Repatriation from Italy: step by step

Allow 10-21 days for a straightforward case from Italy. Where nothing is contested it can be done in 5-10 days. Where a post-mortem or a police investigation has to conclude first, expect 4-8 weeks.

There is no standard figure, and quoting one before we know the case would be misleading. The cost of bringing someone home from Italy moves with the place of death, whether an investigation has to finish first, the paperwork required, and which flights carry remains on that route. Tell us what happened and we will come back with a figure, with no obligation.

Italy requires: Italian death certificate (certificato di morte), Certified translation if multilingual version unavailable, Embalming certificate (certificato di imbalsamazione), Nulla osta (clearance certificate from the comune or police), Freedom from infection certificate, Passport of deceased (or copy), Airline cargo documentation. Italian bureaucracy is notoriously slow. The comuni system means each municipality operates semi-independently. Nulla osta (clearance certificate) can sometimes be the bottleneck, particularly if post-mortem is involved. Tourist-area funeral directors experienced with foreign nationals can help work through. Weekend and public holiday closures (Italy has many patron saint feast days that are local holidays) can add delays. Documentation typically takes 5-14 days for full documentation. Most of this is gathered for you by the funeral director acting locally.

Death in remote location (Dolomites ski resort, rural Tuscany, small island). Winter ski resort accessibility issues. Deaths in areas without direct UK flights (Lake Garda, Dolomites ski resorts, Sardinia, Sicily, Amalfi Coast) may require road transport to a major airport. Italian autostrada network makes road transport efficient.

Death must be registered at the local comune (municipality). Italy's comuni system means procedures can vary slightly between municipalities. The doctor provides the initial medical certification, and the ufficio di stato civile (civil registry office) at the comune issues the formal death certificate (certificato di morte). Italian death certificates are in Italian only. A multilingual EU-format extract may be available on request.

Cremation is available in Italy. Available in most major cities. Growing availability but not as widespread as UK, France, or Spain. Northern Italy has more crematoria than southern Italy. After a cremation abroad, ashes can normally be carried home to the UK in hand luggage, provided the cremation certificate travels with them; other countries set their own rules for bringing ashes in. If home is the UK, do not cremate abroad if a UK coroner may need to hold an inquest. Cremation destroys evidence.

Deaths in Sardinia or Sicily may require a ferry or domestic flight to mainland Italy before international transport. Similar to Greek island logistics but with better infrastructure.

Deaths occurring in Vatican City are handled by Vatican authorities, not Italian authorities. This is a separate sovereign state. British Embassy in Rome can assist but Vatican procedures apply.