How do you bring a loved one home from Switzerland?

Timeline

How long does repatriation from Switzerland take?

In most cases, repatriation from Switzerland takes 10-14 days. The fastest straightforward cases complete in 5 days. Complex cases involving a post-mortem, criminal investigation, or a remote location can extend to 20-30 days or beyond.

What makes a case complex?

• Switzerland has 26 cantons, each with its own civil registry and cantonal health authority; the Leichentransportbewilligung (international transport permit) is issued at cantonal level, not federally
• Staatsanwaltschaft (cantonal public prosecution) must authorise body release for suspicious or unnatural deaths
• Institut fuer Rechtsmedizin (IRM) at universities of Zurich, Lausanne (CURML), or Bern conducts post-mortems for forensic cases
• Ski and Alpine deaths in Valais (Verbier, Zermatt, Saas-Fee), Graubuenden (Davos, Klosters), and Bern (Grindelwald, Wengen) require mountain rescue recovery before documentation begins
• Documents may be in German, French, or Italian depending on the canton; certified English translation required for all

Documentation

What documents are required to bring a body home from Switzerland?

All of these documents must be in place before air transport can proceed. Your appointed repatriation coordinator will obtain most of them.

British Embassy

What does the British Embassy in Switzerland do when someone dies?

The British Embassy provides consular assistance, which includes giving you a list of local funeral directors, helping you notify relatives, and advising on local procedures. What the Embassy cannot do is pay for repatriation, organise the funeral director, or make arrangements on your behalf.

Getting started

How do you start the repatriation process from Switzerland?

Call a specialist repatriation company. Do not wait until all other steps are complete. A specialist can begin the process immediately, even before the local death certificate has been issued.

You will need to provide: the name of the deceased, the location of the body, your contact details, and the name and contact of the local hospital or authority holding the body.