What to do if someone dies in Slovenia

If a British National Dies in Slovenia

Call the British Embassy Ljubljana emergency line immediately. Then contact a specialist repatriation company.

Slovenia is one of the simpler central European repatriations. It is an EU member, a Strasbourg Convention signatory, and has a single national forensic institute in Ljubljana. The Strasbourg laissez-passer mortuaire replaces the standard export permit.

Two scenarios require additional attention: mountain deaths in the Julian Alps, and the lack of nonstop UK flights (Adria Airways ceased operations in 2019).

Step 1: Report the Death

Deaths in Slovenia are reported to the local police and registered at the Upravna Enota (administrative unit — the local government office). The death certificate (smrtovni list) is issued by the Upravna Enota.

For sudden, unnatural, or suspicious deaths, the police take jurisdiction. The body is referred to the Institut za sodno medicino (Institute of Forensic Medicine) in Ljubljana.

Step 2: The Institute of Forensic Medicine

The Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, is the sole national forensic pathology centre. Deaths from anywhere in Slovenia that require forensic post-mortem transfer to Ljubljana.

Post-mortem turnaround for straightforward cases: five to ten working days.

Step 3: Mountain Deaths in Triglav NP

Triglav National Park covers the Julian Alps in northwest Slovenia. Mount Triglav (2864m) is the highest peak and a major destination for British climbers and trekkers. Deaths on Triglav or in the wider Julian Alps require Gorska Reševalna Služba (GRS — Mountain Rescue Association of Slovenia) involvement.

GRS operates rescue posts throughout the range. Recovery from Triglav typically takes 4 to 24 hours. Once the body is recovered and handed to police, it transfers to Ljubljana for post-mortem.

The Soča Valley (Bovec, Kobarid) generates drowning and water sports deaths in the glacial Soča River.

Step 4: The Strasbourg Convention Process

Slovenia has signed the Strasbourg Convention on the Transfer of Bodies (1973). This means:

• A laissez-passer mortuaire is issued rather than a country-specific national export permit.
• The document is standardised across Strasbourg signatory countries.
• The process is more predictable and administratively simpler than in non-signatory countries.

Required documents:

• Smrtovni list (death certificate) from Upravna Enota
• Police investigation closure for unnatural deaths
• Institute of Forensic Medicine post-mortem report if required
• Strasbourg Convention laissez-passer mortuaire
• Certified English translations of Slovenian documents
• Embalming certificate

Step 5: Translation

Slovenian is a distinct South Slavic language. Certified translators must work in Slovenian, not Croatian or Serbian, even though the languages share some vocabulary. Use a translator accredited for Slovenian legal and administrative documents.

Step 6: Routing to the UK

Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport (LJU) has no nonstop UK service. The main cargo connections are via Vienna Schwechat Airport (VIE) on Austrian Airlines, or Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC) on Lufthansa. Pre-book cargo capacity before confirming departure dates.