Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Canada to Greece
For families bringing someone home to Greece. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Quick answer
Repatriation from Canada to Greece: what to expect
Canada has a Greek-Canadian community estimated at around 200,000, concentrated particularly in Toronto and Montreal, with strong family ties to Greece and the Greek islands. Canada is also a popular source of tourists visiting Greece. The Greek Embassy in Ottawa is fully operational. When a Greek national or a person with Greek family connections dies in Canada, the death is registered with the provincial civil registration authority. Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention, in force November 2024; Greece joined the Convention in 1985. A certified Greek translation is required for the Lixiarheio.
- Key document: death certificate (in English or French)
- Documentation takes 5-10 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Death must be registered with the provincial civil registration authority promptly.
- Greece Embassy in Ottawa can advise on documentation. They cannot fund repatriation.
The process
What happens after a death in Canada
Call 911 for emergency services. Death is certified by a physician or medical examiner. The death is registered with the provincial civil registration authority. The coroner or medical examiner takes jurisdiction for sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths. Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention; it entered into force in November 2024.
Step by step
Timeline: Canada to Greece
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Call 911 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 provincial civil registration authority. Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner or medical examiner) may delay this step.
Local funeral director and registry
Greece Embassy in Ottawa 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 Greece
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Greece funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In Greece
When the body arrives in Greece
The Greek funeral director takes custody at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (ATH) or Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG) cargo terminal, depending on the family's destination. Death registration in Greece is handled by the Lixiarheio (civil registry) under the General Secretariat for Civil Registration of the Ministry of Interior. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified Greek translation for submission to the Lixiarheio. The Hellenic Police (EL.AS.) is notified for medico-legal purposes where required. Greece joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1985; apostille certificates from member states are accepted. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for international air transport.
Consular support
The Greek Embassy or Consulate in Ottawa can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to Greece. Greece joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1985. The Embassy cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Lixiarheio in the receiving municipality for civil registration queries.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Canada to Greece
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Canada to Greece 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 provincial civil registration authority promptly. Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner or medical examiner) 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 Greece Embassy in Ottawa can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Greece Embassy in Ottawa as soon as possible after the death.
Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner or medical examiner) may trigger a post-mortem examination. This adds time: the body cannot be released until the authorities authorise it.
The Greek funeral director takes custody at the receiving airport cargo terminal. The Lixiarheio (civil registry) under the General Secretariat for Civil Registration registers the death. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified Greek translation. The Hellenic Police (EL.AS.) is notified where required. Greece joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1985. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required. The receiving funeral director coordinates with the local Lixiarheio.
Cremation in Canada is widely available in all provinces. 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 Canada, 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 Greece.
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 Canada (gov.uk) · Canada repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions