English-speaking funeral director in Copenhagen – repatriation and local funerals
When someone dies far from home, you need one person who speaks your language and knows the Danish system. Call us day or night on +45 31 12 66 67. We answer the phone ourselves, and you decide when we come. Annika Bruun handles everything in English, from the first call until your loved one is home – or laid to rest here in Denmark.
Three ways we can help
How repatriation from Denmark works
Taking a body out of Denmark requires a set of documents and a coffin that meets international transport rules. We take care of each step and keep you updated along the way.
- The death is registered. A doctor issues the Danish death certificate, and we report the death to the local parish office – this applies whether or not the deceased belonged to the church.
- Health statement. The doctor confirms whether the deceased had an infectious disease. The authorities need this before the body may leave the country.
- The coffin. For most countries the coffin must have a sealed, soldered zinc lining. Within the Nordic countries a sound, tightly closed coffin is enough, unless the airline or carrier asks for more.
- Embalming. If the body is to be flown, embalming is required – again except to Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland.
- The corpse passport (ligpas). The Danish Patient Safety Authority issues it, in Danish and English. It travels with the coffin.
- Legalisation, if needed. Some countries require the corpse passport to be legalised by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We check the rules for your country.
- Flight and handover. We book cargo transport with the airline and agree the handover with the receiving funeral director at home.
Check your travel insurance first
If the deceased had travel or health insurance, call the insurer before you sign anything. Many policies cover repatriation, and the insurer often works with an international funeral director. We are happy to work alongside them as the funeral director on the Danish side. Without insurance, the family pays, and we give you a fixed price before we begin.
Your embassy
Let your embassy in Copenhagen know about the death. Embassies can help with information and with contacting family, and some countries need their own documents for a burial at home. They do not pay for repatriation or arrange the practical side – that is our job.
Questions from families abroad
How long does repatriation take?
[ANNIKA: realistic number of days from death to flight, e.g. within Europe vs. outside Europe]. It depends mostly on the death certificate, the corpse passport and available cargo space. We tell you the expected date as soon as the documents are in place.
Can we take the urn on the plane ourselves?
Often, yes. Danish rules do not require a corpse passport for ashes. Each airline and destination country has its own rules, though, so we check them and give you the documents you need to carry with the urn.
Can we see our loved one before the coffin is sealed?
Yes. We arrange a quiet viewing in Copenhagen before the zinc lining is soldered shut. After that, the coffin cannot be opened.
Can the funeral in Denmark be held in English?
Yes. A non-religious ceremony in a chapel can be held entirely in English, and we lead it if you wish. For a church funeral, we contact the church about an English-speaking priest.
The deceased was British. Will there be an inquest?
In England and Wales, a coroner may hold an inquest if the death was violent, unnatural or of unknown cause, and may order a new post-mortem when the body comes home. If only the ashes are brought home, no inquest is held. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.
Are the Danish documents in English?
The corpse passport is issued in Danish and English. The Danish death certificate is in Danish, and some authorities abroad ask for a certified translation. We tell you what your country needs.