Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Norway to North Macedonia
For families bringing someone home to North Macedonia. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Quick answer
Repatriation from Norway to North Macedonia: what to expect
Repatriation from Norway to North Macedonia follows Norway's civil registration and export procedures. Most cases take 2-3 weeks.
- Key document: dodsattest (death certificate from Folkeregisteret via Skatteetaten)
- Documentation takes 5-10 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Norway is a Hague Apostille member (1980). This simplifies document authentication.
- Documentation is issued in Norwegian. Certified translation is required where needed.
Step by step
Timeline: Norway to North Macedonia
Immediate steps after death. Report to local emergency services and contact a specialist at once.
Day of death. Contact the embassy or consulate of the person's own country.
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Dodsattest (death certificate from folkeregisteret via skatteetaten) obtained from Folkeregisteret (Norwegian Population Register), administered by Skatteetaten (Tax Administration).
Registration must occur promptly. The Norwegian Police Service investigates violent or suspicious deaths. Body release requires police clearance before repatriation can proceed.
Local funeral director and civil registry
Embassy or consulate notified. Notify the Embassy of North Macedonia in Norway. Hague Apostille applies (1993).
Simultaneous with Step 1. Embassy provides list of local funeral directors.
Family or repatriation specialist
Embalming and preparation for international air transport.
After body released by authorities.
Licensed local funeral director
All export permits and authenticated documents obtained. The dodsattest is issued in Norwegian. Certified translation is required for non-Norwegian-speaking destinations.
Allow 5-10 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo from Oslo Gardermoen (OSL), Bergen (BGO), or Stavanger (SVG) to Skopje International Airport (SKP).
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
North Macedonian funeral director takes custody at cargo terminal at Skopje International Airport (SKP). Maticna sluzba (civil registry) notified. Apostille issued through the Ministry of Justice and First Instance Courts. Death certificate issued in Macedonian (Cyrillic script).
Within 24-48 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
The process
What happens after a death in Norway
Call 112 (police) or 113 (ambulance) for emergency services. Death is registered with Folkeregisteret (Norwegian Population Register) via Skatteetaten. The official death certificate is the dodsattest. The Norwegian Police Service investigates violent, suspicious, or unexplained deaths. Norway is a Hague Apostille Convention member since 1980.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Norway to North Macedonia
Embassy of North Macedonia in Norway: contact the North Macedonian Embassy for documentation guidance. Hague Apostille applies (North Macedonia joined 1993). Certified translation of Macedonian documents is required for non-Macedonian-speaking destinations.
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Norway to North Macedonia takes 2-3 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 7-14 days. Complex cases involving criminal investigation or remote locations can take 3-6 weeks.
The core documents are: dodsattest (death certificate from Folkeregisteret via Skatteetaten), embalming certificate, freedom from infection certificate, passport of the deceased, and all required export permits. The dodsattest is issued in Norwegian. Certified translation is required for non-Norwegian-speaking destinations.
The North Macedonian funeral director takes custody at the cargo terminal at Skopje International Airport (SKP). Death is registered with the maticna sluzba (civil registry) under the Ministry of Justice. Apostille certification is issued through the Ministry of Justice and the network of 27 First Instance Courts. Death certificates are issued in Macedonian, which uses the Cyrillic script. North Macedonia is a Hague Apostille Convention member since 1993. All documentation from Norway must be in order before the body is released for the funeral.
Yes. Cremation in Norway is an option in most cases, though local authorities must release the body before cremation can take place. You will need the death certificate, cremation certificate, and an export permit for the ashes. Ashes are simpler to transport than a body and carry lower cargo costs. Ask our team for specific guidance on your case.
North Macedonia is a Hague Apostille Convention member since 1993. Apostille certification is issued through the Ministry of Justice and a network of 27 First Instance Courts rather than a single national office. Death certificates are issued in Macedonian, which uses the Cyrillic script. Certified translation of documents from Norway into Macedonian is typically required by the receiving civil registry.
In North Macedonia
When the body arrives in North Macedonia
The North Macedonian funeral director takes custody at the cargo terminal at Skopje International Airport (SKP). Death is registered with the maticna sluzba (civil registry) under the Ministry of Justice. Apostille certification is issued through the Ministry of Justice and the network of 27 First Instance Courts. Death certificates are issued in Macedonian, which uses the Cyrillic script. North Macedonia is a Hague Apostille Convention member since 1993.
Consular support
Embassy of North Macedonia in Norway: contact the North Macedonian Embassy for documentation guidance. Hague Apostille applies (North Macedonia joined 1993). Certified translation of Macedonian documents is required for non-Macedonian-speaking destinations.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in Norway, 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 North Macedonia.
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 Norway (gov.uk) · Norway repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions