Repatriation from Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city and its financial capital, though not the political capital (that is Bern, a 1.5-hour train journey to the west). The Zurich metropolitan area is home to a significant British professional community in banking, asset management, insurance (Zurich Insurance Group headquarters, Swiss Re, UBS), and pharmaceuticals. British visitors also arrive as tourists — Zurich’s old town, lake, and proximity to the Swiss Alps make it a city-break and stopover destination. Zurich Airport (ZRH) is one of Europe’s principal cargo hubs, which gives the repatriation logistics chain a significant advantage compared with less-connected Swiss cities.

The canton of Zurich (Kanton Zürich) is one of 26 Swiss cantons, each with its own laws and institutions alongside federal law. Deaths in Zurich are governed by a combination of federal criminal procedure law and cantonal administrative regulations.

Consular coverage

The British Embassy Bern (Thunstrasse 50, CH-3005 Bern) is the UK diplomatic mission for Switzerland and Liechtenstein. There is no resident British consular post in Zurich, though the Embassy covers the canton of Zurich as part of its territory.

British Embassy Bern: +41 31 359 7700. FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

What Swiss federal and cantonal law requires

Schweizerische Strafprozessordnung (StPO, SR 312.0): The Swiss Code of Criminal Procedure governs sudden, unnatural, or unexplained deaths. The Staatsanwaltschaft (Public Prosecutor’s Office) of the canton of Zurich orders forensic examinations when the cause of death is unclear or the death is violent.

Zivilstandsamt der Stadt Zürich (Civil Registry Office): Deaths in Zurich are registered here. The death certificate (Todesschein) and the Sterbeurkunde are the primary documents.

Institut für Rechtsmedizin (IRM), Universität Zürich (Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich): The IRM Zurich is one of Europe’s most respected forensic medicine institutes. The Staatsanwaltschaft refers sudden deaths here for post-mortem examination.

International transport permit: Under the Strasbourg Agreement (Council of Europe Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses, 1973) and Swiss federal health ordinances, a laissez-passer mortuaire is issued for transfer within Council of Europe member states. The Kantonsarzt (Cantonal Medical Officer) of Zurich issues the cantonal authorisation for international transport.

Source: Schweizerische Strafprozessordnung SR 312.0; Bundesgesetz über die Bekämpfung übertragbarer Krankheiten (Epidemiengesetz, EpG SR 818.101); 2024.

Medical coverage

UniversitätsSpital Zürich (USZ, Rämistrasse 100) is the principal university hospital and trauma centre. Stadtspital Triemli (Birmensdorferstrasse 497) and Stadtspital Waid serve other parts of the city. Private hospitals include Klinik Hirslanden (Witellikerstrasse 40) and Schulthess Klinik, used by insured foreign nationals. The IRM at Winterthurerstrasse handles all forensic post-mortems independently of the hospital system.

The documentation chain

1. Todesschein / Sterbeurkunde from the attending physician and Zivilstandsamt Zürich. 2. Staatsanwaltschaft Zürich report (in sudden/unnatural deaths). 3. IRM Zürich post-mortem (if ordered by the Staatsanwaltschaft). 4. Staatsanwaltschaft release of the body. 5. Laissez-passer mortuaire / cantonal international transport authorisation from Kantonsarzt Zürich. 6. Embalming certificate (if required). 7. IATA cargo documentation — ZRH (Zurich Airport, Kloten) to LHR.

Zurich Airport (ZRH) has direct flights to London Heathrow (LHR) via British Airways and Swiss International Air Lines (approximately 2 hours). ZRH is a major European cargo hub with reliable scheduled freight services.

Timeline from Zurich

• Natural death, expected, hospital: 7 to 14 days
• Staatsanwaltschaft investigation, uncomplicated: 14 to 28 days
• Complex forensic case: 4 to 8 weeks

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

See also the Switzerland repatriation guide and repatriation from Geneva.

Information based on Schweizerische Strafprozessordnung SR 312.0. Last reviewed May 2026.