Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Australia to Italy
For families bringing someone home to Italy. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Key facts
Repatriation from Australia to Italy: what to expect
Australia has one of the largest Italian diaspora communities outside Italy, with around one million Australians of Italian background, concentrated in Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide. The Australia-Italy repatriation corridor is among the most active for European-destination routes from Australia. The Italian Embassy in Canberra is fully operational. When an Italian national or a person of Italian heritage dies in Australia, the death is registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry. The death certificate is apostilled; both countries are Hague Apostille Convention members.
- 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.
- Italy 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 Italy
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
Italy 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 Italy
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Italy funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In Italy
When the body arrives in Italy
The Italian funeral director takes custody at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), or another airport depending on the family's destination. Death registration in Italy is handled by the Comune (municipal administration) via the Ufficio di Stato Civile. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified Italian translation (traduzione giurata) for submission to the Comune. The local Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) may require clearance before burial or cremation proceeds. Italy joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1978; apostille certificates from member states are accepted. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for international air transport.
Consular support
The Italian Embassy or Consulate in Canberra can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to Italy. Italy joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1978. The Embassy cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Ufficio di Stato Civile in the receiving Comune for civil registration queries.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Australia to Italy
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Australia to Italy 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 Italy Embassy in Canberra can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Italy 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 Italian funeral director takes custody at the receiving airport cargo terminal. The Ufficio di Stato Civile within the local Comune registers the death. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified Italian translation (traduzione giurata). The local ASL may require clearance before burial or cremation proceeds. Italy joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1978. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required. The receiving funeral director coordinates with the Comune and the ASL.
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.
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 Italy.
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