How do you bring a loved one home from Romania?

Timeline

How long does repatriation from Romania take?

In most cases, repatriation from Romania takes 10-14 days. The fastest straightforward cases complete in 7 days. Complex cases involving a post-mortem, criminal investigation, or a remote location can extend to 21+ days or beyond.

What makes a case complex?

• Prosecutor post-mortem for unnatural death adds 5-10 days
• Rural deaths require transfer to Bucharest or regional IML institute
• Romanian documentation requires certified translation

Documentation

What documents are required to bring a body home from Romania?

All of these documents must be in place before air transport can proceed. Your appointed repatriation coordinator will obtain most of them.

British Embassy

What does the British Embassy in Romania do when someone dies?

For British nationals, the British Embassy provides consular assistance, which includes giving you a list of local funeral directors, helping you notify relatives, and advising on local procedures. What the Embassy cannot do is pay for repatriation, organise the funeral director, or make arrangements on your behalf. If your loved one was a citizen of another country, contact that country's embassy or consulate instead.

Getting started

How do you start the repatriation process from Romania?

Call a specialist repatriation company. Do not wait until all other steps are complete. A specialist can begin the process immediately, even before the local death certificate has been issued.

You will need to provide: the name of the deceased, the location of the body, your contact details, and the name and contact of the local hospital or authority holding the body.