Repatriation of a deceased person from Antalya and Turkey

1. Official confirmation of death

A doctor certifies the death, and the Turkish authorities issue the official death documentation. If the death was sudden or followed an accident, the police or prosecutor may be involved, and a post-mortem examination may be required before the deceased can be released.

2. Inform the consulate and the insurer

• Consulate or embassy: contact the consulate of the deceased's country in Turkey. It can register the death and advise on the documents the home country requires.
• Travel insurer: if the deceased had travel insurance, call the emergency line and open a case. Many policies include repatriation of mortal remains. Check the policy wording. We work under insurers' guarantees of payment and send case reports to the insurer or assistance company.

3. Preparation for international transport

For international air transport, the deceased usually needs to be embalmed and placed in a hermetically sealed coffin that meets airline and destination-country requirements. This preparation is carried out by a licensed funeral service. Repatriation Antalya does not hold its own funeral licence: we coordinate the repatriation together with a licensed funeral partner.

4. The flight and arrival at home

The coffin travels as air cargo under the airline's rules, together with the required documents. At the destination, a funeral director chosen by the family collects the deceased at the airport and arranges the funeral at home. We coordinate the handover so that the family knows what happens at each step.

Documents that are usually involved

The exact list depends on the destination country and the consulate. It often includes:

• the passport of the deceased
• the official death documentation issued in Turkey, often with a translation
• an embalming certificate and a certificate for the sealed coffin
• documents from the consulate of the destination country
• the airline's cargo documents

The required documents depend on the destination country. Your coordinator will tell you exactly what is needed in your case.

Costs and timing

Costs depend on the circumstances, the destination and the services required. They are quoted individually, and you receive a written quote before anything is booked. The timing depends on the authorities, the consulate and flight availability, so we cannot give a general timeframe. Your coordinator will keep you informed at each step.

Why families and insurers contact us

• Available 24/7 by phone and WhatsApp
• Worldwide: repatriation between any two countries, coordinated from our Antalya base
• One coordinator for the whole process, so the family deals with one person
• Written quote before booking
• We work under insurers' guarantees of payment and send case reports to insurers and assistance companies
• Cases handled in English, German, Russian and Turkish

Frequently asked questions

What should we do first if a family member has died in Antalya?

Contact the consulate of the deceased's country in Turkey and, if there was travel insurance, the insurer's emergency line. You can also contact us at any time. We will explain the steps and coordinate the repatriation with you.

Does travel insurance cover repatriation of a deceased person?

Many travel insurance policies include repatriation of mortal remains, but cover differs between policies. Check the policy wording and open a case with the insurer. We work under insurers' guarantees of payment.

Which documents are needed to repatriate a body from Turkey?

The exact list depends on the destination country and the consulate. It often includes the passport, the official death documentation from Turkey, an embalming certificate, a certificate for the sealed coffin and consular documents. We help the family understand what is needed in their case.

How long does repatriation of a deceased person from Turkey take?

It depends on the authorities, the consulate and flight availability, so there is no general timeframe. Your coordinator keeps you informed at each step.

Can you repatriate a deceased person to any country?

Yes. We coordinate repatriation of deceased persons from Antalya and the rest of Turkey to any country, with 24/7 coverage from our Antalya base.