Repatriation of a body or urn abroad: costs and formalities
Introduction
Losing a loved one abroad confronts families with a double challenge: managing their grief whilst organising an international funeral repatriation. Between legal requirements, consular documents and high costs, the procedures can quickly become overwhelming.
Two main options are available to families: repatriate the body in a hermetically sealed coffin or opt for local cremation followed by the transport of the urn. The first choice involves complex formalities and a substantial budget, often between 5,000 and 15,000 CHF depending on the destination. The second considerably simplifies the procedures and reduces costs to a few hundred francs.
This guide details the actual costs of repatriation, the necessary documents and the regulations to be observed for each option. You will also discover how the consulate and international funeral homes can support you, and which criteria to consider to make the most appropriate choice for your family, cultural and financial situation.
For the first steps in the event of a death abroad, consult our complete guide which covers all the initial administrative steps.
📌 Summary (TL;DR)
The repatriation of a body requires a hermetically sealed zinc coffin, numerous consular documents and costs between 5,000 and 15,000 CHF depending on the destination. Local cremation followed by the transport of the urn represents a much simpler and more affordable alternative, often for just a few hundred francs.
The choice between these two options depends on your financial, practical, cultural and religious criteria. The consulate and international funeral homes support you through these complex procedures.
📚 Table of contents
Repatriation of the body: a complex and costly procedure
The repatriation of a body from abroad involves strict technical and regulatory constraints. International health standards impose precise conditions for international funeral transport.
The timescales are long: allow between 7 and 14 days to gather all the documents, prepare the body and organise air freight. Coordination between several countries complicates the logistics.
The cost of repatriation varies according to the destination, but always remains high. This option requires the intervention of professionals specialising in international funeral transport.
The hermetically sealed zinc coffin: a legal obligation
For all air transport, IATA standards require a hermetically sealed zinc coffin. This health obligation aims to prevent any risk of contamination during the flight.
The process requires a double coffin: the wooden coffin contains a hermetically welded zinc envelope. This specific coffining must be carried out by a qualified embalmer.
The operation takes several hours and requires specialised equipment. The zinc guarantees the absolute seal required to cross borders.
Documents required to repatriate a body
The repatriation of a body requires several official documents:
International death certificate
Consular authorisation from the country of departure
Burial permit from the country of destination
Certificate of embalming and coffining
Mortuary pass
The consulate plays a central role in obtaining these authorisations. Timescales vary from 3 to 10 days depending on the country.
To find out about all the administrative procedures, consult our complete guide on what to do in the event of a death abroad.
Cost of repatriating a coffin
The cost of repatriation of a coffin varies considerably depending on the destination. Several expense items add up to form the final bill.
The total budget generally ranges between 5,000 and 15,000 CHF. Distant destinations or those requiring several connections increase air freight costs.
This sum represents a significant investment for families. Understanding the breakdown of costs helps to anticipate the necessary budget and to explore possible alternatives.
Breakdown of costs
Here is the detail of the main expense items for a body repatriation:
Hermetically sealed zinc coffin: 2,000 to 4,000 CHF
Preservation care and embalming: 800 to 1,500 CHF
Air freight according to distance: 2,000 to 8,000 CHF
Administrative and consular formalities: 500 to 1,000 CHF
Ground transport departure/arrival: 300 to 800 CHF
Indicative total: 5,000 to 15,000 CHF depending on the destination. To compare with funeral costs in Switzerland, consult our article on the cost of a death in Switzerland.
Examples of costs by destination
Here are concrete examples of repatriation costs from Switzerland to different frequent destinations:
Portugal: 7,000 to 10,000 CHF
Italy: 5,000 to 8,000 CHF
Balkans: 8,000 to 12,000 CHF
North Africa: 10,000 to 15,000 CHF
These amounts are indicative and vary according to service providers, the season and the desired timescales. Always request several detailed quotations.
Repatriation of an urn: a simple and affordable alternative
The repatriation of an urn constitutes a much more accessible alternative than the transport of a coffin. This option first requires cremation in the country where the death occurred.
The formalities are simplified and the timescales reduced. The transport of ashes is less restrictive from a health and logistical point of view.
This solution is particularly suitable for families facing budgetary constraints or wishing to repatriate their loved one quickly. The cost represents approximately one third of that of a body repatriation.
Cremation on site: first step
The cremation must be carried out in the country where the death occurred. Consular authorisation may be necessary depending on local legislation.
The cost of cremation varies according to country: generally allow between 1,000 and 3,000 CHF. This rate includes the cremation itself and local formalities.
The timescales are shorter than a body repatriation: between 3 and 7 days on average. This speed relieves families whilst waiting for the return.
Transport of urn by plane: regulations
The international funeral transport of an urn is generally authorised in cabin baggage if the urn is not metallic. Urns made of wood, ceramic or biodegradable material pass security checks.
You must present the cremation certificate and the authorisation to transport ashes. Always contact your airline in advance to confirm their specific conditions.
For all the details on the procedure, consult our complete guide on the repatriation of a funeral urn.
Cost of urn repatriation
The budget for repatriating an urn is significantly lower:
Local cremation: 1,000 to 3,000 CHF
Funeral urn: 150 to 500 CHF
Administrative documents: 200 to 500 CHF
Transport (plane ticket or secure postal delivery): 100 to 300 CHF
Total: 1,500 to 4,500 CHF, which is 3 to 5 times cheaper than repatriating a coffin. This substantial saving allows more resources to be devoted to the ceremony.
Comparison: coffin or urn, how to choose?
The choice between repatriation of a body or an urn depends on several personal, financial and cultural criteria. No option is better in itself.
Budgetary constraints often guide the decision, but religious convictions and the wishes of the deceased remain priorities. Take time for reflection despite the urgency.
Here is a comparative table to help you with your choice:
Financial and practical criteria
The cost ratio is 1 to 5 between urn and coffin. Urn repatriation costs 1,500 to 4,500 CHF compared to 5,000 to 15,000 CHF for a coffin.
The timescales also differ: 3 to 7 days for an urn, compared to 7 to 14 days for a coffin. The administrative complexity is reduced with an urn.
Some repatriation insurance policies cover these costs partially or fully. Check your travel insurance contracts, premium bank cards or life insurance before making a decision.
Cultural and religious criteria
Religious convictions strongly influence this choice. Islam and Orthodox Judaism generally forbid cremation and require burial of the body.
Other traditions accept or encourage cremation. Catholicism now authorises it, as do Protestantism and Buddhism.
Respect for the wishes of the deceased and family traditions must guide your decision. The choice must never be dictated solely by financial considerations.
Who to contact to organise a repatriation?
Organising a repatriation of a body or urn abroad requires contacting several parties in a precise order. Coordination between these actors guarantees smooth progress.
Start with the Swiss consulate in the country where the death occurred. Then contact your insurance to check coverage. Finally, choose a specialised funeral home.
Each actor has a defined role. Understanding their responsibilities avoids misunderstandings and speeds up the procedures.
The role of the consulate and international funeral homes
The consulate helps you obtain the necessary administrative documents and guides you through local procedures. Warning: it never finances repatriation.
Funeral homes specialising in international funeral transport coordinate all the logistics: coffining, air freight, documents, ground transport. Their expertise is invaluable.
Choose a service provider experienced in repatriations. Consult our funeral homes directory to find competent professionals in Switzerland.
Insurance and repatriation assistance
Check quickly whether you have repatriation cover. Some premium bank cards, travel insurance or life insurance include this guarantee.
The insurance can cover all or part of the costs, or even organise the repatriation directly with its partner service providers. This considerably simplifies the procedures.
Contact your insurance as a priority as soon as the death is announced. Keep all receipts and invoices for possible reimbursement.
Informing family and loved ones
In the event of a death abroad, informing those around you quickly becomes even more crucial. Loved ones scattered geographically must be informed of the circumstances and the organisation of the funeral.
Distance complicates communication. Families need a means accessible 24 hours a day to share essential information and allow everyone to pay their respects.
Digital tools facilitate this rapid dissemination of information at a time when every minute counts.
Publishing an obituary online
Funere allows you to publish an obituary accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 180 CHF. You can add photos, specify information about the ceremony and the location.
Sharing by link simplifies informing scattered loved ones. Your loved ones can consult the obituary from any country and pay their respects online.
This modern and affordable alternative to the traditional press (800 to 2,000 CHF) is particularly suited to geographically dispersed families following a death abroad.
The repatriation of a body or urn from abroad represents a difficult time that requires making quick decisions. The choice between coffin and cremation depends on your convictions, your budget and practical constraints. A body repatriation can cost between 3,000 and 10,000 CHF, whilst an urn generally costs less than 1,000 CHF. In both cases, the procedures go through the Swiss consulate, international funeral homes and sometimes your repatriation insurance.
Once the repatriation is organised, remember to inform those around you and the loved ones of the deceased. Publishing an obituary online allows you to disseminate information quickly, communicate the details of the ceremony and create a space for remembrance accessible to all, wherever they are. To find a funeral home competent in international repatriation, consult our funeral homes directory in Switzerland.
