City repatriation guide
Repatriation from Strasbourg, France
Specific guidance for arranging repatriation from Strasbourg. Local documentation contacts, airport cargo routes, and the typical process for cases originating in this area.
Repatriation from Strasbourg runs 7 to 14 days for physician-certified natural deaths. Procureur-referred cases extend this to 14 to 21 days. Strasbourg has one unusual legal feature relevant to death registration that does not exist anywhere else in mainland France: Alsace-Moselle local law, a historical legacy of the region’s German-French history.
Alsace-Moselle local law
The Alsace and Moselle departments (Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Moselle) have retained a distinct legal framework known as the Droit local d’Alsace-Moselle since the region’s return to France after the First World War. In practice, this has limited impact on repatriation procedures. Death registration follows national French rules (état civil, mairie). The procureur de la République process is identical to the rest of France. Laissez-passer mortuaire requirements are national.
The practical significance: some administrative procedures in the Alsace region may reference local ordinances that a non-specialist funeral director could misinterpret. Ensure the Strasbourg funeral director has specific experience with both local and international procedures.
What drives timeline variation
Physician-certified death (7–14 days): Death registered at Strasbourg’s état civil. Laissez-passer mortuaire prepared. Cargo booked. Timeline 4 to 8 working days from certification to departure.
Procureur investigation (14–21 days): Sudden or unexplained deaths referred to the procureur du Bas-Rhin. Médecin légiste examination. Autopsie judiciaire if ordered: add 5 to 15 working days for release.
Source: Service Public France, Déclaration de décès, 2024; Préfecture du Bas-Rhin, 2024.
Airport options from Strasbourg
Strasbourg Airport (SXB) is a small airport with limited direct UK services. Most cargo repatriations from Strasbourg use one of three alternatives:
- EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (EAP/BSL): 80 kilometres south, the largest hub for the Upper Rhine region. Multiple UK cargo-capable airlines. Most practical for cargo.
- Frankfurt Airport (FRA): 2 hours north by road. Lufthansa Cargo and other carriers with direct UK services.
- Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG): 4.5 hours west. Full range of UK-bound cargo options via Air France, British Airways, and others.
The Strasbourg funeral director advises on the most practical routing based on availability at the time.
Documentation required for export:
- French certificat de décès (état civil certified copy)
- Laissez-passer mortuaire
- Procureur release where applicable
- Embalming certificate
- Airline cargo booking confirmation
- Passport of the deceased
British consular contacts
The British Consulate General in Paris covers Strasbourg and the Alsace-Moselle region. For urgent cases: FCDO 24-hour line +44 (0)20 7008 5000.
Key local considerations
Strasbourg attracts British visitors connected to the European Parliament and European institutions, as well as Christmas market tourists (November to December) and Rhine valley travellers. Deaths during the Christmas market period — a popular UK visitor time — are processed through the same state machinery regardless of season.
For guidance on next steps, contact our team via our enquiry form or WhatsApp.
Information based on Service Public France death registration guidance and FCDO consular services documentation. Last reviewed May 2026.
We are here to help, any time
If your loved one has passed away in Strasbourg, contact us now or send an enquiry. We will guide you through every step.
Thank you. We have received your enquiry and will be in touch as soon as possible, usually within a few hours.