Repatriation from Tuscany, Italy

Tuscany’s British long-stay community is concentrated in three areas: the Chianti countryside between Florence and Siena, the hilltop towns of southern Tuscany (Montepulciano, Montalcino, Pienza), and the Arezzo province to the east. These are not tourist communities. Many British nationals here have lived in Tuscany for a decade or more, own property (often restored farmhouses or agriturismo), have residenza anagrafica (Italian residence registration), and pay Italian taxes. When a death occurs, the repatriation process is shaped by that depth of roots.

This page covers the Tuscan provinces of Siena, Arezzo, Grosseto, and the southern Chianti area. For deaths in Florence city, see the Florence repatriation page.

Consular coverage

The British Consulate General Florence (Lungarno Corsini 2, Florence) covers Tuscany. Consular staff register the death in UK records and advise on the Italian documentation process.

British Consulate General Florence: +39 055 284 133. FCDO 24-hour emergency line: +44 (0)20 7008 5000.

What Italian law requires

Ufficiale di Stato Civile: All deaths in Italy are registered with the Ufficio di Stato Civile of the comune where the death occurred. In rural Tuscany, this is often a small comune office. The atto di morte (death record) and certificato di morte are issued here, usually within 24 to 48 hours of the death.

Procura della Repubblica and ASL: Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths are reported to the Procura della Repubblica (public prosecutor’s office) for the relevant province, through the local carabinieri or polizia. The Procura appoints a médico legale (forensic doctor) to carry out an ispezione cadaverica (external examination) or autopsia where needed. For Siena province: Procura della Repubblica di Siena. For Arezzo province: Procura della Repubblica di Arezzo.

Autorizzazione all’estradizione della salma: The international transport authorisation is issued by the ASL (Azienda Sanitaria Locale) of the province where the death occurred, under DPR 285/1990. This is the key document for releasing the body for international transport.

Source: DPR 10 settembre 1990 n. 285, Regolamento di Polizia Mortuaria Italy; 2024.

Hospital coverage

Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Senese (Policlinico Santa Maria alle Scotte, Siena) covers the Siena province. Ospedale San Donato (Arezzo) covers the Arezzo province. British residents with a tessera sanitaria (Italian health card) are entitled to full public health service. Private clinics in the larger towns (Siena, Arezzo) also operate, but the same stato civile and ASL process applies regardless of where the death occurs.

The documentation chain

1. Atto di morte from Ufficio di Stato Civile of the relevant comune. 2. Certificato di morte. 3. Procura clearance (carabinieri report and médico legale ispezione, in sudden deaths). 4. Autorizzazione all’estradizione della salma from ASL of relevant province. 5. Embalming certificate (imbalsamazione, required for air transport). 6. IATA cargo documentation — FLR or PSA to LHR or LGW.

Airport and cargo routing

Florence Airport (FLR, Amerigo Vespucci, approximately 60km from Siena, 80km from Arezzo) is the primary cargo airport for Tuscany. Pisa International Airport (PSA, Galileo Galilei, approximately 100km from Siena) also handles cargo. The most common route to the UK uses FLR or PSA via a connecting hub, or road transfer to Rome Fiumicino (FCO) for direct BA London service. Local funeral directors in Siena and Arezzo with international repatriation experience are fewer than in larger cities; early specialist engagement is advisable.

Long-stay resident considerations

British nationals who have lived in Tuscany with residenza anagrafica are registered in the Italian Anagrafe (population register). After Brexit, British nationals in Italy are registered as non-EU residents under the Withdrawal Agreement, or as third-country nationals with permesso di soggiorno if they arrived after December 2020. Italian succession law (Codice Civile, successione necessaria) applies to Italian real property. Where a British national owned a Tuscan property, an Italian notaio must handle the succession, running in parallel with UK probate. A European Certificate of Succession (under EU Regulation 650/2012) can simplify the multi-jurisdiction process if the deceased opted for UK law to govern their estate.

For repatriation guidance, contact our team via our enquiry form or WhatsApp.