Repatriation
Thousands of British nationals live and work in Switzerland. When one of them dies here, the family usually wants them home. The route is well established — but two systems meet, and both have their own rules.
To repatriate someone from Switzerland to the United Kingdom, two sets of rules apply: the Swiss rules on departure and the UK rules on arrival. On the Swiss side, the cantonal authority issues the permit for transporting the body abroad. On the UK side, the official gov.uk guidance for Switzerland lists three requirements: the death certificate, permission to remove the body, and the passport of the person who died.
This guide sets out who does what, which documents are needed in which order, what changes in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — and what applies if you bring ashes home instead.
The UK does not appear on the published lists of parties to the European agreements on the conveyance of corpses (Strasbourg 1973, Berlin 1937). The transport therefore rests on the Swiss permit on departure and the UK requirements on arrival. gov.uk also notes that bodies usually need to be embalmed before they are brought back to the UK.
gov.uk describes the usual arrangement: the family appoints an international funeral director in the UK, who works with a funeral director in the country where the death occurred. The family signs a form giving both permission to act. Repatriation can only take place once the local procedures — death certificate and any post-mortem or police examination — are complete.
We act as the funeral director on the Swiss side. We contact the UK firm you have chosen, agree the handover and book the air freight so that arrival and collection in the UK fit together.
Registering the death in the UK is not compulsory. Source: gov.uk.
gov.uk is explicit: if you want a coroner in England and Wales to hold an inquest, the person should not be cremated abroad. If there are open questions about the death, decide this before anything else. In Scotland, a further investigation may still be possible.
Scotland: the next of kin or the international funeral director applies to the Death Certification Review Service (DCRS), which authorises the burial or cremation. The Procurator Fiscal or the review service may order a further post-mortem.
Northern Ireland: according to gov.uk, coroners in Northern Ireland do not have the authority to investigate a death that occurred abroad.
No permit is needed to bring ashes into the UK. For Switzerland, gov.uk lists what families carrying the ashes themselves should have with them: a certified copy of the death certificate, the cremation certificate and a certified copy of the entry of cremation. Tell the airline in advance and declare the ashes to customs on arrival in the UK; a letter from the funeral home confirming that the container holds only the ashes is helpful.
Whether ashes may travel in the cabin or the hold is the airline's decision; some ask for a non-metallic container that can be X-rayed. According to gov.uk, ashes may not be accepted by post or courier. We repatriate the urn in person — by car or by air. More in our guide Urn transfer abroad.
The FCDO and the British Embassy in Bern can advise on local rules, help contact the authorities and explain how to find funeral directors and translators. They cannot pay burial, cremation or repatriation costs, give legal or medical advice, investigate a death or recommend a specific provider. The FCDO's 24-hour number is +44 20 7008 5000.
Our repatriation package starts at CHF 3,000. Air freight comes on top and is charged by weight and route, together with the official fees in Switzerland, which vary by canton. You receive a written breakdown with every item listed before we start. The costs of the UK funeral director and the funeral are not included. More: Repatriation costs.
Questions & answers
According to gov.uk: the death certificate, permission to remove the body and the passport of the person who died. On the Swiss side, the cantonal authority issues the permit to transport the body abroad.
No. The international Swiss death certificate includes an English translation but does not state the cause of death.
No, it is not compulsory. In England and Wales the register office issues a certificate of no liability to register so that the funeral can go ahead.
No. gov.uk advises against cremation abroad if you want a coroner in England and Wales to hold an inquest. In Scotland a further investigation may still be possible.
No. Carry the death certificate, the cremation certificate and the certified entry of cremation, tell the airline in advance and declare the ashes on arrival.