Death of a Ukrainian in China: Documents and the Consulate in the First Days

In brief in 30 seconds.

• The death certificate is issued by a hospital or a police forensic medical examiner; to transport the body out of the country, the police also issue a separate death certificate for a foreign national.
• Ukrainian diplomatic missions in China: the Embassy in Beijing and the Consulates General in Shanghai and Guangzhou; each has an emergency hotline for the death of citizens.
• China has recognized the apostille since November 7, 2023, so legalization at the embassy is not required.
• The family usually does not need to fly to China: the process can be handled by power of attorney.
• The body is transported home only embalmed and in a hermetically sealed coffin; transit takes from 72 hours.

Call +380 77 882 77 77Find out the cost of repatriation from China

The first 24 hours: who to call

If the death occurred in a hospital, the hospital prepares the document and notifies the police. If it happened at home, in a hotel, or on the street, the police and a forensic medical examiner attend the scene. The police notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, which then informs the consulate of the country of citizenship.

The family should immediately do three things:

• call the emergency hotline of the Embassy or Consulate General of Ukraine (numbers below);
• find the deceased's insurance policy and the contract with their employer or university;
• decide who in the family will be the main point of contact and handle the case.

We work with partners in China, so we can take over communication with the hospital, police, and funeral home within the first 24 hours.

Consulate of Ukraine in China

Ukraine has three diplomatic missions in China:

The consul registers the death of a citizen of Ukraine and issues a Ukrainian death certificate; the first copy is issued without a consular fee. For the Ukrainian border, the consulate certifies a statement confirming there are no unauthorized items inside the body or coffin. Learn more: consulate assistance when a death occurs abroad.

If the family cannot travel

Most steps can be handled from Ukraine. Relatives execute a power of attorney before a notary in Ukraine, have it apostilled, and have it translated into Chinese. We check right away whether a relative's personal signature is required at any specific institution. Read more: if the family cannot travel.