Repatriation of human remains/ashes

For the repatriation to Italy of Human remains/ashes, the family or the appointed Funeral Director in the UK must forward to the Welfare Department of the Consulate General the correct application with full particulars of the deceased – name, surname (maiden surname for married women), place and date of birth and place, date and cause of death. It is important to specify the Cemetery and details of the tomb/plot where the burial is to take place.

The Consulate General will then forward a request to the Municipality where the human remains/ashes are to be interred. Once the necessary authorisation has been received, the Consulate General will arrange with the family and/or the Funeral Director an appointment for the Consular seals to be affixed to the coffin/casket. A Consular certificate will also be issued at this point to accompay the coffin/casket onto Italian territory.

On the day of the appointment, the following documents must be presented in original:

Human remains – documents and coffin requirements

1. Original death certificate legalised by means of an Apostille;
2. Embalming certificate;
3. Doctor’s certificate stating the deceased did not suffer from any infectious of contagious disease;
4. Coroner’s “Out of England”;
5. Passport or Identity card of the deceased (if the deceased is of Italian nationality);
6. Consular Fee (variable – payable in cash or by UK debit card);
7. Funeral Director’s declaration;
8. In the case of a Coroner’s Interim Certificate being presented, the Funeral director must undertake to obtain, once the inquest is closed, a copy of the Death certificate issued by the Registrar, have it legalised and forward it to the Consulate General.

Human remains repatriation and coffin specification

1. The body must be embalmed and in a sanitary state of preservation for transportation;
2. The body must be place in a zinc casket, not less than 0.66 mm thick or in a lead casket not less than 1.5 mm thick. The metal casket must be hermetically sealed by soldering;
3. The metal casket must be further enclosed in an outer casket of solid wood, with a thickness of no less than 25 mm throughout. The base must not be made of more than five pieces of wood, each joint being secured with a strong and permanent glue and firmly joined to the walls with nails at 20 cm intervals. Between the walls of the metal casket and the outer wooden outer casket there shall be a layer of pulverized peat, wood sawdust or other suitable absorbent material;
4. It is permitted to use either a casket or a coffin. Carvings are also permitted provided that the minimum thickness of the timber is not less that 25 mm at any point;
5. At the head and foot of the casket/coffin, over one of the screws, it is necessary to make a circular hole with a router, 4 cm in diameter and 1 cm deep for the Consular seals to be affixed.

Ashes – documents and casket requirements

1. Original death certificate legalised by means of an Apostille;
2. Passport or Identity card of the deceased (if the deceased is of Italian nationality);
3. Cremation certificate;
4. Consular Fee (variable – payable in cash or by UK debit card);
5. Funeral Director’s declaration;
6. In the case of a Coroner’s Interim Certificate being presented, the Funeral director must undertake to obtain, once the inquest is closed, a copy of the Death certificate issued by the Registrar, have it legalised and forward it to the Consulate General.

Casket requirements

1. The ashes must be place in a solid hardwood casket. The casket does not need to be zinc lined.
2. A plaque bearing the name, surname, date of birth and date of death of the deceased should be placed on the top of the casket.
3. In order for the Consular Official to affix the seal, which will be placed on the underside/bottom of the casket, it is necessary to make a routered/hollowed hole over one of the screws, 4 cm in diameter and 1 cm deep.

For further information please contact the Welfare Department on the following email: sociale.londra@esteri.it.