Personal details
Information about your loved one, including their full name, date of birth and passport details. We’ll also ask for any documents you’ve received from local authorities, hospitals or police.
Repatriation
If a loved one dies while they’re interstate or overseas, we’ll help you bring them home.
Bringing them home
If your loved one dies interstate or overseas, you can call us anytime and we’ll help bring them home. We’ll coordinate the arrangements on your behalf, working with funeral directors, authorities and transport providers to complete the necessary paperwork before they travel.
We’ll keep you informed throughout the process and bring your loved one into our care when they arrive. From there, your Funeral Specialist will be there to help you plan their funeral.
Repatriation from interstate or overseas
The process will depend on whether your loved one died interstate or overseas, and whether they are brought home for burial or cremation, or cremated overseas with their ashes returned to Australia.
Interstate repatriation is generally more straightforward, with your loved one travelling by road or air within Australia. International repatriation can involve additional legal requirements and documentation in the country where your loved one died, as well as requirements for bringing them into Australia.
What we’ll arrange
Repatriation can involve a number of practical, legal and administrative requirements.
1. Contact us
If a loved one has died overseas, call us straight away. We’ll talk through your options, explain the next steps, and start the process of repatriation.
2. We coordinate the arrangements
We’ll work with funeral directors, authorities and transport providers to coordinate the necessary paperwork and travel arrangements. For international repatriation, this may include fulfilling requirements in the country where they died.
3. We bring your loved one home
Once the necessary requirements are complete, we’ll arrange the journey home and bring your loved one into our care. Your Funeral Specialist can then help you plan their funeral.
What you’ll need to decide
There are a few decisions to make before your loved one comes home. The rest can wait until they’re in our care.
Before they come home
These decisions will help determine what needs to happen before your loved one can make the journey home.
How you’d like to bring them home
You can bring your loved one home for their funeral, hold the funeral where they are, or arrange for them to be cremated there and bring their ashes home.
Who will authorise the arrangements
We’ll need to understand who is authorised to make decisions and complete any required paperwork.
Contact their insurer
If your loved one had travel insurance, contact their insurer as soon as possible. Their policy may cover some repatriation costs or help coordinate the arrangements.
After they come home
Once your loved one is back in our care, you can focus on how you’d like to say goodbye.
Spend time with your loved one
If you’d like to spend some private time with your loved one before the funeral, your Funeral Specialist can arrange a viewing.
Choose burial or cremation
If this hasn’t already been decided, we’ll talk you through the options for burial or cremation.
Arrange the funeral service
When you’re ready, we’ll help you plan a funeral service that reflects your loved one and the life they lived.
What do I do when someone has died overseas?
If your loved one dies overseas, contact us as soon as you can and we’ll help you understand what needs to happen to bring them home.
If they had travel insurance, you should also contact their insurer as soon as possible, as they may help coordinate the arrangements and cover some or all of the costs. The nearest Australian embassy, high commission or consulate can also provide guidance on local processes and help you communicate with local authorities.
We’ll work with the relevant people and organisations to coordinate your loved one’s repatriation to Australia.
Information we’ll need
The information and documents needed will depend on where your loved one died and the circumstances. We’ll let you know what’s required.
Contact details
Your contact details and relationship to your loved one, as well as details of the family member or person authorised to make decisions about their arrangements.
Insurance details
If your loved one was travelling overseas, we may need their travel insurance details and information about their travel arrangements.
Bringing your loved one home or bringing their ashes
You can bring your loved one home for burial or cremation in Australia, or arrange for them to be cremated where they died and bring their ashes home. We’ll talk you through both options and arrange what’s required.
How long does repatriation take, and how much does it cost?
The time and cost of repatriation will depend on where your loved one died, how they will be brought home and the legal and transport requirements involved. We’ll explain the expected timeframe and costs based on your circumstances.
Bringing your loved one home for burial or cremation in Australia
Bringing your loved one home for burial or cremation in Australia involves coordinating the required documentation, preparation and transport. The timeframe and cost will vary depending on the country, circumstances and travel arrangements.
Bringing your loved one’s ashes home
If your loved one is cremated where they died, bringing their ashes home generally involves fewer transport and Australian biosecurity requirements. Local laws and airline or courier requirements may still apply.
We're ready to help
Call us before you arrange anything overseas
Arrangements made overseas can be hard to undo and costly to change. One call to us first, day or night, and we'll tell you what to do next.
When they arrive home
When your loved one arrives home, we’ll bring them into our care. From there, your Funeral Specialist will help you arrange a viewing if you wish, and plan a funeral service that feels right for your loved one and your family.
Farewells for all faiths, cultures and traditions
Whether your loved one’s farewell will include traditional rituals, modern touches or a blend of both, we plan funeral services for families from all cultural, religious and personal backgrounds.
What families
remember most
