Death in Türkiye: death report, Formül C and repatriation to the UK
What to do after a death in Türkiye: who issues the death report, what the city takes care of and which documents you need to bring the body to the UK.
Table of Contents
After a death in Türkiye, everything starts with the death report, the ölüm belgesi. The hospital issues it or, after a death at home or in a hotel, a city doctor does. The municipality then arranges the burial, often on the same day. If the person is to be brought back to the UK, you also need the multilingual death certificate (Formül C), a sealed coffin and three more documents.
At a glance · checked on 15 October 2026
First the death report, then the decision: burial in Türkiye or repatriation.
- Death report: The hospital issues it or, after a death at home or in a hotel, a city doctor does. Without it, neither burial nor repatriation can take place.
- Burial in Türkiye: The city collects, washes and buries the body. A basic burial is free in Istanbul (under the tariff for the Asian side) and in Antalya province.
- To the UK: Contact the travel insurer first: it may appoint the funeral directors and pay for repatriation. Without insurance, the family pays; the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot.
- No cremation: There is no crematorium operating in Türkiye, so you cannot bring an urn home from here.
- Any time: The FCDO answers 24/7 on +44 20 7008 5000. In Türkiye, the British Embassy in Ankara is on +90 312 455 33 44.
What to do now: your documents in the right order
The documents you need depend on two things: where the death occurred and where the burial will take place. The rules are set out in the Turkish regulation on cemeteries, the transport of bodies and burial. Select both, and the folder will show the documents and offices in order.
Document folder · by location and destination
Which documents, from whom, in what order
Where did it happen?
Where will the burial take place?
Ölüm belgesi
Death report
- Issued by
- The hospital. The director or chief doctor validates it.
- Purpose
- Without it, neither burial nor repatriation can take place. It is recorded electronically.
Art. 16, paras 1 and 6, and Art. 39 of the regulation
Applies to: public hospital
Ölüm belgesi
Death report
- Issued by
- The doctor treating the person at the clinic. It is only valid once confirmed by the municipal doctor (belediye tabibi) or, if unavailable, a health centre doctor or GP.
- Purpose
- Without it, neither burial nor repatriation can take place.
Art. 16, para. 2 of the regulation
Applies to: private clinic
Ölüm belgesi
Death report
- Issued by
- The local municipal doctor (belediye tabibi) or, if unavailable, a health centre doctor or GP. There is an out-of-hours service at night. If the emergency doctor (112) is already there, they can issue the death report directly.
- Purpose
- Without it, neither burial nor repatriation can take place. In İzmir, the city’s 188 service arranges a doctor and sends the vehicle.
Art. 16, paras 3 and 4 of the regulation; City of İzmir
Applies to: home or hotel
Adli Tıp · ölüm belgesi
Forensic medicine, then death report
- Issued by
- If an unnatural death is suspected, the doctor first informs the judicial authorities. After the post-mortem, the forensic medicine institute (Adli Tıp) issues the death report.
- Purpose
- Once the forensic medicine institute releases the body for burial, the burial should take place within 24 hours. The authorities may extend this deadline if there are compelling reasons.
Art. 21 and Art. 39, para. 5 of the regulation; City of İzmir
Applies to: accident or unclear cause
Kimlik · pasaport
The deceased person’s ID
- Requirements
- The original identity card or passport. If it cannot be found, a written statement from the family giving the surname, first name and ID number is sufficient.
- Purpose
- This is used to issue the death report. The authority sends the ID to the Turkish registry office with the notification of death.
Art. 16, para. 5 and Art. 22 of the regulation; German missions in Türkiye
Applies to: all routes
Defin kaydı
Registering the burial
- Issued by
- The city’s cemetery administration registers the burial using the death report. The health directorate grants permission; after a death in hospital, the hospital can also do so.
- Purpose
- The body is then washed and buried, only in a cemetery and only between 08:00 and sunset.
City of İzmir; German missions in Türkiye; Art. 39 of the regulation
Applies to: burial in Türkiye
Mezar yeri
Grave plot
- Issued by
- The city’s cemetery office (mezarlık müdürlüğü). Cemetery offices speak Turkish.
- Purpose
- If there is already a family grave, bring the original deed. Otherwise, in İzmir you pay the current rate and can apply for a refund later.
City of İzmir; German missions in Türkiye
Applies to: burial in Türkiye
Formül C
Multilingual death certificate
- Issued by
- The Turkish registry office (nüfus müdürlüğü), once the death has been registered. If you use e-Devlet, you can obtain it online there.
- Purpose
- For the insurer, the funeral director and UK authorities. It is in Turkish and English and does not give the cause of death.
GOV.UK; e-Devlet
Applies to: burial in Türkiye
Formül C
Multilingual death certificate
- Issued by
- The registry office (nüfus müdürlüğü) gives it to the next of kin, the local funeral director or a solicitor.
- Purpose
- It travels with the coffin. If it is not ready yet, the hospital’s death report can go instead. The death report itself is not a death certificate.
GOV.UK
Applies to: repatriation to the UK
Nakil tabutu
Coffin for repatriation
- Requirements
- An outer wooden coffin at least 20 mm thick and a sealed, soldered inner coffin made of lead or another impermeable material. The screws must be no more than 20 cm apart, with metal bands holding the coffin together.
- Purpose
- Not a document, but required for every coffin sent abroad. The funeral director supplies it.
Art. 28 of the regulation
Applies to: repatriation to the UK
Cenaze yol izin belgesi
Transport permit
- Issued by
- The municipality’s health department or, in a village, the muhtar. It also confirms that the coffin is sealed.
- Purpose
- Required whenever the coffin leaves the province, including for burial in another Turkish city.
Arts 4, 32 and 34 of the regulation
Applies to: repatriation to the UK
Cenaze geçiş izin belgesi
Body laissez-passer
- Issued by
- The relevant health authority. It gives the person’s identity, date, place and manner of death.
- Purpose
- It accompanies the coffin across the border.
Arts 4 and 34 of the regulation
Applies to: repatriation to the UK
Hudut ve Sahiller Sağlık
Handover at the airport
- Handed to
- The transport permit and body laissez-passer go to the border health service (Hudut ve Sahiller Sağlık) at the point of departure.
- Purpose
- Only then can the coffin be flown out. This also applies to transport by ship or rail.
Art. 34 of the regulation
Applies to: repatriation to the UK
In the UK
International funeral director
- Who
- A UK funeral director who brings bodies home from abroad. If there was insurance, the insurer appoints one; otherwise, you choose one yourself. GOV.UK keeps a list.
- Purpose
- They work with the funeral director in Türkiye and receive the coffin. Agree services and prices in writing beforehand.
GOV.UK
Applies to: repatriation to the UK
The folder summarises the rules and does not replace a funeral director. After a death in a village, the muhtar or gendarmerie can also issue the death report (Art. 16, para. 4).
Art. 39 · Regulation on cemeteries and the transport of bodies
Without a death report, no one can be buried.
«Ölüm belgesi alınmadıkça hiçbir cenaze gömülemez.»
“No deceased person may be buried until a death report has been obtained.” Burials take place only in cemeteries, from 08:00 until sunset. No coffin may leave the province without a transport permit (Art. 32).
Death report and Formül C: two different documents
The death report allows burial in Türkiye. For the UK, you need the Formül C death certificate from the Turkish registry office. It is in Turkish and English and does not state the cause of death. The UK is not a party to the CIEC convention on multilingual extracts, so a UK registrar may ask for it to be verified by the Turkish embassy in London, for example before you use Tell Us Once.
Ordering the Formül C
At the registry office or through e-Devlet
The health directorate notifies the Turkish registry office of every death within 10 days, including those of tourists and foreign residents. The local registry office (nüfus müdürlüğü) then issues the Formül C. This is generally straightforward, and the funeral director usually handles it.
Anyone with e-Devlet access can obtain it online under “Çok Dilli Ölüm Kayıt Örneği (Formül C) Sorgulama”. Anyone can check the certificate’s barcode online.
“The death report is the death certificate.”
No. The ölüm belgesi allows the burial. The death certificate is the Formül C from the registry office; the hospital report can only stand in for it until it is ready.
“The British embassy pays for bringing the body home.”
No. The FCDO cannot pay burial, repatriation or legal costs. Travel insurance may cover them; otherwise, the family pays.
“The Formül C has to be translated into English.”
No. It is in Turkish and English. What it does not show is the cause of death.
Burial in Türkiye: what the city takes care of
Almost all cemeteries in Türkiye are run by the cities. Their funeral service collects, washes and buries the body. This is always free for people who cannot afford it and those without relatives. No one may ask for proof of financial hardship; the family’s statement is enough (Art. 25).
- Death reportFrom the hospital or a city doctor, depending on where the death occurred. The folder above shows who is responsible.
- Call the cityIn İzmir and Antalya, call the funeral service on 188; in Istanbul and Ankara, contact the cemetery office. A vehicle takes the body for washing.
- WashingAt the family’s request, in the hospital’s or city’s washing facility (gasilhane). A woman is washed by a woman; the city arranges this (Art. 26).
- BurialOnly in a cemetery, from 08:00 until sunset. If the person is to be buried in another province, the coffin needs a transport permit (Arts 32 and 39).
Only a few tariffs openly list burial costs. The City of Istanbul (İBB) publishes its tariff for 2026; the figures here are from the cemetery department for the Asian side. Cold storage, the coffin, embalming (tahnit), the coffin cloth, transport within the province and out of Istanbul, and burial without a coffin, including washing, a shroud and grave digging, are free. Burial in a coffin costs 2,368 TL; a galvanised coffin costs 5,024 TL. The grave plot is extra:
| Cemetery | Plot for the deceased | Vacant plot beside it | Empty grave in advance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group I: Karacaahmet, Çengelköy (new section), Nakkaştepe | 53,712 TL | 167,472 TL | 334,896 TL |
| Group II, e.g. Kandilli, Küçükyalı, Kartal | 6,496 TL | 44,768 TL | 89,536 TL |
| Group III | 408 TL | 11,184 TL | 22,392 TL |
| Group IV | 408 TL | 5,376 TL | 10,728 TL |
| City-run non-Muslim cemeteries | 2,720 TL | 28,672 TL | 46,560 TL |
Non-Muslims and Christians
Non-Muslims are generally not buried in Muslim cemeteries. There are separate cemeteries, also run by the cemetery offices. What matters is the religion recorded in the civil register or on the baptism certificate, rather than nationality. A Christian burial can be postponed for a few days. Make this wish known early so the service can take place as requested.
Who to call: numbers by city
If you are unsure whether the person can still be helped, call 112 first. After that, you need the city’s funeral service and, for British nationals, the nearest British embassy or consulate. Tap your city.
Phone list · 4 cities and the rest of the country
Who do I call, and where?
Istanbul
- Cemetery office, European side (Zincirlikuyu)+90 212 312 65 86Grave, washing and burial. Esentepe Mah., Büyükdere Cad. No. 169, Şişli
- Cemetery office, Asian side (Karacaahmet)+90 216 586 55 11Nuhkuyu Cad., Zeynep Kamil, Üsküdar
- British Consulate General Istanbul+90 212 334 64 00Meşrutiyet Cad. 42, Tepebaşı, Beyoğlu. Visits by appointment only
- FCDO in London, 24/7+44 20 7008 5000Help at any hour; GOV.UK gives this number for calls from abroad
Costs under the 2026 tariff for the Asian side: burial without a coffin is free; a grave plot costs 408 to 53,712 TL, depending on the cemetery.
Ankara
- Ankara cemetery office (Karşıyaka, Gate 5)+90 312 346 40 00Beside the Ahmet Efendi Mosque, Yenimahalle
- British Embassy Ankara+90 312 455 33 44Şehit Ersan Cad. 46/A, Çankaya. Visits by appointment only
- FCDO in London, 24/7+44 20 7008 5000Help at any hour; GOV.UK gives this number for calls from abroad
We found no grave prices on any of Ankara’s city web pages. Ask the cemetery office.
İzmir
- Alo 188, city funeral service188Free, 24 hours a day, including public holidays. Explains how to obtain the death report and sends the vehicle
- Central burial office (Merkez Defin İşleri Şefliği)+90 232 293 43 15Gaziler Cad. No. 325, Yenişehir, Konak
- British Consulate İzmirOnlineMahmut Esat Bozkurt Cad. 49, Alsancak. GOV.UK lists no phone number; call or write through the FCDO contact page
- FCDO in London, 24/7+44 20 7008 5000Help at any hour; GOV.UK gives this number for calls from abroad
The city asks you not to give staff tips or money as ıskat or helallik.
Antalya
- Alo Mezarlık 188, city cemetery department188Calls back and, on request, sets up a condolence tent with tables and chairs outside the home
- Uncalı cemetery department+90 242 227 12 22Or +90 242 226 28 07. Uncalı Kent Mezarlığı, Çakırlar Yolu
- Kurşunlu cemetery, Aksu+90 242 346 15 72Topallı Mah., Kurşunlu Kent Mezarlığı
- British Consulate AntalyaOnlineGürsu Mah., 324 Sok. No. 6, Konyaaltı. GOV.UK lists no phone number; call or write through the FCDO contact page
- FCDO in London, 24/7+44 20 7008 5000Help at any hour; GOV.UK gives this number for calls from abroad
Burial is free in Antalya province. For families on low incomes, the city also transports bodies free of charge to other places in Türkiye, by road or air.
Other places
- Municipal funeral service (belediye)188Many cities take these calls on 188; İzmir and Antalya list the number on their websites. Otherwise, the town hall can help.
- Doctor for the death reportlocalThe city doctor or, if unavailable, the health centre or GP. In a village, also the muhtar or gendarmerie
- British Embassy Ankara+90 312 455 33 44Or the consulates in Istanbul, İzmir and Antalya
- FCDO in London, 24/7+44 20 7008 5000Help at any hour; GOV.UK gives this number for calls from abroad
The FCDO keeps lists of funeral directors in Türkiye and of international funeral directors in the UK. It cannot pay the costs.
Bringing the body to the UK: two funeral directors, a sealed coffin
If the person had insurance, the insurer should appoint funeral directors in Türkiye and the UK and may pay for repatriation. Without insurance, you appoint an international funeral director yourself and the family pays. If the body comes back to England or Wales, the coroner will probably want to hold an inquest; after a burial in Türkiye, no UK inquest is possible.
- Two funeral directorsAn international funeral director in the UK works with a local one in Türkiye. You sign a form allowing both to act for you. Get services and prices confirmed in writing beforehand.
- Formül COrder it through the funeral director or at the registry office. Until it is ready, the hospital’s death report can travel instead.
- Coffin and permitThe coffin required by Art. 28 has a soldered inner coffin and an outer wooden coffin with metal bands. The city’s health department confirms this in the transport permit.
- DepartureThe documents, including the body laissez-passer from the health authority, go to the border health service at the airport. Only then can the coffin be loaded.
The other way round: death in the UK
If a person who has died in the UK is to be buried in Türkiye, Türkiye requires a certificate for the coffin from the authority at the place of departure. It must confirm that transport is permitted and poses no health risk, and give the person’s identity, place, date and manner of death (Art. 37). Ask the Turkish consulate or the funeral director which documents the consulate needs to see.
Deadlines: from the first hour to six months
Things move fast in Türkiye: Muslim funerals usually take place within 24 hours. Other deadlines run over days and months. Choose the route, then go step by step.
Timeline · deadlines and customs
What happens when
- Immediately
Death report
Nothing can proceed without it. Who issues it depends on the location; the folder above shows you.
Arts 16 and 39 of the regulation
Both routes
- First day
Insurer
Contact the travel insurer as soon as possible. It may appoint the funeral directors and pay for repatriation, medical, legal and translation costs.
GOV.UK
Both routes
- Usually within 24 hours
Muslim funeral
It usually takes place within 24 hours. A Christian burial can be postponed for a few days.
GOV.UK
Burial in Türkiye
- Daytime
08:00 until sunset
Burials take place only during these hours. Burial at night is allowed only for compelling reasons; the mayor or muhtar decides.
Art. 39, para. 2 of the regulation
Burial in Türkiye
- Before departure
Documents to border health service
The transport permit and body laissez-passer go to the border health service at the airport. The Formül C (or the hospital death report) and an embalming certificate travel with the coffin.
Art. 34 of the regulation
Repatriation to the UK
- Within 10 days
Registration at the Turkish registry office
The health directorate notifies the registry office of the death electronically, including deaths of tourists and other foreign nationals. The registry office can then issue the Formül C.
Arts 22 and 23 of the regulation
Both routes
- After 15 days
If no one comes
If no one collects a body whose identity is known, the authorities release it for burial after 15 days.
GOV.UK
Both routes
- 3 days after burial
Confirmation of burial
In İzmir, a stamped printout of the death report with a burial note is available no earlier than three days afterwards, for any further dealings with the authorities.
City of İzmir
Burial in Türkiye
- After 3 months
Gravestone
In İzmir, the grave structure may be built no earlier than three months after burial, with permission and by registered stonemasons.
City of İzmir
Burial in Türkiye
- 6 to 9 months
Post-mortem report
If there was a post-mortem, the report is not sent automatically: apply to the Turkish court dealing with the death. GOV.UK says it takes 6 to 9 months.
GOV.UK
Both routes
Customs: what to expect
A Muslim funeral in Türkiye is simple and takes place quickly. The body is washed and wrapped in a shroud; burial follows the funeral prayer at the mosque. The family discusses its specific wishes with the imam and funeral service. The answers below explain what cities and regulations say about this.
Who washes the body?
At the family’s request, the washers (gassal) at the hospital’s or city’s washing facility. A woman is washed by a woman; if none is available, the city or muhtar arranges one (Art. 26).
What is the tent outside the home?
A condolence tent for visitors paying their respects to the family. In Antalya, the city sets it up with tables and chairs and serves guests pide and ayran.
Should you tip cemetery staff?
No. The City of İzmir expressly asks you not to give staff tips or money as ıskat or helallik.
Can someone be buried in a relative’s grave?
In İzmir, yes, no earlier than five years after the first burial, with a legible gravestone and the consent of the next of kin or heirs. In Istanbul, a vacant plot beside someone already buried carries a separate fee: 5,376 to 167,472 TL on the Asian side.
Is cremation possible?
Not in Türkiye. The law would allow a crematorium, but none is operating. Burial is the only option. Cremating the body in the country and bringing the urn home is therefore not possible either.
After the burial: what to do in the UK
GOV.UK lists several things to do after a death abroad. Tick off what is done; the ticks are saved only on your device.
Still to do
All done. Take time to say goodbye.
GOV.UK: When someone dies in Turkey
Sources and last checked date
We checked all information with the organisations listed on 15 October 2026. This guide is not legal advice. It names no funeral directors and gives no repatriation prices, as no reliable source provides figures. For religious questions, ask the imam, priest or congregation. Tariffs and phone numbers change; call if in doubt.
- Regulation on the construction of cemeteries and the transport and burial of bodies (Mezarlık Yerlerinin İnşaası ile Cenaze Nakil ve Defin İşlemleri Hakkında Yönetmelik), RG 27467 of 19 January 2010, current version: Arts 4, 16, 21–23, 25–28, 32, 34, 37, 39 — mevzuat.gov.tr, checked 15/10/2026
- Help for Germans: death, death certificate, burial — German missions in Türkiye, checked 15/10/2026
- Funeral directors: cemetery offices, repatriation, international death certificate — German missions in Türkiye, checked 15/10/2026
- When someone dies in Turkey: registering the death, post-mortems, repatriation — GOV.UK (FCDO), checked 15/10/2026
- Cenaze İşlemleri: Alo 188, death report, grave, deadlines — City of İzmir, checked 15/10/2026
- Cenaze Hizmetleri: Alo Mezarlık 188, condolence tent, transport — City of Antalya, checked 15/10/2026
- 2026 tariff of the Anadolu cemetery department (Asian side) — City of Istanbul (İBB), checked 15/10/2026
- Çok Dilli Ölüm Kayıt Örneği (Formül C) Sorgulama and Checking multilingual certificates — e-Devlet, checked 15/10/2026
- Convention No. 16 on the issue of multilingual extracts from civil status records, Art. 8 and contracting states — CIEC, checked 15/10/2026
- What to do when someone dies abroad: insurance, repatriation, Tell Us Once, passport — GOV.UK (FCDO), checked 15/10/2026
- British Embassy Ankara, Consulate General Istanbul, Consulate İzmir, Consulate Antalya — addresses and phone numbers, GOV.UK, checked 15/10/2026
The cover image and the images of the documents, cemetery and airport are illustrations for Turkpidya, rather than photographs. The map shows where the cities are, rather than the areas covered by the missions.
