At a glance
- England and Wales
- Form 104 precedes the coroner’s decision on outward removal
- Scotland
- Registrar issues Certificate of Registration of Death, Form 14
- Northern Ireland
- the coroner issues a certificate for outward removal when the cause of death is known
- Routine document collection
- No separate handling fee. Fees charged by authorities or other institutions are paid according to their actual invoice.
- Straightforward case
- Arrival at the confirmed address within 48 hours after official release
What does this page include?
The United Kingdom comprises England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Great Britain refers to the island containing England, Wales and Scotland, not Northern Ireland. For repatriation, the relevant part of the UK must be identified because the place and legal jurisdiction determine the applicable procedure.
The most important initial information is therefore not only the city, but also the jurisdiction. London and Cardiff enter the common system of England and Wales. Edinburgh has a Scottish medical clearance and registration regime. Belfast follows the rules of Northern Ireland.
The difference is not only terminological. The rules of England and Wales require notification of the coroner before outward removal, Scottish sources describe their own registration and medical supervision, and the Northern Ireland portal cites confirmation by the local Coroner.
| Place of death | Initial authority | Confirmed document or decision |
|---|---|---|
| England or Wales | coroner of the area where the deceased is located | notification on Form 104 and Out of England Order |
| Scotland | registrar after Scottish death certification procedure | Certificate of Registration of Death, Form 14 |
| Northern Ireland | Coroner when the deceased is taken out of the country | coroner's certificate for removal |
How is the deceased removed from England or Wales?
Births and Deaths Registration Act 1926 prohibits the removal of a body from England before the expiration of a prescribed period after notifying the competent coroner or in violation of the prescribed procedure.
Gloucestershire Coroner's Service explains the practical step: a Form 104 is submitted, accompanied by a copy of the death certificate if an inquest has not been opened. The Coroner considers whether there is cause to proceed and, when satisfied that removal may proceed, issues an Out of England Order.
The term "Out of England Order" is also used for the jurisdiction of England and Wales. It is not a Serbian sprovodnica or a death certificate. Its function is to confirm that the competent coroner has considered the intended removal from that legal area.
What is reliably confirmed about the case in Scotland?
The Scottish Government specifically states that every death in Scotland must be registered in the Scottish system, even when the deceased will be buried outside the country. After the medical certificate and possible examination, the registrar issues Form 14, i.e. Certificate of Registration of Death.
The new Scottish guidance emphasises that Scotland has a separate system of medical certification, review, registration and reporting to the Procurator Fiscal.
If the death is reported to the Procurator Fiscal or the certificate is selected for medical examination, the registration cannot be declared completed in advance. Form 14 is created only when the registrar is allowed to conclude the registration. Operational preparation does not change the order of the public procedure.
Which decision allows removal from Northern Ireland?
The Official Northern Ireland Portal states that the Coroner is notified when the deceased will be removed for burial or cremation. If the cause of death is known and the Coroner is satisfied with the evidence, he issues a certificate allowing removal.
This certificate is not the same as the England and Wales Form 104. The name of the authority is similar, but the procedure belongs to a different jurisdiction.
How does the British document relate to the burial in the region?
Serbia issues the Serbian sprovodnica through the diplomatic-consular representation and the Serbian Embassy in London publishes specific guidance for UK cases. Bosnia and Herzegovina assigns the application according to the intended burial area. Croatia verifies its consular supporting documents and recorded interment address, while Montenegro distinguishes entry for burial from transit.
An exit document from the appropriate British jurisdiction accompanies the destination application but does not replace it. The same applies to the death certificate and medical report. The intended burial location is required before the final submission because it shows the purpose of the transport and allows verification of the actual consignee.
What information should be sent before document review?
State the city, institution and part of the UK where the death occurred, registration status, information on whether the Coroner or Procurator Fiscal is handling the case, the identity of the deceased and the country with the city of burial.
Fenjer Bestattung collects routine documents without a separate handling fee. In a routine case, arrival within 48 hours is planned once the deceased has been released, the appropriate British procedure has been completed and the destination certificate has been issued. Fees charged by authorities or other institutions are paid according to their actual invoice.
The copy must include the entire document, not just its header. The number of the form indicates the type, but the signatory, date and jurisdiction confirm that the document was indeed issued for a specific case.
Process for this case
- Step 1 of 5
Correct jurisdiction of death
The city is classified in the system of England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
- Step 2 of 5
Registry and medical status
It is checked whether the registration has been completed and who conducts any review.
- Step 3 of 5
Decision on outward removal
Only a document belonging to the actual legal area is used.
- Step 4 of 5
Destination document
The British outward document is reconciled with the country and city of burial.
- Step 5 of 5
Handover at the confirmed location
The originals accompany the deceased to the recipient specified in the request.
Sources and review date
The official sources listed below were reviewed for the statements on this page. Responsibilities and forms can change, so the current version published by the relevant authority remains decisive.
- UK Legislation – official guidance — UK Legislation · reviewed
- UK Legislation – official guidance — UK Legislation · reviewed
- Gloucestershire Coroner Service – official guidance — Gloucestershire Coroner Service · reviewed
- Ministry of Justice – official guidance — Ministry of Justice · reviewed
- Scottish Government – official guidance — Scottish Government · reviewed
- Scottish Government – official guidance — Scottish Government · reviewed
- nidirect – official guidance — nidirect · reviewed
- Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova Republike Srbije – official guidance — Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova Republike Srbije · reviewed
- Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova Republike Srbije – official guidance — Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova Republike Srbije · reviewed
- Ministarstvo vanjskih poslova Bosne i Hercegovine – official guidance — Ministarstvo vanjskih poslova Bosne i Hercegovine · reviewed
- Ministarstvo vanjskih i europskih poslova – official guidance — Ministarstvo vanjskih i europskih poslova · reviewed
- Vlada Crne Gore – official guidance — Vlada Crne Gore · reviewed
Frequently asked questions
Is Great Britain the same as the United Kingdom?
Great Britain includes England, Wales and Scotland, while the United Kingdom also includes Northern Ireland.
What is Form 104?
It is a formal notification to the competent coroner of the intention to remove the deceased from England or Wales.
Who issues the Out of England Order?
It is issued by the competent coroner after notification and assessment of whether outward removal may proceed.
What is Scottish Form 14?
This is the Certificate of Registration of Death issued by the registrar after the Scottish registration has been completed.
How is the deceased removed from Northern Ireland?
The Coroner issues a certificate of removal when he is informed and satisfied of the established cause of death.
Can one UK form be valid in all three jurisdictions?
No. The document is chosen according to the place of death and the legal system that applies there.
When does the stated 48-hour arrival timeframe begin?
It begins only after the appropriate public authority has closed the case, the destination-country permit has been issued and the deceased has been released.