Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from the United Kingdom to France
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Quick answer
Repatriation from the United Kingdom to France: what to expect
France is home to an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 British nationals registered as residents, making it one of the largest concentrations of UK nationals abroad. British nationals are settled across Paris, Normandy, Brittany, the Dordogne, Provence, and the Cote d'Azur. The UK-France repatriation corridor is one of the highest volume in Europe. The British Embassy in Paris is fully operational. When someone from the United Kingdom dies and their family wishes to repatriate remains to France, 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 UK death certificate is apostilled; both countries are Hague Apostille Convention members. The French Embassy in London can advise on documentation requirements for the receiving mairie. (FCDO Travel Advice: France, 2025; Mairie civil registry, France, 2025.)
- Key document: death certificate (in English)
- Documentation takes 3-7 days (coroner cases longer). Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Contact the France High Commission or Embassy in London for documentation requirements. They cannot fund repatriation.
- Death must be registered with the local register office (or National Records of Scotland / GRONI) promptly.
- France Embassy in London can advise on documentation. They cannot fund repatriation.
Step by step
Timeline: the United Kingdom to France
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Call 999 for emergency services. Contact the France High Commission or Embassy in London.
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Death certificate obtained.
Death must be registered with the local register office (or National Records of Scotland / GRONI). Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may delay this step.
Local funeral director and registry
France High Commission or Embassy 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 France
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
France funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
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.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from the United Kingdom to France
In a straightforward case, repatriation from the United Kingdom to France takes 2-4 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 10-14 days. Complex cases can take 4-8 weeks or longer.
Death must be registered with the local register office (or National Records of Scotland / 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 France Embassy in London can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the France 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 French funeral director takes custody at the receiving airport cargo terminal. The local mairie registers the death and issues the acte de deces. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified French translation where not already in French. The Procureur de la Republique handles violent or unexplained deaths. France joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1960. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required; French embalming regulations apply. The receiving funeral director coordinates with the local mairie.
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 France
When the body arrives in France
The French funeral director takes custody at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Paris Orly (ORY), Nice Airport (NCE), or another cargo terminal depending on the final destination. Death registration in France is handled by the mairie (town hall) in the municipality where the death is registered. The acte de deces is issued in French. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and, where not in French, accompanied by a certified French translation for the mairie. The Procureur de la Republique (public prosecutor) takes jurisdiction for violent or unexplained deaths. France joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1960; apostille certificates from member states are accepted. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for all air imports; French regulations on embalming must be observed. (Mairie / direction des affaires civiles, France, 2025; FCDO Travel Advice: France, 2025.)
Consular support
The French Embassy or Consulate in London can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to France. France joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1960. The Embassy cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the mairie in the receiving municipality for civil registration queries.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
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Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) guidance, official embassy contacts, and professional repatriation experience. Updated June 2026.
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · the United Kingdom repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions