Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Sweden to Saint Kitts and Nevis
For families bringing someone home to Saint Kitts and Nevis. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Need help now?
Send us the detailsKey facts
Repatriation from Sweden to Saint Kitts and Nevis: what to expect
Repatriation from Sweden to Saint Kitts and Nevis 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 Saint Kitts and Nevis
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. Hague Apostille applies (Saint Kitts and Nevis joined 1994).
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 Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB), Basseterre, Saint Kitts.
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Funeral director in Saint Kitts and Nevis takes custody at the cargo terminal at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB), Basseterre. Registrar General's Office notified. Death certificate issued in English.
Within 24-48 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Sweden to Saint Kitts and Nevis
Hague Apostille applies (Saint Kitts and Nevis joined 1994).
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Sweden to Saint Kitts and Nevis 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 Saint Kitts and Nevis takes custody at the cargo terminal at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB), Basseterre. Death is registered with the Registrar General's Office on Saint Kitts or the Registrar General Department on Nevis, island-specific civil registries. Saint Kitts and Nevis has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 14 December 1994. Death certificates are issued in English. 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.
Not always. Saint Kitts and Nevis requires a post-mortem for any foreign national who dies within 24 hours of arrival on the island; for deaths occurring later, the coroner decides case by case. The examining medical examiner is based in Barbados and is not always immediately available, which can add days to the timeline.
In Saint Kitts and Nevis
When the body arrives in Saint Kitts and Nevis
The funeral director in Saint Kitts and Nevis takes custody at the cargo terminal at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB), Basseterre. Death is registered with the Registrar General's Office on Saint Kitts or the Registrar General Department on Nevis, island-specific civil registries. Saint Kitts and Nevis has been a Hague Apostille Convention member since 14 December 1994. Death certificates are issued in English.
Consular support
Hague Apostille applies (Saint Kitts and Nevis joined 1994).
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 Saint Kitts and Nevis.
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