Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from the United Kingdom to Portugal
For families bringing someone home to Portugal. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Key facts
Repatriation from the United Kingdom to Portugal: what to expect
Portugal is home to one of the largest British expatriate communities in Europe, with tens of thousands of British nationals living in the Algarve, Lisbon, Porto, and the Silver Coast. Portugal is also a leading retirement destination for British nationals, attracted by the climate, lifestyle, and residency options. The British Embassy in Lisbon is fully operational. When someone from the United Kingdom dies and their family wishes to repatriate remains to Portugal, 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 Portuguese Embassy in London can advise on documentation for the Conservatoria do Registo Civil. (FCDO guidance: When someone dies in Portugal; Conservatoria do Registo Civil, IRN, Portugal, 2025.)
- Key document: death certificate (in English)
- Documentation takes 3-7 days (coroner cases longer). Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Contact the Portugal 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.
- Portugal 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 Portugal
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Call 999 for emergency services. Contact the Portugal 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
Portugal 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 Portugal
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Portugal funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In Portugal
When the body arrives in Portugal
The Portuguese funeral director takes custody at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS), Porto Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport (OPO), or Faro Airport (FAO) cargo terminal, depending on the family's destination. Death registration in Portugal is handled by the Conservatoria do Registo Civil under the Instituto dos Registos e do Notariado (IRN). Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and, where not in Portuguese, accompanied by a certified Portuguese translation for submission to the Conservatoria do Registo Civil. The Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciencias Forenses (INMLCF) handles medico-legal cases. Portugal joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1969; apostille certificates from member states are accepted. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for international air transport. (Conservatoria do Registo Civil, IRN, Portugal, 2025; FCDO guidance: When someone dies in Portugal.)
Consular support
The Portuguese Embassy or Consulate in London can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to Portugal. Portugal joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1969. The Embassy cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Conservatoria do Registo Civil via the IRN for civil registration queries.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from the United Kingdom to Portugal
In a straightforward case, repatriation from the United Kingdom to Portugal 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 Portugal Embassy in London can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Portugal 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 Portuguese funeral director takes custody at the receiving airport cargo terminal. The Conservatoria do Registo Civil under the IRN registers the death. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified Portuguese translation where not already in Portuguese. The INMLCF handles medico-legal cases. Portugal joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1969. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required. The receiving funeral director coordinates with the local Conservatoria do Registo Civil.
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.
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
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 Portugal.
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