Funerals & Burial

⚰️In North Cyprus you don’t have to be buried there - but if you die there without arranging otherwise, burial in the local cemetery of your last residence is typical.
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🪦 Local Burial

📍The local Belediye (municipality) can arrange a simple burial in their international cemetery—available to residents of that municipality .

📍For British passport holders, burial is possible in volunteer cemeteries such as Green Hills (Kyrenia), Famagusta, and others, organized via the British Cemetery Committee .

📍Funerals are typically held at the graveside, with local customs and required paperwork (Forms XIII/XV, death certificate from district office) completed beforehand .
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🛫 Repatriation (Body Sent Home)

You can arrange repatriation, possibly via insurance or a funeral service that coordinates export:

📌You’ll need certified and apostilled paperwork (death certificate, sealed coffin certification, transport permits, embalming affidavit, etc.) .

📌Local repatriation specialists (Christina Gursöy, Şafat Yolcu) can liaise with overseas funeral directors to avoid political/logistical issues .

📌During COVID-19, North Cyprus temporarily restricted repatriation, but lifted these bans by May 2020. Repatriation is now permitted .
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✅ Decision-Making & Timeline

📅Choose early: burial locally or repatriation. Next of kin/legal representative decide.

📜Arrange paperwork: local death certificate (Forms XIII/XV, district office), embalming/export permits.

📞 Contact providers: local cemetery or repatriation service plus overseas funeral director if repatriating.
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✔️ Summary

Here are several reputable contacts and services to handle repatriation from North Cyprus:

📞 Local Repatriation Services in TRNC

📞 Christina Gursöy – Preferred by many expats for coordinating repatriation from North Cyprus in conjunction with overseas funeral directors • Tel: +90 533 870 2426

📞 Şafat Yolcu – Another recommended local contact for arranging repatriation • Tel: +90 533 837 5305 or +90 546 991 7303
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🏛️ Republic of Cyprus Licensed Funeral Homes (for South Cyprus/Transit)
If you repatriate via the Republic of Cyprus, you'll need a licensed funeral director there. Here are a few (south of the island):

From the Cypriot government list
📞 Archangel (Nicosia, Limassol)
📞 G & P Melas – Nicosia, known for international repatriations • Tel: +357 22 253010, email: info@melasfunerals.com

These undertakers can issue export licenses required for travel.
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💂‍♂️UK-Based International Repatriation Partners

If the deceased is headed to the UK (or another country), these undertakers can coordinate logistics with the TRNC contacts:

📞Homeland International
• Tel: +44 3300 417 265, email: support@homeland-international.co.uk
• Handles paperwork, embalming, zinc‐lined coffin, airline coordination

📞Paul Williams Independent Funeral Directors**
• Tel: +44 (0)161 796 6018 (24/7)
• Specialise in repatriation to/from Cyprus, with full documentation support

📞Rowland Brothers International**
• UK: 0800 917 3585 / Int'l: +44 20 8684 2324 ⏤ email: info@rowlandbrothersinternational.com
• Offers complete repatriation from Cyprus and back, cost starting ~£2,675
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✅ Recommended Repatriation Steps

📍Initial contact – Reach out to Christina Gursöy or Şafat Yolcu in TRNC to begin local coordination.

📍Local documentation – They’ll liaise with the Mukhtar, District Office for death certificate, and local hospital/doctors’ paperwork.

📍Export permits & embalming – Liaise with licensed TRNC/South Cyprus funeral directors to arrange embalming, export paperwork, casket, permits.

📍International flight & arrival – Engage a UK (or destination-country) funeral director (e.g., Homeland Int’l / Paul Williams) to handle transport from airport to final resting place, plus customs clearance.
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⚠️ Important Notes & Tips

⚠️Avoid contacting UK funeral directors first—they may not understand the TRNC–RoC customs and paperwork. Start with a trusted local repatriation agent

⚠️Embalming and zinc‐lined coffin use are mandatory for international transfers
melasfunerals.com

⚠️Check insurance—if death is covered, your insurer may facilitate preferred international undertakers