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

> To repatriate a body to Pakistan from the UK, register the death and get the coroner's permission to move the person. In England and Wales, notice goes to the coroner at least four clear days ahead unless they release sooner. Then get a free No Objection Certificate from the Pakistan High Commission or a consulate.

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

Many British Pakistani families want a loved one buried in Pakistan, close to relatives and in their home town or village. This can be arranged, but it needs permission in the UK and a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Pakistan's High Commission or a consulate. This guide sets out the steps, the documents and what affects the timing.

**Key points**

- **Register the death first** and order several certified copies of the death certificate.
- In **England and Wales**, the coroner must give permission before the person leaves the country, even if the death was never reported to a coroner.
- Pakistan's missions issue a **free NOC** for transporting the body. You'll need the death certificate, the deceased's Pakistani ID and **confirmed flight details**.
- **Don't book flights** until the coroner has given permission.
- Islamic practice favours **quick burial**, so tell everyone involved early that it's urgent.
- The **Funeral Expenses Payment usually can't be used** for a funeral in Pakistan.

## The UK side: permission to move the person

Register the death within the usual time limit: in England and Wales, within five days of the medical examiner's office confirming it can be registered; in Scotland, within eight days; in Northern Ireland, within five days. Our [death registration deadline tool](/uk/tools/death-registration-deadline/) can help.

| Where the person died | What's needed before they can leave |
|---|---|
| **England and Wales** | Coroner's permission. Your funeral director gives the coroner notice of intention to remove the body (often called "Form 104") with the registrar's green form or the coroner's order, at least **four clear days** before the move. The coroner can release the person sooner if no further enquiries are needed. |
| **Scotland** | Register the death in Scotland; the registrar issues Form 14 for the funeral director. GOV.UK points families to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. Some councils mention a "Furth of Scotland" certificate where the fiscal is involved, so ask your funeral director. |
| **Northern Ireland** | Tell the coroner the person is leaving Northern Ireland. If satisfied about the cause of death, the coroner issues a certificate, usually to the funeral director, allowing removal. |

## Documents from Pakistan's High Commission or consulates

The key document is a **No Objection Certificate (NOC)** for transporting the body. Each mission publishes its own list, and they differ slightly. At the time of writing:

| Mission | What it asks for |
|---|---|
| **Consulate, Birmingham** | Original death certificate and a copy; the deceased's original Pakistani passport and/or NADRA identity card and a copy; your own valid ID and a copy; confirmed flight details. Free, walk-in. Tel 0121 643 1979, parepbirmingham@phclondon.org. |
| **Consulate, Bradford** | Death certificate; the deceased's valid Pakistani passport or NADRA card; confirmed flight details. Free, walk-in. It warns that missing documents cause delays. |
| **Consulate General, Manchester** | Death certificate; coroner's certificate; proof of Pakistani identity; flight details; a written undertaking from a relative or friend that the coffin will go straight to the burial ground and won't be opened; an application letter to the Community Welfare Attaché. Tel 0161 225 3368, cwa.manchester@phclondon.org. |
| **High Commission, London** | Lists issuing NOCs for human remains among its community services. Contact the First Secretary (Consular Affairs) on 020 7664 9246 or cwd@phclondon.org. |

Opening hours differ between missions and on Fridays, so check the mission's website before you travel. If the person was a British citizen without Pakistani ID, ask the mission what it will accept, as we could not confirm this.

## What affects the timing

The consulates want **confirmed flight details**, but you shouldn't book until the **coroner has given permission**. So the order is usually: register the death, get the coroner's permission, book the flight, then collect the NOC. A specialist funeral director will run these steps side by side where they can.

Time is mostly taken by registration, the coroner's notice period (up to four clear days in England and Wales, unless released sooner), mission opening hours and airline cargo space. No Pakistani mission's UK page promises a same-day or out-of-hours NOC, and weekends and bank holidays can add delay.

## Faith considerations: an urgent Muslim burial

Islamic practice favours washing (ghusl), shrouding and burial as soon as possible, so repatriation always involves a trade-off with time.

- Tell the **hospital bereavement office, medical examiner's office and coroner's office** straight away that this is an urgent faith burial. The coroner can release the person before the four days are up.
- Some families hold the **janazah prayer** in the UK before the flight, and again in Pakistan.
- Ask your funeral director whether the **airline requires embalming**. Many Muslim families prefer to avoid it, and the Pakistani missions' document lists don't mention an embalming certificate.
- Cremation isn't an option in Islam, and the missions' pages don't cover ashes.

## Costs

Costs vary with the airline, route and time of year. Expect to pay for the funeral director's collection, care and paperwork, a coffin suitable for air freight, air cargo charges, relatives' flights, and burial costs in Pakistan. The NOC itself is free. Ask at least two specialists for itemised written quotes.

The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) has said that PIA carries the bodies of overseas Pakistanis free on routes it operates, and that OPF runs a free 24-hour ambulance from Pakistan's international airports to the home town. PIA has since been privatised, so **check whether this still applies**.

State help is limited. The GOV.UK [Funeral Expenses Payment](/uk/guides/help-paying-for-a-funeral/) needs the funeral to be in the UK, the EEA or Switzerland, so it usually can't be used for a funeral in Pakistan. In Northern Ireland the funeral must usually be in the UK, and Scotland's Funeral Support Payment covers a funeral abroad only in some circumstances. Check any life insurance, and whether the person belonged to a mosque or community funeral scheme.

## Alternatives

- **Burial in the UK.** Many cemeteries have Muslim sections, and a UK burial can usually happen sooner. Relatives can also visit the grave more easily. Search our [cemeteries directory](/uk/cemeteries/).
- A funeral in the UK, with relatives in Pakistan holding prayers and gatherings at home.

## Where to get help

- Our [repatriation guide](/uk/guides/repatriation/) covers the whole process.
- Find specialists in our [Muslim funeral directors](/uk/muslim-funeral-directors/) listings, or search [funeral directors near you](/uk/funeral-directors-near-me/) and ask about Pakistan experience.
- Read about [Muslim funerals](/faiths/muslim/).
- Also see [repatriation to Bangladesh](/uk/guides/repatriation-to-bangladesh/) and [repatriation to India](/uk/guides/repatriation-to-india/).

## Frequently asked questions

### Is there a fee for the NOC to send a body to Pakistan?

The Pakistan consulates in Birmingham and Bradford say the No Objection Certificate is free and that you can walk in during office hours. The funeral director's charges, the coffin and air freight are separate and can be considerable. Check the latest details with the mission before you go.

### Can we get the NOC at the weekend or out of hours?

None of the Pakistani missions' UK pages we checked promise a same-day or out-of-hours NOC. Gather the documents early and ask the mission covering your area how it handles urgent cases. An experienced Muslim funeral director will know the usual arrangements.

### What if the person who died had no Pakistani passport or NADRA card?

The missions' lists ask for the deceased's Pakistani ID, such as a passport or NADRA identity card. We could not confirm what happens when a British citizen has neither, so contact the High Commission or consulate before booking anything and ask what they will accept.

### Does PIA still fly bodies to Pakistan free of charge?

The Overseas Pakistanis Foundation has said that PIA carries the bodies of overseas Pakistanis free on routes it operates, and that OPF runs a free ambulance from Pakistan's international airports to the home town. PIA has since been privatised, so check with PIA and OPF whether this still applies.

### Should we bury in the UK instead?

Some families do, because Islamic practice favours burial as soon as possible and a UK burial can usually happen sooner. Many UK cemeteries have Muslim sections. Our [Muslim funerals guide](/faiths/muslim/) explains the rites either way.

## 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/)
- [Consulate of Pakistan, Birmingham – Transport of deceased to Pakistan](https://www.pakistanconsulatebirmingham.com/transport-of-deceased-to-pakistan)
- [Consulate of Pakistan, Bradford – Repatriation of the deceased](https://www.pakistanconsulatebradford.com/mess-page/mess-pag3.html)
- [Consulate General of Pakistan, Manchester – Community Welfare Wing](https://www.pakistanconsulatemanchester.org/community-welfare-wing-2/)
- [Pakistan High Commission London – Community affairs](https://www.phclondon.org/community-affairs)
- [Overseas Pakistanis Foundation](https://opf.org.pk/)
- [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)
- [nidirect – Funeral Expenses Payment](https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/funeral-expenses-payment)