Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Australia to France
For families bringing someone home to France. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Quick answer
Repatriation from Australia to France: what to expect
Australia and France share Pacific regional connections through New Caledonia and French Polynesia, and an active bilateral relationship. French nationals form a community in Australia, and Australian nationals with French family connections maintain bilateral ties across generations. The French Embassy in Canberra is fully operational. When a person with French family connections dies in Australia, the death is registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry. Both countries are Hague Apostille Convention members. A certified French translation is required for the receiving mairie.
- Key document: death certificate (in English)
- Documentation takes 5-10 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Death must be registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry promptly.
- France Embassy in Canberra can advise on documentation. They cannot fund repatriation.
The process
What happens after a death in Australia
Call 000 for emergency services. Death is certified by a registered medical practitioner. The death is registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry. The coroner takes jurisdiction for sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths. Australia is a Hague Apostille Convention member. The registration process is straightforward; the coroner's release is the main cause of delay in complex cases.
Step by step
Timeline: Australia to France
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Call 000 (police, fire, ambulance) for local emergency services, and contact the embassy or consulate of the person's own country.
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Death certificate obtained.
Death must be registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry. Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may delay this step.
Local funeral director and registry
France Embassy in Canberra notified
Simultaneous with Step 1. Embassy provides a list of local funeral directors.
Family or repatriation specialist
Embalming and preparation.
After body released by authorities.
Licensed local funeral director
All export documentation and permits obtained.
Allow 5-10 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo to France
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
France funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In France
When the body arrives in France
The French funeral director takes custody at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Paris Orly (ORY), Nice Airport (NCE), or another cargo terminal depending on the final destination. Death registration in France is handled by the mairie (town hall) in the municipality where the death is registered. The acte de deces is issued in French. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and, where not in French, accompanied by a certified French translation for the mairie. The Procureur de la Republique (public prosecutor) takes jurisdiction for violent or unexplained deaths. France joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1965; apostille certificates from member states are accepted. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for international air transport; French regulations on embalming must be observed.
Consular support
The French Embassy or Consulate in Canberra can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to France. France joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1965. The Embassy cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the mairie in the receiving municipality for civil registration queries.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Australia to France
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Australia to France takes 2-4 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 10-14 days. Complex cases can take 4-8 weeks or longer.
Death must be registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry promptly. Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may add time before the body can be released.
The core documents are: death certificate with certified translation where required, embalming certificate, export permit, freedom from infection certificate, and passport of the deceased. Your repatriation coordinator handles obtaining these on your behalf.
The France Embassy in Canberra can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the France Embassy in Canberra as soon as possible after the death.
Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may trigger a post-mortem examination. This adds time: the body cannot be released until the authorities authorise it.
The French funeral director takes custody at the receiving airport cargo terminal. The local mairie registers the death and issues the acte de deces. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified French translation where not already in French. The Procureur de la Republique handles violent or unexplained deaths. France joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1965. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required; French embalming regulations apply. The receiving funeral director coordinates with the local mairie.
Cremation in Australia is widely available in all states and territories. You will need the local death certificate, cremation certificate, and relevant export documentation. Your repatriation specialist can advise on the current position.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in Australia, please do not face this alone. Send us the details and we will explain what happens next and prepare a quote for bringing them home to France.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from official government and embassy guidance and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Sources: Official guidance on a death in Australia (gov.uk) · Australia repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions