What to do if someone dies in Bulgaria

The phone call nobody prepares for. A loved one has died in Bulgaria, and you are trying to understand what happens next while in a state of shock. This guide sets out the practical steps, in order, so you know what to expect and what your repatriation specialist will be managing on your behalf.

Step 1: Notify the British Embassy Sofia

The British Embassy in Sofia must be notified as soon as possible. Consular staff will register the death with UK authorities, issue a Notice to a Coroner (if required on your return), and advise on the Bulgarian documentation sequence.

The FCDO 24-hour emergency line is +44 1908 516666. If you are already in Bulgaria, the Embassy direct line is +359 2 933 9222. Do not wait until business hours.

Step 2: The Bulgarian death certificate

The death must be registered at the local municipality (obshtina) in the area where the death occurred. For deaths in Black Sea resort towns, this is the local town administration. A Bulgarian death certificate, the Akta za smartta, is issued. This document will need to be translated before it can be used in the UK.

For any sudden, unexplained, or violent death, the Regional Prosecutor’s Office must authorise the release of the body before it can be transferred anywhere. This step can take 3 to 7 days and cannot be bypassed.

Step 3: Post-mortem at the Regional Forensic Medicine Institute

If the death was unnatural, sudden, or where the cause is not immediately clear from a medical examination, a post-mortem is required. Bulgaria’s Regional Forensic Medicine Institutes conduct these examinations. The Institute in Sofia handles the highest volume. Institutes in provincial cities, particularly in coastal resort areas during summer, can be stretched in peak season.

Allow 5 to 10 days for a post-mortem result in normal circumstances. During July and August, when the volume of tourist deaths in Black Sea resorts increases, delays are longer.

Step 4: Mandatory embalming

Bulgarian law requires embalming for all international repatriations. This must be carried out by a licensed Bulgarian funeral director. Embalming cannot be done by the UK funeral director after arrival. The embalming certificate issued by the Bulgarian funeral director forms part of the documentation package.

This requirement is not negotiable, and the cost is included in your repatriation quote.

Step 5: Certificate of freedom from contagious disease

The Regional Health Inspectorate (RZI) issues a certificate confirming the deceased did not die of an infectious disease that poses a public health risk. This certificate is required for all international repatriations from Bulgaria under the Council of Europe Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses (Strasbourg, 1973). Source: Council of Europe, Treaty Office, ETS No. 080.

Step 6: The laissez-passer

The laissez-passer is the official international transit permit for human remains. In Bulgaria, it is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or through the municipality. Your repatriation specialist will prepare and submit the application. Once issued, the body can be booked onto a commercial cargo flight from Sofia.

Step 7: Air freight from Sofia

Sofia Airport (SOF) has direct routes to London Heathrow and Gatwick. The human remains travel as air freight in a hermetically sealed zinc-lined coffin. Your UK funeral director will collect the body from the cargo facility on arrival and advise on next steps for the funeral.

What families can do from the UK

Your primary task is to appoint a UK repatriation specialist and provide them with the key documents: the deceased’s passport, travel insurance policy, and the name and contact of whoever is on the ground in Bulgaria. The specialist manages the Bulgarian-side process. Most families do not need to travel to Bulgaria.

If the deceased had travel insurance with repatriation cover, the insurer must be notified immediately. Many policies cover all costs. The insurer may have a preferred repatriation provider. Source: Association of British Insurers guidance on travel insurance and repatriation (2023).