LAISSEZ-PASSER FOR THE DECEASED


General rules that have to be fulfilled for issuance of the Laissez passer for deceased:
Process may vary depending on the wishes of the family and their decision to either choose between cremation or transport of the deceased in the coffin.  
The transport of urns containing the ashes of the deceased does not require a laissez-passer, and only a confirmation by the crematorium is sufficient for crossing the border (has to be shown to police officials when entering Croatia).
Repatriation of human remains in a coffin - Laissez-passer for the Deceased is necessary
In case death occurs abroad.
If the death occurs in the UK, a family of deceased must choose a UK funeral home/company that will be appointed to obtain all necessary documents from the UK authorities in order to obtain Laissez-passer for the Deceased at the Croatian Embassy and facilitate the transport the deceased (or their exhumed remains) to Croatia for burial.
UK funeral home/company must submit a request to the Croatian diplomatic mission/consular post for issuance of the Laissez-passer for the Deceased. 
Funeral company has to request an appointment through email conlon@mvep.hr(with enclosed whole set of documents listed below). Appointment is set depending on the date of planned transport.
Funeral home that is organizing the transport should enclose to the request the following:
  1. An international form of death certificate (in accordance with the Vienna Convention - UK death certificate has to have an Apostille stamp-paper version (https://www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised) . Please note that Coroners death certificate (or interim Death certificate) cannot be registered in Croatian Registry and Croatian Registry's only accept the final Death certificate with Apostille stamp and translation. For the purpose of the issuance Laissez passer the Embassy will accept Coroners Death certificate which does not need to have an Apostille stamp - but the family won’t be able to use it in Croatia for registration of the death.
  2. Medical certification of death, stating the cause (that there was no infectious disease)
  3. Proof of the citizenship of the deceased (usually passport) passport of the deceased, which has to be cancelled at the diplomatic mission/consular post (if the deceased had a passport)
  4. Approval (confirmation) for the transport of the deceased by the country they are being transported from - e.g. Out of England/Scotland form
  5. Information about the carrier (funeral home in the UK and funeral home in Croatia): driver’s personal information, passport number, registration plate number as well as type of the vehicle; if there are relatives of the deceased in the vehicle, their personal information is also required;
  6. If the deceased is being transported by aircraft, flight number, airline and airport at which the aircraft will land is required, as well as the manner in which the transport will continue, border crossings and information about the person taking over the body.
  7. A confirmation (written proof) by the cemetery (or parish), stating the place of burial.
     
Transit of the deceased through Croatia does not require a laissez-passer.


Before booking an appointment, funeral company has to send us a scan of the documents so we can firstly check in advance if all requirements are fulfilled and prepare the Laissez-passer for deceased so it’s ready for collection when representative arrives to the Embassy where the fee of 17,73 GBP will be charged and original documents reviewed.