# Repatriation to India from the UK: documents, steps and timings

> To repatriate a body to India from the UK, get the coroner's permission, then apply to the Indian High Commission or consulate for a No Objection Certificate, which is free if the person held an Indian passport. The body also needs eCARe clearance from India's health ministry. Ashes go through VFS Global and need their own eCARe clearance.

Source: https://funeralfinder.org/uk/guides/repatriation-to-india/ — updated 2026-09-25 — FuneralFinder

Many families with roots in India want a loved one's final rites to take place there. Some repatriate the body; many Hindu and Sikh families cremate in the UK and take the ashes. This guide explains both routes, using the published requirements of the Indian High Commission and consulates.

**Key points**

- A body needs **coroner's permission** to leave the UK, a **No Objection Certificate (NOC)** from the Indian mission and **eCARe clearance** from India's health ministry.
- The NOC is handled **directly by the mission**, not VFS. It's free if the person held an Indian passport, and normally issued the **same day** once you attend.
- **Ashes** go through **VFS Global**, take 7 to 10 days and also need eCARe clearance.
- The **Funeral Expenses Payment** can't be used for a funeral in India.

## The UK side: permission to move the person

Register the death first: within five days of the medical examiner's office confirming it can be registered (England and Wales), eight days (Scotland) or five days (Northern Ireland).

| Where the person died | What's needed |
|---|---|
| **England and Wales** | The coroner's permission. The funeral director gives notice of intention to remove the body out of England (often "Form 104"), with the registrar's green form or the coroner's order, at least **four clear days** before the move, unless the coroner releases sooner. The Indian mission asks for this "out of England" order. |
| **Scotland** | Register in Scotland (Form 14). GOV.UK points to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service; your funeral director will confirm whether a fiscal certificate is needed. |
| **Northern Ireland** | The coroner issues a certificate allowing removal, usually to the funeral director, if satisfied about the cause of death. |

No coroner's permission is needed to take **ashes** abroad.

## Which Indian mission to use

| Mission | Covers |
|---|---|
| **Consulate General, Birmingham** | West Midlands, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Manchester, Merseyside and other counties listed on its website |
| **Consulate General, Edinburgh** | Scotland |
| **High Commission, London** | The rest of England, plus Wales and Northern Ireland |

## Documents for repatriating a body

Register on the Ministry of External Affairs' online consular portal, linked from the mission's website, and upload the documents. After checks, attend in person with the originals:

- miscellaneous application form and photo
- your passport and proof of UK address
- the funeral director's letter taking responsibility
- death certificate
- the coroner's out-of-England order
- free-from-infection certificate and embalming certificate
- the funeral director's certificate that the body is packed and sealed to international regulations
- flight details and the name of the consignee in India
- the deceased's original Indian passport, or OCI or PIO card, for cancellation
- the escort's passport and undertaking, or a next-of-kin affidavit if the body travels unescorted.

At the time of writing, the NOC is free if the person held an Indian passport and £16 otherwise, cash only.

**eCARe clearance:** the funeral director or next of kin then registers on eCARe and uploads the embalming certificate, death certificate, NOC, cancelled passport and packaging certificate. It's free and processed within 48 hours, and the airport health officer needs 48 hours' notice. Originals travel with the body.

## Taking ashes to India

Ashes are handled by **VFS Global**. At the time of writing:

- fee **£47.78** (embassy £16, ICW £2, VFS £29.78)
- an appointment is mandatory, and it takes **7 to 10 days**
- documents include the death certificate, cremation certificate, the funeral director's certificate that the urn contains the ashes, and proof of Indian origin
- the ashes need their **own eCARe clearance**, stating whether they travel as checked baggage, hand baggage or cargo.

Check the airline's rules too. GOV.UK notes airlines may want a non-metallic container so it can be X-rayed.

## Faith considerations

Hindu and Sikh traditions favour cremation soon after death, so many families cremate in the UK and take the ashes to India for immersion. Hindu families often choose the Ganges; many Sikh families go to Kiratpur Sahib in Punjab. This avoids the time and expense of moving a body. Some Hindu families still repatriate the body for cremation at home, and Christian and Muslim families from India may repatriate for burial.

## Costs

Repatriating a body involves the funeral director's care and paperwork, embalming, a sealed coffin, air freight and costs in India, so it usually costs far more than taking ashes. Get itemised written quotes. The GOV.UK Funeral Expenses Payment requires the funeral to be in the UK, the EEA or Switzerland, so it can't be used for one in India, and Scotland's Funeral Support Payment covers a funeral abroad only in some circumstances. If the cremation takes place in the UK, [help paying for a funeral](/uk/guides/help-paying-for-a-funeral/) explains what may be available.

## Out-of-hours help

For genuine emergencies, the Birmingham consulate lists an out-of-hours WhatsApp number (+44 (0)74245 45269) and Edinburgh an emergency line (+44 7983 029591). London takes urgent appointment requests at cons2.london@mea.gov.in.

## Where to get help

- Our [repatriation guide](/uk/guides/repatriation/).
- [Hindu funeral directors](/uk/hindu-funeral-directors/), [Sikh funeral directors](/uk/sikh-funeral-directors/) or [funeral directors near you](/uk/funeral-directors-near-me/).
- Faith guides: [Hindu](/faiths/hindu/) and [Sikh](/faiths/sikh/) funerals, and [what happens at a cremation](/uk/guides/what-happens-at-a-cremation/).
- See also [repatriation to Pakistan](/uk/guides/repatriation-to-pakistan/) and [Bangladesh](/uk/guides/repatriation-to-bangladesh/).

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does the Indian NOC for a body cost?

At the time of writing, the No Objection Certificate is free if the person held an Indian passport and £16 otherwise, paid in cash. It is normally issued the same day once you attend with the original documents. Other repatriation costs, such as air freight, are separate.

### What is eCARe?

eCARe is the Indian health ministry's online clearance for bringing human remains into India. The funeral director or next of kin registers and uploads the documents. It is free and processed within 48 hours, and the airport health officer needs 48 hours' notice of arrival.

### How do we take ashes to India?

Apply through VFS Global, which handles ashes for the High Commission. At the time of writing the fee is £47.78, an appointment is required and it takes 7 to 10 days. The ashes also need their own eCARe clearance. See our [guide to scattering ashes](/uk/guides/scattering-ashes/).

### Can we get help out of hours?

For genuine emergencies, including the death of an immediate family member, the Birmingham consulate lists an out-of-hours WhatsApp number (+44 (0)74245 45269) and Edinburgh an emergency number (+44 7983 029591). The London High Commission takes urgent appointment requests by email at cons2.london@mea.gov.in.

### Can a British citizen who wasn't an Indian national be repatriated to India?

The missions issue the NOC for Indian nationals and for holders of an OCI or PIO card. If the person held neither, contact the High Commission before making any plans and ask what is possible.

## Sources

- [GOV.UK – Arrange the funeral (moving a body for a funeral abroad)](https://www.gov.uk/after-a-death/arrange-the-funeral)
- [legislation.gov.uk – Removal of Bodies Regulations 1954](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1954/448/made)
- [legislation.gov.uk – Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959, section 25](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/apni/1959/15/section/25)
- [Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service – Contact](https://www.copfs.gov.uk/contact/)
- [High Commission of India, London](https://www.hcilondon.gov.in/)
- [Consulate General of India, Birmingham – Services directly at the consulate](https://www.cgibirmingham.gov.in/page/directly-at-the-consulate/)
- [Consulate General of India, Edinburgh – Consular services information](https://www.cgiedinburgh.gov.in/page/consular-services-information/)
- [Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India – eCARe](https://ecare.mohfw.gov.in/)
- [Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India – International health ports](https://ihpoe.mohfw.gov.in/)
- [GOV.UK – What to do when someone dies abroad (travelling with ashes)](https://www.gov.uk/guidance/what-to-do-when-someone-dies-abroad)
- [GOV.UK – Funeral Expenses Payment eligibility](https://www.gov.uk/funeral-payments/eligibility)
- [mygov.scot – Funeral Support Payment: who can apply](https://www.mygov.scot/funeral-support-payment/who-can-apply-and-when)