Repatriation from Gdańsk, Poland

Gdańsk is the principal city of the Pomeranian region (Województwo Pomorskie) in northern Poland, on the Baltic coast at the mouth of the Vistula. The city is historically one of the most significant in Central Europe: it was the birthplace of the Solidarity trade union movement and the site of the first shots of the Second World War at the Westerplatte peninsula in September 1939. Both draw British visitors with an interest in 20th-century European history. The Tri-City area (Trójmiasto) — Gdańsk, Gdynia, and Sopot — is also a summer beach and short-break destination with direct budget flight connections.

British activity in Gdańsk includes city breaks year-round, the maritime and cultural tourism market, and a small but established British-Polish business community in the port and logistics sector.

Consular coverage

The British Embassy Warsaw (ul. Kawalerii 12, 00-468 Warszawa) is the resident diplomatic mission. The Consulate General Kraków also handles consular cases. Neither has a permanent presence in Gdańsk; the Embassy Warsaw consular section is the contact for Pomeranian cases.

British Embassy Warsaw: +48 22 311 0000. FCDO 24-hour: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

What Polish law requires

Kodeks postępowania karnego (KPK, Code of Criminal Procedure, Ustawa z 6 czerwca 1997, Dz.U. 1997 nr 89 poz.555): All sudden, violent, and unexplained deaths are reported to the Policja (Komenda Miejska Policji Gdańsk). The Prokuratura Rejonowa or Prokuratura Okręgowa Gdańsk supervises investigation cases and may order a forensic autopsy.

Death registration: The Urząd Stanu Cywilnego Gdańsk issues the akt zgonu (death certificate).

Forensic post-mortem: The Zakład Medycyny Sądowej (Institute of Forensic Medicine, Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny, ul. Dębinki 1, Gdańsk) is the regional forensic facility for Pomerania. Autopsies ordered by the Gdańsk Prokuratura are conducted here.

Pomeranian Voivodeship permit: The Pomorski Urząd Wojewódzki (Pomeranian Voivodeship Office) issues the international transport permit (zezwolenie na przewóz zwłok za granicę).

Source: Kodeks postępowania karnego Ustawa z 6 czerwca 1997 (Poland); Ustawa z 31 stycznia 1959 r. o cmentarzach i chowaniu zmarłych; Rozporządzenie Ministra Zdrowia w sprawie postępowania ze zwłokami; 2025.

Medical coverage

Uniwersyteckie Centrum Kliniczne (UCK, Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny, ul. Dębinki 7) is the main academic hospital. Szpital Copernicus (Nowe Ogrody 1-6) is the other principal facility. For the Tri-City area, UCK is the primary acute referral centre.

The documentation chain

1. Akt zgonu from USC Gdańsk. 2. Policja report (sudden/violent deaths). 3. Prokuratura release. 4. Forensic post-mortem at Zakład Medycyny Sądowej GUMed, ul. Dębinki 1 (if ordered). 5. Pomorski Urząd Wojewódzki international transport permit. 6. Embalming certificate. 7. IATA air cargo from GDN (Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport) to LHR. Ryanair and Wizz Air serve GDN from multiple UK airports. Cargo routing options: GDN direct or GDN-WAW-LHR via LOT Polish Airlines.

Westerplatte and historical site visits

British visitors to Westerplatte (the 1939 bombardment site, 7km from Gdańsk centre by ferry or road) and the Stutthof concentration camp memorial (approximately 30km east) are typically independent travellers. Deaths during historical site visits follow the standard Polish procedure outlined above; the sites themselves do not have distinct jurisdictional rules.

Timeline from Gdańsk

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

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