When a loved one passes away abroad, families experience significant emotional stress, which can be further intensified if there is no insurance coverage to help with the financial burden of repatriation to Lithuania.
The cost of repatriating human remains from abroad is not as high as it may seem to those who have never faced this situation; however, for many people it becomes a significant and unexpected expense that relatives may not be prepared to cover.
An experienced and highly qualified team is available to assist not only in arranging cost-effective repatriation but also in preparing the required documents to obtain state support. During this challenging time, both practical assistance and affordable solutions are essential for families who have lost a loved one abroad.
What affects the cost of repatriating the deceased from abroad?
The cost of transporting a body from abroad can be influenced by many factors, including the cause of death, the requirements of the foreign country, the method of transportation, the type of transport used, how urgently the deceased must be repatriated, and other circumstances.
Cause of death
Causes of death may vary, including natural death, trauma, sudden worsening of illness, or criminal activity. The longer the remains are kept in a morgue and the longer it takes to determine the cause of death, the more expensive the repatriation of the body becomes. In some countries, fees must be paid for storing human remains in refrigerated morgue facilities.
If a person has died as a result of criminal activity, the procedures are prolonged until forensic experts and the police issue permission for the body to be released to the relatives. This can increase the cost of repatriating the body from abroad.
If a person has died from a contagious infectious disease due to which the transportation of human remains across national borders is prohibited because of the risk of spreading infection, additional services such as cremation may be required. The cost of cremation services depends on the country in which the person died (or was killed). Although it is often assumed that transporting an urn from abroad is cheaper than repatriating a body in a coffin, in some foreign countries the cost of cremation and the transportation of cremated remains may actually increase the overall cost.
Time
It is often said that time is money. Time influences the cost of repatriating human remains from abroad.
Document processing may take 1–7 days or even longer, depending on the cause of death, the procedures in the foreign country, and the specific circumstances. In most cases, the longest part is not the actual transportation of the remains or urn, but obtaining and translating all required documents (permits), as well as securing an apostille, if needed.
The deceased will be repatriated once all fees required by the foreign country have been paid, the investigation has been completed (if the person died under unclear circumstances or as a result of criminal activity), and all necessary transportation permits have been obtained.
If there is a need to transport an urn with ashes urgently, this may further increase the already significant costs of repatriation. Therefore, in some cases, we recommend that relatives who have chosen cremation opt for a more economical transportation plan.
Transport method and mode
Human remains in a double zinc-lined coffin or ashes in an urn? Transporting human remains by specialized vehicle or by plane? Which is more economical and faster?
Cost-efficiency and speed depend on each individual case. It is often assumed that transportation by air or the repatriation of human remains in a coffin is more expensive than transportation by specialized road vehicle or the repatriation of ashes in an urn. However, this is not always the case; therefore, we always seek an economical and fast solution tailored to each individual situation to ensure the repatriation of the deceased at an affordable cost.
Cost of repatriation by specialized vehicle and ferry
Expenses, which make up the repatriation of the deceased done by specialized vehicles:
- Foreign countries’ local fees. Obtaining permits from various institutions and paying different institutional fees may constitute a significant part of the expenses required for repatriating human remains, depending on the requirements of the country.
- Expenses of foreign state institutions. Some countries require the coverage of expenses incurred for transporting the deceased from the place of death, storage in a morgue, and other related costs.
- In some cases, it may be necessary to prepare the body for repatriation by embalming it.
- A zinc-lined double coffin for transportation that complies with the requirements of Lithuania and foreign countries.
- Transportation costs. Dispatching specialized vehicles with drivers to a foreign country and transporting the body back from abroad. The cost depends on the distance.
- Ferry transportation. In rare cases, when transporting human remains from Scandinavian countries or the United Kingdom, additional ferry expenses may apply.
Repatriation of human remains from abroad: cost by air transport.
When transporting human remains by air, the costs also include fees charged by foreign state authorities, various institutional charges, and the cost of a zinc-lined double coffin, similar to transportation by specialized road vehicles.
Embalming is mandatory when transporting human remains by air. Special permits are also required for air transport of remains, which are not needed when transporting by road. Some airlines require that the coffin be accompanied by a person if it is transported on a passenger aircraft. A ticket must be purchased for the accompanying person.
How to cover the cost of transporting a body from abroad?
A sudden death of a close person abroad requires a significant amount of funds from the relatives remaining in the home country. Some families have savings for a rainy day, but in many cases, financial assistance is needed by the relatives.
Unfortunately, state assistance is limited and requires relatives to initially cover the costs before receiving it. State support is provided within 1–2 months after submitting all documents supporting the expenses for state assistance.
This means that the state covers only €3,996 of the actual repatriation costs, and only after the repatriation itself has been completed. Therefore, if relatives do not have savings, they have to borrow money in order to cover the repatriation expenses.
State support for the repatriation of a deceased person from abroad
Who is eligible to receive state support for repatriation of a deceased person from abroad?
Repatriation of a deceased person from abroad is a relatively expensive service, therefore, in the event of such a tragedy, the Republic of Lithuania provides support. Lithuanian legislation establishes two forms of assistance in the event of death: a funeral benefit and support for the repatriation of remains. Death-related support is granted to any person organizing the repatriation, regardless of their kinship to the deceased, provided that the person meets the requirements set out in the legislation.
What are the conditions for receiving state support for the repatriation of human remains?
Support is provided only to natural persons who organized the transportation of the remains. In this context, organizing the repatriation of a deceased person from abroad is understood as finding a body transport company, collecting the necessary documents and data (such as a death certificate, marriage certificate, etc.), and providing them to the company handling the repatriation, as well as signing a contract with the body transport service provider.
The law does not require the person organizing the transportation of the remains to have any specific relationship with the deceased – there is no requirement to prove kinship or close personal ties. It is also not specified in the legislation that the same person must apply for both the funeral benefit and the repatriation support.
A natural person seeking financial support for the repatriation of human remains must meet the following requirement: at the time of application for support and decision-making, their average income (or per capita family income) per month must be lower than 3 state-supported income amounts. From 01/01/2026, one state-supported income amount is 699 Eur.
This support is not granted for the repatriation of the remains of civil servants, officers, politicians, soldiers, and cadets who, at the time of death (or fatality) abroad, were performing official duties. In such cases, the repatriation of the deceased from abroad is covered by state funds.
When is financial support for the repatriation of human remains granted?
The right to receive support arises on the day when the last document confirming the expenses for the repatriation of the remains is issued.
The body transport company providing this service usually takes care of all the necessary documents proving the expenses.
What is the amount of the provided financial support?
The support corresponds to the actual costs of transporting the remains from abroad to Lithuania. These expenses must not exceed 54 basic social benefit units. From 01/01/2026, one basic social benefit unit (formerly MGL) is €74 (the maximum support is therefore €3996). The amount of support is calculated based on the basic social benefit in force in the month when the beneficiary acquired the right to receive the support.
What documents are required to obtain financial support for the repatriation of human remains?
Applicants seeking support for the repatriation of human remains must, within 12 months from the date the right to support arises, submit to the municipal administration an application, documents confirming the expenses, a medical death certificate, and documents confirming income.