Important requirements when transporting human remains.

We are a recognised associated member of FIAT-IFAT (Federation Internationale des Associations de Thanatologues (FIAT) – International Federation of Thanatologist Association (IFTA). The only internationally recognised funeral federation with members in over 80 countries to ensure your loved one are in good hands. 

We have handled and assisted hundreds of customers to repatriate their loved ones to and from the UK and internationally. 

Below are just some of cases studies and testimonials of some of our work.

As a repatriation freight agent, we are experienced, professional, and passionate about what we do. We listen to you, our customers; in your hour of need, guide and help you to make sure your loved one is returned to you with care and consideration. 

At Aerona, we have extensive experience in arranging the repatriation of your loved one from anywhere in the world and thanks to our experience, reliability, plus dependable associates of funeral directors both locally and internationally. 

When your loved One Dies Abroad

If your loved once dies abroad, you must register the death with the local authorities in the country where the person died. https://www.gov.uk/register-a-death. This must be done within 5 days, 9 or 8 days in Scotland – this includes weekends and bank holidays. 

Bringing the body home 

To bring the body home you must:
Get a certified English translation of the death certificate.
Get permission to remove the body, issued by a coroner (or equivalent) in country where the person died
Tell a coroner in England if the death was violent or unnatural 

Contact a register office – Once the body is home.

Once the body is home, take the death certificate to the https://www.gov.uk/register-offices in the area where the funeral is taking place.

As the death has already been registered abroad, the registrar will give you a ‘certificate of no liability to register’. Give this to the funeral director so the funeral can go ahead.

If you’re arranging the funeral yourself, give the certificate back to the registrar after the funeral’s taken place. You must do this within 96 hours of the funeral. 

Case Studies and Testimonials 

Case Study 1 – Overcoming a problem in Russia. 
The wife of Mr S sadly passed away after a short illness. He contacted us at Aerona Customs Clearing Agents, whilst still emotionally challenged about the loss of his beloved wife. As his wife was from Russia (St. Petersburg) he wanted us to send her ashes to Russia on his behalf. 

Shipping to Russia and arranging customs is generally not an easy task, sending human remains is daunting and should only be undertaken by the most experienced agents. 

We instructed and directed Mr S to the Russian embassy where he had to make an appointment and take with him all the relevant documentations of his beloved wife translated into Russian. 

Sadly, after being granted an appointment, which was cancelled on two occasions by the embassy, Mr S was once again recalled. Unfortunately it was during this time, that Russia invaded the Ukraine. Consequently all flights to Russia were stopped immediately. 

However, with our help and assistance, Mr S managed to get his wife’s remains into Russia, customs cleared and duly delivered. 

Case Study 2 – Bringing mother back to the UK. 
Ms. G lives in France and her sister lives in the UK. Their mother who had lived in Austria for many years passed away in a home for the elderly. Ms. G did not know how to bring the ashes from Austria to the UK for it to be scattered at their mother’s favourite place when she was growing up in the UK. 

As part of our support, we contacted the local funeral director and cremation and informed them of the relevant paperwork required. We also asked our local agent to arrange the collection and freighting of the ashes to us. 

Once the ashes arrived in the UK, we completed the customs clearance and delivered them to Ms G’s sister in Devon. 

Hello Anthony, Just to say mum is finally safe with my sister. There is a ream of paperwork attached including the elusive airway bill!
Anyway, just to say reviews done and a very big thank you to Aerona and especially you for guiding us through this nightmare. 
Gillian – France 

Case Study 3 – Shipping human remains to China. 
Mr M contacted us about his neighbour, Mr Xian Wu, who died recently after a short illness. The deceased neighbour had no relatives in the UK, but he had said to Mr M that if anything was to happen to him, he would like his remains returned back to a relative in China.   

Mr M spoke to us and explained the problem. The council arranged the funeral. Although Mr M was still having trouble trying to complete his part of the agreement he made with Mr Wu. 

We contacted our associates in China to confirm the rules and regulations regarding the repatriation of the deceased ashes. We also noted our Chinese associate’s advice on what documentations were required and in what format.  We informed Mr M, he got the translation completed and we arranged the collection of the ashes, which we sent to Qingdao for Mr Wu’s final resting place. 

Case Study 4 – Solving a problem over weekend. 
A UK based funeral director in the Midlands contacted us late on Friday afternoon to enquire about import clearance of a deceased person who died whilst on two weeks holiday in Turkey. 

The funeral director, Owen, had made several calls to different agents and no one would agree to complete an entry over the weekend. They all said that it would have to wait until the following Monday. We fully understood the grief the family were going through, and we agreed that to leave their loved one in a freight warehouse over the weekend was completely unacceptable. 

We came to the office on Saturday to arrange the import clearance and Mr Owen, the funeral director, described our endeavors as exceptional. 

Good morning Anthony, I just wanted to express my sincere gratitude for your great assistance and exemplary service with a recent repatriation from Turkey over the weekend. It was a service we struggled to obtain from other providers but one that you dealt with swiftly and professionally, even with a somewhat extended time frame and a few complications. I shall be sure to recommend you to all our colleagues and associates.
– Owen Phelps 

Case Study 5 – Repatriating remains to Austria. 
A London based firm of solicitors contacted us to arrange the transportation of the ashes of Ms R who was from Austria but had lived in the UK for over 50 years. 
We assisted T.S. – the firm of Solicitors in question – to arrange the booking of the flight, notify them of the correct documentations, collect the ashes and through our local agent in Austria, we promptly cleared the ashes through customs and delivered them to the deceased nephew as promised. 

What to do if a British person dies abroad
Information for British nationals in the event of a death abroad, including country-specific information on legal processes.
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/death-abroad-bereavement-packs

Bringing ashes Home
When leaving a country with human ashes you will normally need to show:
The death certificate.
The certificate of cremation

Each country has its own rules about departing with human ashes and there may be additional requirements.
Read https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/death-abroad-bereavement-packs to find out what you need to do.
You’ll need to fill in a standard customs form when you arrive home.

Contact your airline to find out whether you can carry the ashes as hand luggage or as checked-in luggage.They may ask you to put the ashes in a non-metallic container so that they can be x-rayed.

You should not have the person cremated abroad if you want a coroner at home to conduct an inquest into their death. 

Application to register an overseas death
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/death-abroad-bereavement-packs 

Death abroad through murder or manslaughter
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/helping-british-people-abroad-murder-and-manslaughter

Bereavement information in India
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bereavement-information-pack-india

What to do after a British person dies in Thailand
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-person-dies-in-thailand

Death abroad: UK organisations that can help
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/death-abroad-uk-organisations-that-can-help 

What to do after a British person dies in Spain
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-person-dies-in-spain 

What to do after a British person dies in France
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-person-dies-in-france

What to do after a British person dies in Malaysia
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-person-dies-in-malaysia 

What to do after a British person dies in Trinidad and Tobago
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-person-dies-in-trinidad-and-tobago 

What to do after a British person dies in Barbados
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-after-a-british-person-dies-in-barbados 

Our extensive experience also means that we can arrange the necessary customs clearance whilst overseeing all the complex procedures and it is a service we provide 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, 52-weeks a year.

If death has occurred outside the EU we are still able to arrange the customs clearance of human remains at either Manchester or London Heathrow airports.

Please be assured that at all times we endeavour to treat families and their loved one with the utmost dignity and respect.