Costs
The price of a repatriation is made up of four blocks. Three are predictable; only one truly varies.
“What is this going to cost?” is almost always the second question, right after “what do we do now?”. It is a fair one: a repatriation is a sum few families have budgeted for.
The honest answer fits in one sentence: the flat rate starts at CHF 3,000, and what is added on top depends above all on the destination country. The rest of this page explains why.
A serious quote always separates these four blocks. If you receive a single total with no breakdown, ask for the detail — that is where unpleasant surprises hide.
What should never appear as an extra: journeys, night hours, administration fees. We include them in the flat rate and say so in writing before we start.
For a repatriation to Germany, France or Italy, the road is often faster and cheaper than flying: no transfer, no freight, no air customs clearance. The total then stays close to the flat rate.
As soon as a flight is involved, two factors take over: the airline's freight tariff and the consulate's requirements. Some countries ask for legalisation in triplicate with a sworn translation; others accept the Swiss laissez-passer as it stands.
This is why we never quote a figure on the phone before we know the destination country. A number given at random and then revised upwards helps nobody.
We call the consulate concerned, ask for the exact list of documents required and obtain a freight quotation for the period in question. That usually takes half a day. You then receive a written offer with each item listed separately — and a line stating what is not included.
Before assuming the whole sum falls to you, check these four avenues. In our experience at least one of them succeeds in roughly one case in three.
We review your policy with you and bill the insurer directly where possible, so that you do not have to advance the money.
If cremation is acceptable to your family, the order of magnitude changes. An urn travels as a parcel or, depending on the airline, as hand luggage. No zinc coffin, no bulky freight.
The paperwork is still needed: the cremation certificate, the death certificate and, depending on the country, a consular confirmation. Note that not every country and not every faith accepts cremation — we check this first.
Questions & answers
We can give you a range based on our experience of the country concerned, and we are glad to. The firm price follows once we have checked with the consulate and obtained a freight quotation — usually the same day or the next.
We ask for a deposit covering the external costs we commit on your behalf (freight, consular fees, the coffin). The balance is invoiced after the handover. Where insurance covers the repatriation, we bill the insurer directly.
No. Our offer runs to the handover to the funeral home or the family on site. The funeral itself is invoiced by the local firm. We can request their quote and pass it on to you.
For neighbouring countries and southern Europe, often yes — and it is frequently faster. Beyond roughly 1,500 kilometres, flying becomes the sensible option again.