Many Polish families in the UK want a loved one buried in Poland, often in a family grave. Whether you’re taking a body or ashes, Polish law sets out two clear steps, and the Polish Embassy in London publishes exactly what you need. This guide explains the UK permissions, the Polish documents and how long each step takes.
Key points
- Register the death and, for a body, get UK permission to move the person.
- In Poland, you need permission from the starosta (or city mayor) where the burial will take place. It’s free.
- Then a Polish consulate issues a certificate for the transport. At the time of writing the fee is £53.
- Both Polish authorities must act within three days, according to the Embassy.
- Ashes need the same two steps as a body.
- The body can travel by air or specialist road vehicle.
The UK side: permission to move the person
Register the death first: within five days of the medical examiner’s office confirming it can be registered (England and Wales), eight days (Scotland) or five days (Northern Ireland).
| Where the person died | What’s needed before a body can leave |
|---|---|
| England and Wales | The coroner’s permission, whether or not the death was reported to a coroner. The funeral director gives notice of intention to remove the body (often called “Form 104”) with the green form or the coroner’s order, at least four clear days before the move, unless the coroner releases sooner. |
| Scotland | Register in Scotland (Form 14). GOV.UK points to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and your funeral director will confirm whether a fiscal certificate is needed. |
| Northern Ireland | The coroner issues a certificate allowing removal, usually to the funeral director, once satisfied about the cause of death. |
No coroner’s permission is needed to take ashes abroad.
Step 1: the starosta permission
Under Poland’s 1959 Cemeteries Act, a body or ashes can only be brought into Poland with permission from the starosta, or the city mayor (prezydent miasta), for the place where the burial will be. The authority consults the sanitary inspector first.
- No fee is charged.
- The application must be in Polish or accompanied by a sworn translation.
- You’ll need the death certificate. The Embassy’s page mentions the coroner’s death certificate, so ask your funeral director which UK document to send.
Relatives in Poland, or a Polish funeral home acting for the family, can apply locally.
Step 2: the Polish consul’s certificate
The Embassy’s consular section in London and the Consulates General in Manchester, Edinburgh and Belfast issue the certificate. Appointments are booked by email. Take:
- the starosta permission
- a copy of the death certificate
- the embalming certificate (for a body) or cremation certificate (for ashes), as the English original
- the funeral director’s statement that the coffin or urn is secured for transport
- a power of attorney if someone else, such as a funeral director, applies for you.
At the time of writing the fee is £53. Some older websites show £43, which is out of date.
Timings
| Step | Timing |
|---|---|
| Registration | Within the legal limit for the nation; can often be done sooner |
| Coroner (England and Wales) | Up to four clear days after notice, unless released sooner |
| Starosta permission | Within three days, per the Embassy |
| Consul’s certificate | Within three days, per the Embassy |
| Transport | Depends on flights or road schedules |
Apply for the starosta permission while the UK permissions are under way, to save time.
Faith considerations: Catholic practice
Most Poles are Catholic. The funeral usually centres on a funeral Mass, followed by burial, often in a family grave that relatives tend on All Saints’ Day. Some families hold a Mass in the UK before the person travels, and another in Poland.
The Catholic Church permits cremation, but asks that ashes be buried or placed in a sacred place such as a cemetery or columbarium, rather than scattered or kept at home. Taking ashes to a family grave in Poland fits this well and is usually simpler and cheaper than moving a body.
Costs
Taking a body usually costs much more than taking ashes, because of embalming, a suitable sealed coffin and specialist air or road transport. Other costs include sworn translations, the £53 consular fee, the Mass and burial in Poland. Ask at least two specialists for itemised written quotes.
The GOV.UK eligibility page says the Funeral Expenses Payment can cover a funeral in the UK, the EEA or Switzerland, which includes Poland. The underlying rules are narrower, so it may apply only in limited circumstances linked to the claimant’s residence or work rights. Check with the DWP before relying on it. In Northern Ireland the funeral must usually be in the UK, and Scotland’s Funeral Support Payment covers a funeral abroad only in some circumstances. See help paying for a funeral.
Alternatives
- Cremation in the UK and taking the ashes to Poland, with the same two permissions.
- Burial in the UK, with a Mass for the person in their home parish in Poland.
Where to get help
- Our repatriation guide and Polish funerals in the UK.
- Catholic funeral directors or funeral directors near you.
- Our guide to Catholic funerals.
- See also repatriation to Ireland.
Repatriation by country
Frequently asked questions
What is the starosta permission?
How much does the Polish consulate charge?
How long does it take?
Can we take ashes to Poland ourselves?
Can the body travel to Poland by road?
Sources
- GOV.UK – Arrange the funeral (moving a body for a funeral abroad)
- legislation.gov.uk – Removal of Bodies Regulations 1954
- legislation.gov.uk – Coroners Act (Northern Ireland) 1959, section 25
- Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service – Contact
- Embassy of Poland in London – Certificate for bringing a body or ashes to Poland
- GOV.UK – What to do when someone dies abroad (travelling with ashes)
- GOV.UK – Funeral Expenses Payment eligibility
- mygov.scot – Funeral Support Payment: who can apply
- nidirect – Funeral Expenses Payment
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Cite this page: FuneralFinder (2026). “Repatriation to Poland from the UK: documents, steps and timings”. https://funeralfinder.org/uk/guides/repatriation-to-poland/ (updated 25 September 2026).