Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from the United Kingdom to Taiwan
For families bringing someone home to Taiwan. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Need help now?
Send us the detailsKey facts
Repatriation from the United Kingdom to Taiwan: what to expect
The United Kingdom and Taiwan maintain informal but substantive relations through the British Office Taipei (BOT) and the Taipei Representative Office in London, and there is a small but established Taiwanese community in the UK and British professionals working in Taiwan. When someone from the United Kingdom dies and their family wishes to repatriate remains to Taiwan, 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 Taipei Representative Office in London can advise on documentation requirements. UK death certificates require certified Traditional Chinese translation. Taiwan is not a formal Hague Apostille Convention member. (FCDO guidance: When someone dies in Taiwan; Household Registration Office, Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan, 2025.)
- Key document: death certificate (in English)
- Documentation takes 3-7 days (coroner cases longer). Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Contact the Taiwan 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.
- Taiwan 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 Taiwan
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Call 999 for emergency services. Contact the Taiwan 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
Taiwan 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 Taiwan
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Taiwan 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 Taiwan
In a straightforward case, repatriation from the United Kingdom to Taiwan takes 3-5 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 2-3 weeks. Complex cases can take 8-12 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 Taiwan Embassy in London can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Taiwan 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 Taiwanese funeral director takes custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) or Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) cargo terminal. The Household Registration Office (huji suo) under the Ministry of the Interior registers the death and issues the death certificate in Traditional Chinese. All foreign documents require certified Traditional Chinese translation. Taiwan is not a formal Hague Apostille Convention member; document authentication follows bilateral arrangements through the Taipei Representative Office or equivalent trade office. 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 Taiwan
When the body arrives in Taiwan
The Taiwanese funeral director takes custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) or Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA) cargo terminal. Death registration in Taiwan is handled by the Household Registration Office (huji suo) under the Ministry of the Interior. The death certificate (sijin zhengmingshu) is issued in Traditional Chinese; all foreign documents require certified Traditional Chinese translation. Taiwan is not a formal member of the Hague Apostille Convention, as most countries do not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan; document authentication follows bilateral arrangements. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for international air transport. (Household Registration Office, Ministry of the Interior, Taiwan, 2025; FCDO guidance: When someone dies in Taiwan.)
Consular support
The Taiwan representative office or trade office in London can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to Taiwan. As Taiwan is not formally represented through embassies in most countries, consular matters are handled through the Taipei Representative Office or an equivalent trade and economic office. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Household Registration Office in Taiwan for civil registration queries.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
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 Taiwan.
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