Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Pakistan to Ireland
For families bringing someone home to Ireland. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Key facts
Repatriation from Pakistan to Ireland: what to expect
Death certificates are in Urdu and require certified English translation. There are no cremation facilities in Pakistan. Typical timeline: 3-6 weeks.
- Key document: Pakistani death certificate with certified English translation
- Documentation takes 14-30 days minimum.
- Irish Embassy in Islamabad registers the death and advises. They cannot fund repatriation.
- No cremation in Pakistan. All repatriations are full body.
The process
How repatriation from Pakistan to Ireland works
Call 15 for police or 115 for ambulance. Death registered with NADRA or the local Union Council. The death certificate is in Urdu. Certified English translation is mandatory. No cremation facilities exist in Pakistan. Quality embalming available in major cities.
Step by step
Timeline: Pakistan to Ireland
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Irish Embassy Islamabad: via Dept of Foreign Affairs +353 1 408 2000.
Family or travel insurer
Death registered with NADRA. Certificate issued in Urdu.
Certified English translation required before process can proceed.
Local funeral director and NADRA
Irish Embassy Islamabad notified
Simultaneous with Step 1. Embassy provides list of local funeral directors.
Family or repatriation specialist
Embalming and preparation
Quality embalming available in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore. Limited elsewhere.
Licensed local funeral director
Certified English translation and all export permits obtained
Allow 14-30 days minimum.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo from Islamabad (ISB) or Karachi (KHI) to Dublin (DUB)
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Irish funeral director takes custody. Coroner notified.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In Ireland
When the body arrives in Ireland
The Irish funeral director takes custody at the cargo terminal. All Pakistani documentation must be in certified English translation. The Coroner is involved only where the death abroad was unnatural, and may then order a post-mortem.
Consular support
Department of Foreign Affairs emergency line: +353 1 408 2000. The Irish Embassy in Islamabad can register the death and advise.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Pakistan to Ireland
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Pakistan to Ireland takes 3-6 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 2-3 weeks.
No. Cremation is effectively unavailable in Pakistan. All repatriations must be full body, regardless of the religion or wishes of the deceased.
The Irish Embassy in Islamabad can register the death with Irish authorities, provide a list of local funeral directors, and advise on documentation. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Department of Foreign Affairs emergency line: +353 1 408 2000.
The core documents are: Pakistani death certificate with certified English translation, embalming certificate, freedom from infection certificate, and passport of the deceased.
The Irish funeral director takes custody at the cargo terminal. All Pakistani documentation must be in certified English translation. The Coroner is involved only where the death abroad was unnatural, and may then order a post-mortem.
Contact a repatriation specialist and the Department of Foreign Affairs emergency line (+353 1 408 2000) immediately. Do not instruct a local funeral director independently.
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in Pakistan, 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 Ireland.
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 Pakistan (gov.uk) · Pakistan repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions