Introduction
When a loved one passes away in a foreign country, grief is only compounded by confusion. From embassy paperwork and airline regulations to sealing procedures and apostille requirements — nothing about dead body transport UK to India is simple. International Body Transport brings clarity, dignity, and legal precision to every step of dead body transport Europe to India.
We coordinate with consulates, apostille authorities, licensed funeral directors, and airlines — so families don’t have to face bureaucracy while processing loss.
Did you know? Over 7,000 Indians pass away annually across the UK and Europe, with London, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, and Amsterdam reporting the highest dead body transport from Europe to India volumes.
Required Documents – Repatriation from UK / EU
| Document | Issued By / Purpose |
|---|---|
| Official Death Certificate | Civil Registrar (country of death) |
| Embalming & Sealing Certificate | Licensed Funeral Director |
| Non-Contagious Disease Certificate | Local Public Health Authority / Coroner |
| Apostille Legalization | UK FCDO / EU Justice Ministry (documents required uk repatriation) |
| Certified English Translations | If original docs are in French, German, etc. |
| Consular Mortuary Certificate | Indian Mission (London, Berlin, Milan, etc.) |
|
Passport of the Deceased |
Identity and exit record |
| Airway Bill | Airline cargo booking documentation |
Apostille & Legalization—Country-wise Overview
India does not accept notarized-only documents from EU nations. Apostille is mandatory under the Hague Convention, 1961.
| Country | Apostille Authority | Translation Required? |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) | No |
| Germany | Federal Ministry of Justice | Yes (German-English) |
| France | Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs | Yes (French-English) |
| Italy | Local Prefecture | Yes (Italian-English) |
| Netherlands | Ministry of Justice & Security | Yes (Dutch-English) |
International body transport service handles all apostille processing and certified translations before consular submission.
Zinc Coffin & CTM Checklist Requirements
- Coffin must be zinc-lined, hermetically sealed, and leak-proof
- Must include absorbent padding between zinc and outer casing
- Embalming must be certified per eu embalming regulations
- All packaging must meet IATA CTM standards for airline human remains uk
- External coffin labels, flight readiness, and weight classification required
Airport Clearance Guide – UK & EU Major Hubs
| Airport | Special Requirement |
|---|---|
| Heathrow (London) | Pre-declared coffin weight + airway bill submission |
| Frankfurt (Germany) | Zinc coffin inspection & consulate escort |
| Charles de Gaulle (France) | Translated + apostilled documents at check-in |
| Milan Malpensa (Italy) | Sealing certificate required 12 hours prior to flight |
International Body Transport works directly with airline human remains UK cargo handlers and consulate officers to avoid delays.
Timeline – How Long Does Repatriation Take?
| Stage | Estimated Time |
|---|---|
| Apostille & Legalization | 1–3 business days (varies by country) 6–12 hours 1–2 business days 1–2 business days |
| Embalming & Coffin Sealing | 6–12 hours |
| Consular Attestation | 1–2 business days |
| Airline Booking & Airport Clearance | 1–2 business days |
| Total Turnaround Time | 3–6 working days |
For the record! International Body Transport completed 92% of UK/EU repatriation cases in 2023 within 4.3 working days (Helps validate the cost to send body from UK to India).
Repatriation Cost Estimate – UK / EU to India
Estimated Range: ₹2L– 3L
Inclusions:
coffin, sealing, embalming, apostille, consulate fee, and flight cargo)
Factors affecting cost:
Origin city (London, Berlin, Paris, etc.), document legalization and translation needs, weight of the coffin and airline cargo category, weekend or embassy holiday delays, exact estimate provided after reviewing documents and location details.
Why Choose International Body Transport Services
We bring unmatched professionalism to a highly sensitive task:
Testimonials
Testimonials
What families have to say of their experiences with us?
At 3 AM, they arrived with a freezer van, embalmed, and managed every clearance in less than 12 hours for our family member’s dead body transport USA to India. My brother was flown from USA to Kolkata in a very dignified manner to our home in India.
“They took over everything: hospital to embassy, embassy to airline, and cleared the coffin through Delhi customs for a repatriation to Canada. Deeply grateful.”
International Body Transport’s EU-UK Partner Network
Licensed partners help comply with EU embalming regulations and fast-track documents required for UK repatriation protocols:
Manchester
Birmingham
London
United Kingdom
Munich
Germany
Frankfurt
Italy
Milan
Rome
Florence
France
Paris
Brussels
Austria
vienna
Belgium
Netherlands
Marseille
All partners are licensed under European mortuary regulations and are experienced in Indian repatriation cases.
What International Body Transport handles?
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All hospital and funeral home coordination
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Apostille and multilingual translation of death records
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Zinc coffin sealing and embalming
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Consular documentation and embassy submission
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Cargo clearance and airline human remains uk coordination
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Real-time flight tracking and delivery updates
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Certified paperwork for insurance or legal claims if needed
