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What Parents in India Should Know When Their Loved One Passes Away in the UK: A Practical Guide

Agnivesh Pandey

03 December, 2025

Table of Contents

1. Understanding What Happens Immediately After a Death in the UK
2. The First Big Decision: Bring the Body to India or Conduct the Funeral in the UK
3. Step-by-Step Process for Repatriation from the UK to India
4. Timeframe: How Long Does Repatriation Take?
5. Costs & Financial Considerations
6. What Parents in India Can Do Immediately
7. Special Cases That Can Affect the Timeline
8. After the Body Arrives in India: Practical Next Steps
How to Choose a Reliable UK Repatriation Company

When a loved one passes away in another country, families are not only faced with deep emotional grief but also sudden and unfamiliar responsibilities that can feel overwhelming.

The parents of an Indian citizen who dies in the U.K. have to navigate through several processes and document requirements that are new to them and will burden them with many responsibilities over and above their grief.

To help relieve some of this stress, we have developed a guide that will outline the complete process step by step, providing a thorough understanding of your options, timelines, and responsibilities; therefore, you will never be left with uncertainty about what you can do or how long it will take to complete all the required steps.

1. Understanding What Happens Immediately After a Death in the UK

Families are usually informed of such heartbreaking news through the following channels:

Through friends or relatives in the United Kingdom.
From employers, universities, or landlords.
From local police in the UK.
From the Embassy or High Commission in your country.
As a result of notification by a doctor/social worker at the hospital.

When you receive notification of the death, be sure to write down:

The name of the hospital or police agency that reported the death.
The name of the city and area.
Any reference number or case number associated with the report.

These notes will assist you when communicating with authorities and when you use repatriation services.

Authorities Involved in the UK

You may hear from or deal with:

A Hospital in the NHS or a doctor may issue a death certificate (Certificate of Death).
The Registrar of Births and Deaths in the UK provides the death certificate.
The Coroner looks into any accidental/inexplicable deaths.
UK authorities/repos; if the death is a result of an incident/suspect.
The High Commission of India provides the required public authority Issuance and Consulate services.
Funeral/transportation has to arrange transportation.|

2. The First Big Decision: Bring the Body to India or Conduct the Funeral in the UK

Option A: Repatriation to India

When the deceased has expressed that they would like their remains repatriated to India for the last rites

When elderly parents of the deceased cannot travel to another country
When there are religious or cultural tradition requirements for last rites to take place in India
When there is an emotional and social support system in place for the family in India
Repatriating a body involves coordination with many entities (hospitals, coroners, funeral homes, the Indian consulate, and airlines).

Option B: Funeral in the UK & Bringing Ashes to India

Families may select this option for any of the following reasons:

The cost of repatriation is too high
Long-drawn Legal delays
The immediate family already resides in the UK.
The deceased had been living in the UK for several years.

Transmitting/Carrying the ashes to India is significantly less expensive and much simpler.

3. Step-by-Step Process for Repatriation from the UK to India

Step 1 - Appoint a UK Repatriation / Funeral Director

Direct management of the legal process for repatriating within India is not possible for families. A needs-providing (repatriation service) agency would:

Retrieve the deceased from the hospital
Work with the coroner and registrar
Make preparations for embalming and casket preparation
Gather all appropriate paperwork
Deliver the paperwork to the Indian consulate
Reserve air cargo transportation
Collaborate with your Indian funeral service group

Step 2 - Register the Death & Obtain the UK Death Certificate

A local Register Office will register the death and issue:

A UK Death Certificate
A Certificate for burial or cremation

If a coroner investigates the death, it may take longer to register the death; however, typically, an interim certificate will be issued.

Step 3 - Coroner Process and Post-Mortem

A coroner may order a post-mortem if the cause of death was:

Sudden or unexplained
As a result of an accident or crime
Occurred under unusual circumstances

In addition, if the deceased was a foreign national, a coroner must also issue an Out of England Order for the body to leave the UK.

Step 4 - Required Documents for UK → India Repatriation

Typical documents include:

UK Death Certificate
Medical Cause of Death
Embalming Certificate
Non-infectious Disease Certificate
Coffin Sealing Certificate
Passport of the Deceased
Out of England Certificate (If Required)
Airline Cargo Documents

Documents Typically Required from Family Members:

Next of Kin Consent Letter
Your ID Proof
Proof of Your Relationship (If Needed)
Your Relationship to the Recipient in India.

Step 5: - The Indian Mission/Consulate NOC

No Objection Certificate (NOC) - Transportation Certificate of Dead Body to India is issued by the Indian Mission.

Required by Airlines and Indian Airport Authorities.

Step 6: - Flight Bookings

Human remains are classified as cargo and NOT as checked baggage.
Coffin must be Zinc-lined or hermetically sealed.
Repatriation Company Makes All Flight Bookings and Airport Clearance Arrangements.

Step 7: - Receiving the Body In India

Upon Arrival:

Embalmed human remains are received at the airport Cargo Terminal.
Funeral team or Family Members on the Indian side will be asked to Sign Documents to receive the Human Remains.
Human Remains will then be transported in an Ambulance/Hearse to the Final Destination (City, Village, etc).

4. Timeframe: How Long Does Repatriation Take?

Rough timeline:

A natural death with no coroner's involvement takes 4 to 7 workdays.
If an autopsy is required or an investigation is undertaken, the Coroner will investigate over a period of 2 to 3 weeks or longer.

Delays occur from:

Coroner/inquest process
Weekends or holidays
Embassy appointments
Limited availability of flights

5. Costs & Financial Considerations

Typical Expense Factors:

Funeral Home Costs
Storage Fee for Hospital or Mortuary
Cost of Embalming and Casket
Apostille/Legalisation of Paperwork
Fees Charged by Embassy or Consulate
Cost of Air Freight/Shipping to the UK by Air
Costs Associated with Ambulance and Funeral in India

Because of distance/airline choice, many UK repatriation Packages start at several thousand pounds.

Possible Financial Help

Check:

International travel insurance
Employer benefits (multinational companies often cover repatriation)
University support (for students)
Indian government welfare/MEA support, in certain cases
Community organisations & diaspora groups

6. What Parents in India Can Do Immediately

A. Assign a Primary Contact in the UK

The main contact can be a relative or a repatriation provider who acts as your representative.

B. Have Your Documentation Ready

Have scanned or photogenic copies prepared of the following:

Your ID Proof
Proof of Relationship
Letter of Consent
Contact Information of the Person Point of Receipt in India

C. Communication & Updates

Arrange to receive regular video conferencing updates from the following parties as needed until the body is received in India:

Funeral Director
Consulate
Airport Cargo Personnel (as applicable)

Structured checklists reduce your anxieties by creating an outline for the process.

7. Special Cases That Can Affect the Timeline

Crime or Accident

If the death occurred due to:1

Accident on the road
Assault and Grievous Bodily Harm
Negligent Treatment by a Medical Practitioner
Incident in the Workplace

It means the complete investigation will take longer, and more than one postmortem or examination of the deceased may be necessary.

Cremation in the UK, With Ashes Sent to India

This avoids delays and high costs

You will receive:

Certificate of Cremation
Urn containing Ashes in a Sealed container

Airlines allow for transporting ashes in your hand luggage, but you must inform them first.

8. After the Body Arrives in India: Practical Next Steps

Using the UK Death Certificate in India

It is accepted for:

Closing bank accounts
Making claims on insurance policies
Settling pension plans
Providing legal documents

An apostille is generally required only for legal, property, court, or inheritance-related matters in India.

Property and Finance Management

You may have to:

Advise your banks and utility companies in the UK
Contact your employer or university
Get legal assistance in the UK regarding inheritance or wills
Terminate your rental agreement.

How to Choose a Reliable UK Repatriation Company

Ask clear questions such as:

What exactly is included in the quoted cost?
What charges are excluded?
How many UK to India reapatriation cases have you handled?
How frequently will you update us?
Do you manage Consulate coordination directly?
Will you work with our Indian-side funeral team?
What is the realistic timeline for this case?
Do you assist with insurance claims?

A reliable provider will answer in a transparent, calm, and clear manner.