Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from the United Kingdom to Bosnia and Herzegovina
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Repatriation from the United Kingdom to Bosnia and Herzegovina: what to expect
British nationals in Bosnia and Herzegovina include tourists, development workers, and individuals with connections from the 1990s Balkan conflicts. The British Embassy in Sarajevo can assist British nationals after a death. British death certificates require certified translation into Bosnian, Croatian, or Serbian and authentication by the Bosnian Embassy in London. Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1992; apostille certificates are accepted for UK-issued documents. (FCDO guidance: When someone dies in Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2025.)
- Key document: death certificate (in English)
- Documentation takes 3-7 days (coroner cases longer). Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Contact the Bosnia and Herzegovina Embassy or High Commission in London for documentation requirements. They cannot fund repatriation.
- Death must be registered with the register office in England and Wales, National Records of Scotland, or the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) promptly.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina Embassy in London can advise on documentation. They cannot fund repatriation.
The process
What happens after a death in the United Kingdom
Call 999 for emergency services. Death is certified by a physician or, where necessary, the coroner. The death must be registered at the local register office in England and Wales within 5 days, or with the National Records of Scotland or GRONI in Northern Ireland. The coroner takes jurisdiction for sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths and must issue a removal order before the body can leave England and Wales. The United Kingdom is a Hague Apostille Convention member. Coroner cases add time: the coroner must be satisfied the body may leave before issuing the order for removal out of England and Wales.
Step by step
Timeline: the United Kingdom to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Call 999 for emergency services. Contact the Bosnia and Herzegovina Embassy or High Commission in London.
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Death certificate obtained.
Death must be registered with the register office in England and Wales, National Records of Scotland, or the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI). Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may delay this step.
Local funeral director and registry
Bosnia and Herzegovina Embassy or High Commission in London 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 3-7 days (coroner cases longer). Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo to Bosnia and Herzegovina
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Bosnia and Herzegovina funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from the United Kingdom to Bosnia and Herzegovina
In a straightforward case, repatriation from the United Kingdom to Bosnia and Herzegovina takes 2-4 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 10-14 days. Complex cases can take 6-12 weeks or longer.
Death must be registered with the register office in England and Wales, National Records of Scotland, or the General Register Office Northern Ireland (GRONI) promptly. Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) 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 Bosnia and Herzegovina Embassy in London can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Bosnia and Herzegovina Embassy in London as soon as possible after the death.
Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may trigger a post-mortem examination. This adds time: the body cannot be released until the authorities authorise it.
The Bosnian funeral director takes custody at Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ), Mostar International Airport (OMO), or Banja Luka International Airport (BNX) cargo terminal. The maticna sluzba (civil registration service) at municipality level registers the death; certificates are issued in Bosnian, Croatian, or Serbian. Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1992; apostille certificates from member states are accepted. Foreign documents in other languages require certified translation. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required.
Cremation in the United Kingdom is widely available. A second medical certificate is required for cremation before the body can be removed. If the coroner is involved, a coroner's certificate replaces the second medical certificate. You will need the local death certificate, cremation certificate, and relevant export documentation. Your repatriation specialist can advise on the current position.
In Bosnia and Herzegovina
When the body arrives in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Bosnian funeral director takes custody at Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ) cargo terminal, Mostar International Airport (OMO), or Banja Luka International Airport (BNX) for regional arrivals. Death registration is handled by the maticna sluzba (civil registration service) at municipality level, operated separately in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska entities. Death certificates are issued in Bosnian, Croatian, or Serbian, the three official languages. Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1992; apostille certificates from member states are accepted. Foreign documents in other languages require certified translation into one of the official languages. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for international air transport. (Bosnia and Herzegovina Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2025; FCDO guidance: When someone dies in Bosnia and Herzegovina.)
Consular support
Bosnia and Herzegovina Embassy or Consulate in London can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1992. The Embassy cannot pay for or arrange repatriation.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
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If your loved one has died in the United Kingdom, 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 Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from official government and embassy guidance, including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Frequently asked questions