A particularly sensitive area of the activity of assistance to Italian citizens abroad concerns the repatriation of compatriots who are in foreign countries in situations of serious difficulties that cannot be overcome on the spot. The interventions of the Foreign Ministry, in collaboration with the territorial authorities (Prefectures, Police Headquarters, Municipalities, Local Health Units, Social Services), concern:
- emigrants, who are in need of return to Italy for economic or health reasons;
- children in a state of neglect;
- mental patients (the procedure in this case is very complex, because it requires the presence of one or more qualified carers, as well as the finding of specialized hospitals);
- Italian citizens at the end of detention or expelled;
- elderly alone for whom admission to nursing homes in Italy is required;
- serious illnesses that cannot be treated locally due to lack of suitable facilities.
Repatriation by the Treasury is limited to cases of proven poverty verified by the diplomatic-consular network; in all other cases repatriation takes place after subscription of loans with promise of return to the Treasury.
Repatriation of the Psalms
Losing a loved one is always a cause of great pain, but if this happens abroad, the pain is added to the need to solve some practical problems.
Here we give some indications on the solution of these problems.
For the repatriation of the body, once an Italian Representation abroad has been contacted, a request will be sent to the competent Italian Municipality to obtain the “authorisation to introduce the body”. Once “cleared” by the City, the funeral agency, charged by family members with repatriation at their own expense of the body, can proceed.
It is also possible to contact the regions and local authorities for any refunds or contributions.
In the event of the death of Italian nationals residing abroad in a state of proven poverty, the Consulate or Embassy contacted may provide assistance to the destitute family members residing abroad of the deceased compatriot, by full or partial reimbursement of funeral costs incurred on the spot, duly documented.