Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Sweden to the Marshall Islands
For families bringing someone home to the Marshall Islands. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Quick answer
Repatriation from Sweden to the Marshall Islands: what to expect
Repatriation from Sweden to the Marshall Islands follows Sweden's civil registration and export procedures. Most cases take 2-3 weeks.
- Key document: dodsfallsintyg (death certificate from Skatteverket)
- Documentation takes 5-10 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Sweden is a Hague Apostille member (1999). This simplifies document authentication.
- Documentation is issued in Swedish. Certified translation is required where needed.
The process
What happens after a death in Sweden
Call 112 for emergency services. Death is registered with Skatteverket (the Swedish Tax Agency population register). The official death certificate is the dodsfallsintyg. The Swedish Police Authority investigates violent, suspicious, or unexplained deaths. Sweden is a Hague Apostille Convention member since 1999.
Step by step
Timeline: Sweden to the Marshall Islands
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. Dodsfallsintyg (death certificate from skatteverket) obtained from Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agency), which maintains the population register.
Registration must occur promptly. The Swedish Police Authority investigates violent or suspicious deaths. Body release requires police clearance before repatriation can proceed.
Local funeral director and civil registry
Embassy or consulate notified. The Marshall Islands is a Hague Apostille member since 1991, and a death on an outer atoll needs boat or light aircraft transfer to Majuro before documentation can begin.
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 dodsfallsintyg is issued in Swedish. Certified translation is required for non-Swedish-speaking destinations.
Allow 5-10 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo from Stockholm Arlanda (ARN), Gothenburg Landvetter (GOT), or other major Swedish airport to Amata Kabua International Airport (MAJ), Majuro.
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Funeral director in the Marshall Islands takes custody at the cargo terminal at Amata Kabua International Airport (MAJ), Majuro. National civil registration office notified; RMI Police Department clearance confirmed for non-natural deaths.
Within 24-48 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In Marshall Islands
When the body arrives in the Marshall Islands
The funeral director in the Marshall Islands takes custody at the cargo terminal at Amata Kabua International Airport (MAJ), Majuro. The Republic of the Marshall Islands comprises 29 atolls and 5 islands spread across roughly 1.9 million square kilometres of ocean; a death on an outer atoll requires boat or light aircraft transfer to Majuro before documentation can properly begin. Death registration goes through the national civil registration office, with the RMI Police Department investigating non-natural deaths. The Marshall Islands has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 1991 (accession, in force 14 August 1992). Documentation is issued in English. Kwajalein Atoll, home to a US Army missile defence installation, follows separate US military coordination protocols. Cremation is not available; full body repatriation is required.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Sweden to the Marshall Islands
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Sweden to the Marshall Islands 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: dodsfallsintyg (death certificate from Skatteverket), embalming certificate, freedom from infection certificate, passport of the deceased, and all required export permits. The dodsfallsintyg is issued in Swedish. Certified translation is required for non-Swedish-speaking destinations.
The funeral director in the Marshall Islands takes custody at the cargo terminal at Amata Kabua International Airport (MAJ), Majuro. The Republic of the Marshall Islands comprises 29 atolls and 5 islands spread across roughly 1.9 million square kilometres of ocean; a death on an outer atoll requires boat or light aircraft transfer to Majuro before documentation can properly begin. Death registration goes through the national civil registration office, with the RMI Police Department investigating non-natural deaths. The Marshall Islands has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 1991 (accession, in force 14 August 1992). Documentation is issued in English. Kwajalein Atoll, home to a US Army missile defence installation, follows separate US military coordination protocols. Cremation is not available; full body repatriation is required. All documentation from Sweden must be in order before the body is released for the funeral.
Yes. Cremation in Sweden 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.
Considerably. The Republic of the Marshall Islands spans 29 atolls and 5 islands across roughly 1.9 million square kilometres of ocean, and only Majuro has international air access. A death on an outer atoll needs boat or light aircraft transfer to Majuro first, which can take anywhere from hours to several days depending on weather and available transport. Kwajalein Atoll is a separate case again: it hosts a US Army missile defence installation, and any death there is coordinated through US military channels rather than the standard RMI civil process.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in Sweden, 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 the Marshall Islands.
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 Sweden (gov.uk) · Sweden repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions