What to do if someone dies in Denmark

When a British National Dies in Denmark

Denmark is one of the more manageable European repatriations. It is a Strasbourg Convention signatory alongside the UK, direct flights operate from Copenhagen Kastrup to multiple UK airports, and the Rigspolitiet and Retsmedicinsk Institut operate efficiently. For mainland Denmark deaths, the process is among the fastest in Europe.

Contact the British Embassy Copenhagen immediately on their 24-hour emergency line. For deaths in Greenland or the Faroe Islands, make this call first; those cases require a different set of contacts and a longer timeline.

Step 1: Report the Death and Police Involvement

All deaths must be reported to the local police district. For natural deaths confirmed by a physician, police involvement is minimal.

For unnatural, sudden, or suspicious deaths, the Rigspolitiet investigates. The local police district coordinates the investigation and issues a clearance once complete. For serious cases, the National Forensic Centre (Nationalt Forensisk Center) may be involved.

Do not move the body at an outdoor scene before the police arrive.

Step 2: Post-Mortem if Required

The Retsmedicinsk Institut (Institute of Forensic Medicine) at the University of Copenhagen performs post-mortems. Regional forensic cases in Jutland go to the Retsmedicinsk Institut at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense or the University of Aarhus.

Post-mortem reports are issued in Danish. Certified English translations are required for UK entry formalities.

Step 3: The Udrejsetilladelse

Once police clearance and the post-mortem report (if any) are in place, Sundhedsstyrelsen (the National Board of Health) issues the Udrejsetilladelse — the international transport permit. As a Strasbourg Convention signatory, Denmark’s transport permit is accepted directly by UK authorities without additional consular legalisation.

Do not book cargo flights before the Udrejsetilladelse is issued.

Step 4: Embalming and Preparation

Embalming to IATA P650 standards is required before international air transport. Danish funeral directors in Copenhagen and other major cities have established repatriation experience.

Step 5: Flights Back to the UK

Copenhagen Airport (CPH) operates direct flights to London Heathrow, Gatwick, and other UK airports with SAS and British Airways. It is one of the best-connected airports in Scandinavia. Cargo handling at CPH is reliable and efficient.

If the Death Occurred in Greenland

Greenland deaths fall under the jurisdiction of the Greenland Police Service (Grønlands Politi), which operates under Greenlandic Home Rule — not under the Danish national administration. Forensic capacity is limited within Greenland. Bodies are typically transferred to Copenhagen via Kangerlussuaq (SFJ) or Nuuk (GOH) before full documentation can be completed.

The logistics are complex. Air connections within Greenland are weather-dependent and limited. Expect the entire process to take 20 to 40 days from a remote Greenland location.

If the Death Occurred in the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands Police (Løgreglan) operates under Faroese Home Rule. Deaths are processed locally before the case transfers to the Danish mainland system for the Udrejsetilladelse. Routing is via Copenhagen before UK departure. Allow an additional 5 to 10 days compared with a mainland case.

Step 6: UK Arrival Formalities

On arrival in the UK, the coroner reviews the case and a UK death certificate is issued by the local registrar. The family proceeds with funeral arrangements.

Getting Help

Repatriate Service manages the full Denmark documentation chain, including Rigspolitiet liaison, Sundhedsstyrelsen transport permit, embalming, and cargo routing. For Greenland or Faroe Islands cases, call us directly — we have Arctic logistics contacts for these specific situations.