Repatriation from Cologne, Germany

The first logistical question for Cologne repatriation cases is which airport to use. Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) is directly on the doorstep but is primarily a Ryanair and easyJet passenger hub — its cargo infrastructure for human remains is limited compared to Germany’s major freight airports. For most repatriation cases from Cologne, the cargo leg routes via Düsseldorf Airport (DUS, 45 minutes north) or Frankfurt Airport (FRA, 2 hours south), both of which have established British Airways cargo operations. Agree this routing with the licensed funeral director before documentation preparation begins.

What the British Embassy does — and does not do

The British Consulate General Düsseldorf (Willi-Becker-Allee 10, 40227 Düsseldorf) covers North Rhine-Westphalia, which includes Cologne, Bonn, and the broader Rhine-Ruhr region.

The Consulate can: Register the death in UK consular records. Advise on documentation for UK authorities. Provide a list of funeral directors with repatriation experience.

The Consulate cannot: Repatriate the body. Pay any costs. Override German legal proceedings.

FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

What North Rhine-Westphalia law requires

Under the Gesetz über das Friedhofs- und Bestattungswesen Nordrhein-Westfalen (BestG NRW) and the federal Strafprozessordnung (StPO), sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths in Cologne are referred to the Staatsanwaltschaft Köln (Cologne Public Prosecutor, Reichenspergerplatz 1, 50670 Köln). Forensic post-mortems are conducted at the Institut für Rechtsmedizin der Universität zu Köln (Joseph-Stelzmann-Straße 52, 50937 Köln), one of Germany’s well-established university forensic institutes.

For deaths with a certifiable medical cause, the treating physician issues the Leichenschauschein and the prosecutor is not involved.

The documentation chain

1. Leichenschauschein (death inspection certificate). From the treating physician or on-call forensic physician (Leichenschauer).

2. Sterbeurkunde (death certificate). Registered at the Cologne Standesamt (Stadthaus Deutz, Willy-Brandt-Platz 2). Processing: 2 to 5 working days.

3. Internationaler Leichenpass. Issued under the Strasbourg Agreement 1973. Applied for via the Cologne Gesundheitsamt (public health office). This document authorises international transport and is accepted by UK authorities.

4. Embalming certificate.

5. Freedom from infection certificate.

6. IATA cargo documentation.

Source: BestG NRW (Gesetz über das Friedhofs- und Bestattungswesen NRW); Accord européen sur le transfert des corps (Strasbourg, 1973); Cologne Gesundheitsamt, 2024.

Airport and cargo routing

As noted: CGN cargo capacity for human remains is limited. The standard routing is via DUS (45 minutes’ drive, DUS-LHR via British Airways) or FRA (2 hours, FRA-LHR direct BA). Confirm routing with the funeral director — they will arrange road transfer to the cargo airport.

Timeline from Cologne

• Natural death with certifiable cause: 5 to 10 days
• Staatsanwaltschaft/forensic case: 14 to 21 days
• Extended investigation: 3 to 6 weeks

Key local considerations

Cologne is a major business and trade fair city — the Cologne Trade Fair (Koelnmesse) draws large delegations year-round. Deaths among British business travellers are the primary category. Cologne Carnival (February/March) is the largest in Germany and brings significant numbers of British visitors; the festival period sees an elevated alcohol-related incident rate.

For information on the broader repatriation process from Germany, see our Germany repatriation guide.

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

Information based on BestG NRW, the Strasbourg Agreement 1973, and British Consulate General Düsseldorf documentation. Last reviewed May 2026.