What to do if someone dies in Croatia

Croatia’s coastline is the context for most British deaths here. Dubrovnik’s Old City steps, sailing between islands, swimming at Makarska, cycling on Brac. Beautiful settings carry their own risks, and the geography that makes Croatia so appealing is the same geography that complicates the repatriation process.

Call 112 for emergency services. Police and ambulance attend. A physician certifies the death. In Croatia, unnatural deaths, which include accidents, drownings, and deaths where the cause is not immediately established by a treating doctor, are referred to the state attorney (državni odvjetnik). The state attorney decides whether a judicial investigation is required. If yes, the body cannot move until that process is complete.

Deaths on islands

This is the most common complication for British families. If your family member died on Hvar, Korcula, Brac, Vis, or any other Dalmatian island, the body must be transferred to the mainland before any repatriation preparation can begin. There is no embalming on the islands. There are no zinc-lined coffins on the islands. The pathologist, if one is required, is on the mainland.

Ferry schedules run on fixed timetables. In peak summer (July-August), ferries are heavily loaded with tourists and vehicles. Island transfer typically takes half a day to a full day depending on the island and the time of year.

Contact the British Embassy Zagreb at +385 1 600 9100. If the death occurred on the Dalmatian coast or in Split, the Honorary Consulate in Split can provide initial assistance. The Embassy will provide a list of Croatian funeral directors with UK repatriation experience and can help with family contact in the UK.

Notify your travel insurer immediately. Summer in Croatia means peak capacity for tourist accident cases. Travel insurance with full repatriation cover is essential.

The documentation set

The Croatian death certificate, the Smrtni List, is issued by the local civil registry. It shows cause of death but is in Croatian. Croatian funeral directors handling international repatriation will prepare certified translations. Embalming and zinc-lined coffin preparation follow. Permission to transport remains from Croatia is required from the civil authorities.

Split and Dubrovnik airports handle cargo directly. Zagreb is an alternative for mainland cases. Croatia Airlines and charter cargo services operate to London Gatwick and Heathrow. Flight time is approximately two and a half to three hours.

On arrival in the UK, the receiving funeral director notifies the coroner. Croatian documentation with cause of death certified is typically accepted without further UK inquest for natural causes.

For the full process, costs and documentation checklist, see our repatriation from Croatia guide.