Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from the United Kingdom to Greece
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Quick answer
Repatriation from the United Kingdom to Greece: what to expect
The United Kingdom is home to around 400,000 people of Greek and Greek Cypriot origin, and Greece is one of the most popular holiday destinations for British tourists, with over three million British visitors each year to the mainland and islands. The British Embassy in Athens is fully operational. When someone from the United Kingdom dies and their family wishes to repatriate remains to Greece, 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; Greece joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1985. The Greek Consulate or Embassy in London can advise on documentation for the Lixiarheio. A certified Greek translation is required for the Lixiarheio registration. (FCDO Travel Advice: Greece, 2025; General Secretariat for Civil Registration, Ministry of Interior, Greece, 2025.)
- Key document: death certificate (in English)
- Documentation takes 3-7 days (coroner cases longer). Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Contact the Greece 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.
- Greece 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 Greece
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Call 999 for emergency services. Contact the Greece 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
Greece 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 Greece
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Greece funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In Greece
When the body arrives in Greece
The Greek funeral director takes custody at Athens Eleftherios Venizelos Airport (ATH) or Thessaloniki International Airport (SKG) cargo terminal, depending on the family's destination. Death registration in Greece is handled by the Lixiarheio (civil registry) under the General Secretariat for Civil Registration of the Ministry of Interior. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified Greek translation for submission to the Lixiarheio. The Hellenic Police (EL.AS.) is notified for medico-legal purposes where required. Greece joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1985; apostille certificates from member states are accepted. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for all air imports. (General Secretariat for Civil Registration, Ministry of Interior, Greece, 2025; FCDO Travel Advice: Greece, 2025.)
Consular support
The Greek Embassy or Consulate in London can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to Greece. Greece joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1985. The Embassy cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Lixiarheio in the receiving municipality for civil registration queries.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from the United Kingdom to Greece
In a straightforward case, repatriation from the United Kingdom to Greece 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 Greece Embassy in London can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Greece 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 Greek funeral director takes custody at the receiving airport cargo terminal. The Lixiarheio (civil registry) under the General Secretariat for Civil Registration registers the death. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified Greek translation. The Hellenic Police (EL.AS.) is notified where required. Greece joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1985. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required. The receiving funeral director coordinates with the local Lixiarheio.
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.
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