Repatriation abroad
Worldwide repatriations from Switzerland — to the home country, to the family, to the place that matters.
It covers collection anywhere in Switzerland, hygienic care, placing in a coffin that meets the destination country's rules, all documents and permits, and transport to the destination airport. The final price depends on the destination country, the airline's requirements and the timeframe you need — you receive the quote in writing before we act.
Request a free quoteProcess
A repatriation across a border is not an ordinary transport. It is governed by international agreements, by the rules of the destination country and by the airline's regulations. If one document is missing, the coffin stays at the airport.
We therefore work in a fixed order: first the permit from the Swiss authorities, then legalisation by the destination country's consulate, then the flight booking. Transport begins only once every paper is in hand.
Authorities, airlines and funeral homes use several terms for the same operation, which is understandably confusing. In short:
Which term you use makes no difference to us. Call and simply describe the situation; we will classify the rest.
In detail
Our own vehicles
Collection in Switzerland and the drive to the airport are handled with our own funeral vehicles, not through a third party. That means fixed contacts, predictable timings and a dignified handling throughout, from the place of death to the handover to air freight.
For nearby European destinations we will, on request, drive the entire route by road. That is often faster than flying and avoids the transfer at the airport.
Questions & answers
Within Europe usually three to five working days; for destinations outside Europe, five to ten days. The consulate's processing times and the flight connections are decisive. Where a faith requires a swift burial, we arrange an accelerated process wherever that is possible.
The medical death certificate, an extract from the death register, the laissez-passer, the permit from the municipality, and the deceased person's papers (passport or identity card, residence permit). Depending on the destination country, consular legalisation, an apostille or certified translations are added. In the first conversation we tell you exactly what your case requires.
For air transport, most countries and airlines require a hermetically sealed metal coffin placed inside a wooden one. This is a rule of international transport law, not an option. The zinc coffin is included in our flat rate.
Yes. The coffin travels as air freight and relatives fly as ordinary passengers, frequently on the same aircraft. We coordinate the bookings so that arrival and handover coincide.
Yes. What matters is the place of death, not the place of residence. Even if the person was only visiting Switzerland, we arrange the repatriation.
The flat rate starts at CHF 3,000. Air freight charges and any consular fees are added depending on the destination country. We itemise each of these in the quote, so you know in advance what you will pay.