Send a deceased person abroad: papers, money and alternatives

If your family wants to send a deceased person abroad for burial, NAV does not cover the transport out of Norway. But you may still have the right to funeral expenses. And many municipalities can offer a grave that is arranged for your religion.

Does NAV pay to send a deceased person abroad?

No. NAV (arbeids- og velferdsetaten) states it clearly: "Body transport from Norway to abroad will not be provided." This rule appeared on nav.no on 29 July 2026.

NAV covers body transport within Norway. Four conditions apply: the deceased was a member of the Norwegian national insurance system, the death occurred in Norway, the transport takes place within Norway's borders, and the distance to the grave is more than 20 kilometres. The patient's share is 3 090 kroner (rate as of 29 July 2026).

One exception exists. If an employee dies from an injury or illness recognised as an occupational injury or occupational disease, NAV covers body transport to the place of residence — also when the place of residence is outside Norway. This is stated in the National Insurance Act § 7-5.

The first days are described in the article about death certificate, notification to the population register and funeral expenses step by step.

You can receive funeral expenses even if the burial is abroad

Yes, funeral expenses can be paid even when the funeral takes place in another country. NAV's own circular states that the right applies "whether death occurs in Norway or abroad".

The rate is up to 30 898 kroner for deaths from and including 1 January 2026. You must apply no later than six months after the burial, and NAV usually counts the deadline from the date the funeral home issues the invoice. In special cases, NAV can make an exception to the deadline. You can give the funeral home power of attorney to apply for you; then it is the funeral home that receives the money. Processing time is eight weeks.

If the burial takes place outside the Nordic region and receipts are difficult to obtain, NAV can assume that the expenses correspond to a normal Norwegian funeral. The requirement is that you document that the body was actually transported there.

The benefit is means-tested. The following are deducted:

• property of the deceased — if the deceased was single and the property was 30 898 kroner or more, you receive nothing; for spouse, partner or cohabitant the limit is 61 796 kroner combined (2026)
• insurance payments and occupational pensions that are paid out because of the death
• payments from funeral associations, organisations and societies

If your congregation or an organisation pays out money because of the death, the amount can use up the entire funeral benefit. If the deceased was employed by the state or municipality, funeral expenses are never given, because group life insurance is always larger. In return, there is then an insurance payment — ask the employer about it. See also SamfunnPrep's articles about what insurance you actually have and what they cover and about inheritance, inheritance certificate and how the estate is settled.

Travel insurance works the opposite way: repatriation if someone dies while you are travelling. Check your terms.

What papers do you need to send a deceased person out of Norway?

You need a doctor's statement of death from your doctor and death documents from the police. The requirements are set out in the regulation on transport, handling and packaging of human remains and funeral services (FOR-1998-04-03-327).

1. Doctor's statement of death. The doctor writes it and at the same time notifies the death to the Population Register (Folkeregisteret). You do not notify anything yourself. The Tax Authority (Skatteetaten) does not issue a "death certificate" — in Norway the doctor's statement is the document.
2. Death documents from the police. According to § 4-1 fifth paragraph, the sender must ensure that the police issue them upon presentation of the doctor's statement. Some funeral homes call it "export permit". If the body is to go to another Nordic country, a transport certificate is used instead.
3. Requirements of the receiving country. The sender is obliged to know the rules in the receiving country and in transit countries (§ 3-2). You get the papers from that country's embassy or consulate in Norway, not from Norwegian authorities.
4. Embalming and health certificate. Some countries require both, with documentation.
5. Metal inner casket. To countries outside the Nordic region, a metal inner casket is required, see the note to § 3-2. The airline organisation IATA requires the same. The casket is marked with the deceased's name, date of birth and date of death, and with sender and recipient.
6. Apostille. Many countries require an apostille on the Norwegian papers. The regional governor (Statsforvalteren) applies the stamp, and it is free. Documents from the police can receive an apostille without going through a notary public. For countries outside the Hague Convention, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs legalises instead.

Contact your local police district early. If you want to take an urn instead of a casket, this regulation does not apply: it explicitly does not cover transport of ashes or urns. However, the airline and the receiving country may have their own requirements.

What does it cost, and what are your rights with the funeral home?

The price depends on the country, air freight and casket type. One Norwegian funeral home specialising in repatriation reports that the cost often lies between 30 000 and 70 000 kroner. Another charges 8 328 kroner just for administration when exporting abroad, in addition to casket, transport and air freight. The figures are the funeral homes' own, read 29 July 2026.

You have rights when you choose a funeral home. The price information regulation chapter 4 states that a funeral home must:

• give you written price information without being asked at first contact
• have the price overview with the lowest and highest total sum on their website
• show both their own transport price and the refund from the national insurance in the offer
• give you reasonable time to read the offer before you sign

Request a written quote from at least two funeral homes.

Who decides, and how much time do you have?

One person has the right to arrange the funeral and decides whether the deceased should be sent out of the country. The Burial Places Act (called the Funeral Act before 2021) § 9 sets the order: a written statement from the deceased takes precedence, otherwise spouse or cohabitant, then children, parents and other close relatives. If the family disagrees, the municipality decides.

According to § 12, burial must take place no later than 10 working days after death, or no later than 6 months if the deceased is cremated. The deadline applies to burial under Norwegian law, and the law does not explicitly state what applies when burial takes place abroad. Ask the burial authority in writing for an extension as soon as the papers take time; according to § 13 they can extend the deadline for weighty reasons.

Do we have to send someone home? The right to a grave according to your faith

Many send the deceased out of the country because they believe that Norway cannot provide a grave according to their religion. Often the municipality can. The Burial Places Act § 1 states that burial must take place "with respect for the deceased's religion or philosophy of life", and § 6 first paragraph gives everyone who lived in the municipality the right to a free grave there.

If your municipality has not established graves specially arranged for religious and philosophical minorities, the answer is in § 6 second paragraph. The deceased can be buried in another municipality that has such graves, and then the burial authority in the home municipality covers the costs.

This is how you ask:

• contact the burial authority or church warden in the municipality
• ask if the municipality has a grave specially arranged for your faith
• request a written answer
• ask your congregation to raise the matter at the meeting the municipality must hold at least once a year (§ 23)
• appeal to the regional governor if you receive a rejection (§ 24)

This right is connected with freedom of religion and belief in Norway.

Checklist for the first days

• Get a doctor's statement of death from your doctor.
• Ask the municipality about a specially arranged grave before you decide.
• Ask two funeral homes for a written price quote.
• Ask the receiving country's embassy or consulate in Norway for the list of papers.
• Ask the police for death documents when the doctor's statement is ready.
• Apply for funeral expenses, or give the funeral home power of attorney.
• Ask your employer, insurance company and trade union about payments.

You have plenty of time to say goodbye, and you do not have to do everything yourself.

Rules about NAV, the municipality and your rights are part of the curriculum for the citizenship test. Practice for free on SamfunnPrep.