

Source: Zakon o kaznenom postupku NN 152/08 (Croatia); Pravilnik o načinu obavljanja zdravstveno statistički nadzora nad umrlim osobama, 2025; Strasbourg Agreement 1973.

Medical coverage

KBC Zagreb (University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Kišpatićeva 12) is the main academic hospital. KB Dubrava and Klinička Bolnica Sveti Duh are the other major facilities. The Croatian Healthcare system (HZZO) covers EU citizens but UK nationals should carry comprehensive travel insurance.

The documentation chain

1. Izvadak iz matice umrlih from Matični ured Zagreb. 2. Policija investigation closure or State Attorney’s approval. 3. Institute of Forensic Medicine post-mortem (if ordered — mandatory in violent/sudden deaths). 4. Ministarstvo zdravstva international transport permit. 5. Embalming certificate. 6. IATA air waybill via ZAG (Zagreb Airport Franjo Tuđman) to LHR, LGW, or MAN. Zagreb Airport handles direct British Airways and easyJet services to London Heathrow and Gatwick respectively.

Timeline from Zagreb

Expected natural death: 7 to 14 days
Sudden death, investigation: 14 to 21 days
Complex forensic case: 4 to 8 weeks

Croatia’s EU membership means document formats are standardised and translation requirements can sometimes be simplified using EU multilingual standard forms (Regulation No. 2016/1191). Confirm with your funeral home and the British Embassy.

For repatriation guidance, contact us via the enquiry form or WhatsApp.

See also the Croatia repatriation guide.

Information based on Zakon o kaznenom postupku NN 152/08 (Croatia); Strasbourg Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses 1973. Last reviewed May 2026.