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

> To repatriate a body or ashes to Poland from the UK, get UK permission to move the person, then a permit from the starosta or city mayor where the burial will take place. Take that permit to a Polish consulate, which issues a certificate for the transport. At the time of writing the consular fee is £53.

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

Many Polish families in the UK want a loved one buried in Poland, often in a family grave. Whether you're taking a body or ashes, Polish law sets out two clear steps, and the Polish Embassy in London publishes exactly what you need. This guide explains the UK permissions, the Polish documents and how long each step takes.

**Key points**

- **Register the death** and, for a body, get **UK permission** to move the person.
- In Poland, you need **permission from the starosta** (or city mayor) where the burial will take place. It's free.
- Then a **Polish consulate issues a certificate** for the transport. At the time of writing the fee is **£53**.
- Both Polish authorities must act **within three days**, according to the Embassy.
- **Ashes need the same two steps** as a body.
- The body can travel by **air or specialist road vehicle**.

## 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 before a body can leave |
|---|---|
| **England and Wales** | The coroner's permission, whether or not the death was reported to a coroner. The funeral director gives notice of intention to remove the body (often called "Form 104") with the green form or the coroner's order, at least **four clear days** before the move, unless the coroner releases sooner. |
| **Scotland** | Register in Scotland (Form 14). GOV.UK points to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and 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, once satisfied about the cause of death. |

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

## Step 1: the starosta permission

Under Poland's 1959 Cemeteries Act, a body or ashes can only be brought into Poland with permission from the **starosta**, or the **city mayor (prezydent miasta)**, for the place where the burial will be. The authority consults the sanitary inspector first.

- **No fee** is charged.
- The application must be **in Polish** or accompanied by a **sworn translation**.
- You'll need the **death certificate**. The Embassy's page mentions the coroner's death certificate, so ask your funeral director which UK document to send.

Relatives in Poland, or a Polish funeral home acting for the family, can apply locally.

## Step 2: the Polish consul's certificate

The Embassy's consular section in London and the Consulates General in **Manchester**, **Edinburgh** and **Belfast** issue the certificate. Appointments are booked by email. Take:

- the **starosta permission**
- a copy of the **death certificate**
- the **embalming certificate** (for a body) or **cremation certificate** (for ashes), as the English original
- the **funeral director's statement** that the coffin or urn is secured for transport
- a **power of attorney** if someone else, such as a funeral director, applies for you.

At the time of writing the fee is **£53**. Some older websites show £43, which is out of date.

## Timings

| Step | Timing |
|---|---|
| Registration | Within the legal limit for the nation; can often be done sooner |
| Coroner (England and Wales) | Up to four clear days after notice, unless released sooner |
| Starosta permission | Within three days, per the Embassy |
| Consul's certificate | Within three days, per the Embassy |
| Transport | Depends on flights or road schedules |

Apply for the starosta permission while the UK permissions are under way, to save time.

## Faith considerations: Catholic practice

Most Poles are Catholic. The funeral usually centres on a **funeral Mass**, followed by burial, often in a family grave that relatives tend on All Saints' Day. Some families hold a Mass in the UK before the person travels, and another in Poland.

The Catholic Church permits **cremation**, but asks that ashes be buried or placed in a sacred place such as a cemetery or columbarium, rather than scattered or kept at home. Taking ashes to a family grave in Poland fits this well and is usually simpler and cheaper than moving a body.

## Costs

Taking a body usually costs much more than taking ashes, because of embalming, a suitable sealed coffin and specialist air or road transport. Other costs include sworn translations, the £53 consular fee, the Mass and burial in Poland. Ask at least two specialists for itemised written quotes.

The GOV.UK eligibility page says the **Funeral Expenses Payment** can cover a funeral in the UK, the EEA or Switzerland, which includes Poland. The underlying rules are narrower, so it **may apply only in limited circumstances** linked to the claimant's residence or work rights. Check with the DWP before relying on it. 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. See [help paying for a funeral](/uk/guides/help-paying-for-a-funeral/).

## Alternatives

- **Cremation in the UK and taking the ashes** to Poland, with the same two permissions.
- **Burial in the UK**, with a Mass for the person in their home parish in Poland.

## Where to get help

- Our [repatriation guide](/uk/guides/repatriation/) and [Polish funerals in the UK](/uk/guides/polish-funerals-in-the-uk/).
- [Catholic funeral directors](/uk/catholic-funeral-directors/) or [funeral directors near you](/uk/funeral-directors-near-me/).
- Our guide to [Catholic funerals](/faiths/catholic/).
- See also [repatriation to Ireland](/uk/guides/repatriation-to-ireland/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the starosta permission?

Polish law requires permission from the starosta, or the city mayor (prezydent miasta), for the place where the burial will be. It is issued after consulting the sanitary inspector, there is no fee, and the application must be in Polish or have a sworn translation.

### How much does the Polish consulate charge?

The Polish Embassy in London lists a fee of £53 for the consul's certificate at the time of writing. Some older websites still show £43, which is out of date. The starosta permission itself is free.

### How long does it take?

The Polish Embassy says both the starosta and the consulate must act within three days. The UK side adds time too, including registration and, in England and Wales, the coroner's notice period of up to four clear days unless released sooner.

### Can we take ashes to Poland ourselves?

Yes, but ashes need the same two steps as a body: the starosta permission and the consul's certificate. Ashes in a sealed container may then travel by any means, including with a relative on a flight, subject to the airline's rules.

### Can the body travel to Poland by road?

Yes. Polish rules allow transport by road in specialist vehicles. Ask your funeral director whether they offer road repatriation to Poland or work with a firm that does.

## 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/)
- [Embassy of Poland in London – Certificate for bringing a body or ashes to Poland](https://www.gov.pl/web/wielkabrytania/zaswiadczenie-na-sprowadzenie-zwlok-lub-prochow-szczatkow-do-kraju)
- [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)
- [nidirect – Funeral Expenses Payment](https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/funeral-expenses-payment)