If someone dies in Greece

Reporting the death

Report to local authorities/police; the death is recorded at the registry office (Lixiarcheio) with a doctor’s certificate.

The local death certificate

Greek death certificate; EU multilingual form available.

Bringing them home

Via a funeral firm; within-EU transport is manageable.

A local funeral

Burial is the norm; cremation was legalised only recently and facilities are very limited.

The embassy or consulate

Consulate helps with repatriation and home registration.

True almost anywhere

• Check the travel/health insurance first — repatriation is expensive and is often covered.
• The death is registered where it happens; the local authority issues the death certificate.
• To use that certificate back home you usually need an official translation and an apostille/legalisation.
• The embassy or consulate can advise and liaise, but cannot pay funeral or repatriation costs.
• You generally choose between repatriating the body or ashes home, or a local burial/cremation.