Death of a loved one in Poland: how to bring the body or ashes to the UK

When someone close to you dies in Poland and the family lives in the UK, you need to decide quickly where the burial will take place. The options are a funeral in Poland or bringing the body or ashes to the UK.

Where to start

First, find out where the body is. Also check whether the circumstances of the death require further steps, such as the involvement of a prosecutor or a post-mortem. Only then should the family decide on the place of burial.

If the person who died had insurance, contact the insurer as soon as possible. According to the UK government, the insurer should appoint a funeral director in Poland and in the UK. It may also cover the cost of bringing the body to the UK and some medical, legal and translation fees. It is also worth checking travel insurance, or cover linked to a payment card or employment.

Bringing the body

According to UK government guidance, the funeral director must:

• show the death certificate,
• obtain permission to remove the body from the competent State District Sanitary Inspector,
• provide a special transport casket,
• show the passport of the person who died.

The body is transported in a hearse. If someone else handles the paperwork, such as a funeral director, a power of attorney may be needed.

Bringing the ashes

For an urn you need the death certificate and a document confirming the cremation. You must also follow Polish rules on taking ashes out of the country. Under Polish law, as described by Polish Express, permission to export an urn is issued by the starosta or city mayor responsible for the place where the death certificate was issued or where the cremation took place, in agreement with the sanitary inspector.

An urn can be taken by car or by plane. Before flying, check the airline's requirements. The UK government warns that ashes may not be sent by post or courier. They can be shipped by air freight, which can be expensive.

Registering the death

To register a death in Poland you need the death card. The registry office may also ask for identity documents of the person who died and of the person registering. After registration you can request a multilingual short copy of the death certificate.

Time and cost

There is no single timeframe. It depends on, among other things, whether a post-mortem or investigation is needed, how quickly the death certificate is issued, when permits are granted and which transport is chosen.

The price is also set case by case. It is affected by the pick-up and destination locations, the method of transport, the type of casket or urn and additional fees. Usually the family ordering the service pays, unless insurance covers the cost.

What this means for you

You can handle the formalities yourself, but they involve two countries. Polish Express advises against deciding on cremation or transport before checking which forms of burial and handling of ashes are allowed in the UK. The UK government recommends talking to a funeral director about transport options. A funeral director experienced in international transfers usually manages much of the work, from transport to paperwork. Before choosing a firm, ask for a clear description of the service and its price.