Exhumation in Austria and Reburial in Ukraine

In 30 seconds.

• The rules for exhumation (Enterdigung) are set by the burial law of each federal state. In Vienna, this is the Wiener Leichen- und Bestattungsgesetz; in Lower Austria, the NÖ Bestattungsgesetz 2007.
• In Vienna, if more than six months have passed since the death, exhumation does not require a permit, only a notification to the city administration (Magistrat). If there is no prohibition within three days of submitting the complete document package, the work can proceed.
• In Lower Austria, a permit from the municipality (Gemeinde) is required, and a coffin can only be raised within the first 10 years after burial for important reasons.
• To transport a body abroad, a corpse transit permit (Leichenpass) and a tightly sealed coffin with a leak-proof liner are required.
• Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus the cost of transportation from Austria. We calculate the exact amount for your specific situation.

Call +380 77 882 77 77Inquire about exhumation

Who Can Request an Exhumation in Austria

The key person here is the holder of the grave rights. In Vienna, this is the right to the burial plot (Grabstellenrecht), a private right of use that is inherited after the holder's death. Vienna law requires that the consent of the cemetery operator (Rechtsträger der Bestattungsanlage) be attached to the exhumation application or notification.

In Lower Austria, the law states directly: the application is submitted by the person who holds the right to use the grave (benützungsberechtigte Person). Close relatives may also submit an application, but only with that person's consent. The application must state where the body or urn will be taken next.

If the family lives in Ukraine, traveling to Austria is usually not necessary. You sign a power of attorney, we prepare the application, and we translate the proof of kinship documents into German. If the cemetery requires the personal signature of the grave rights holder, we will let you know in advance.

When It Is Permitted

• Vienna: the law does not set a minimum period after burial. The six-month mark only changes the procedure between a permit and a notification.
• Lower Austria: a coffin is raised earlier than 10 years only for important reasons. The strongest argument for a Ukrainian family is that the family lives in Ukraine and wants their loved one to rest at home. This should be supported by documents.
• Moving an urn is simpler. In Lower Austria, the minimum resting period does not apply to it, though a municipal permit is still required.

We found no prohibited months in the laws of Vienna and Lower Austria. Whether a specific cemetery carries out work in winter is something we check with the local authority. If the person died of an infectious disease, the authority may prohibit the exhumation or impose stricter conditions.

Documents for Transport to Ukraine

• exhumation permit or confirmation of notification from the city administration or municipality;
• consent of the cemetery operator;
• corpse transit permit (Leichenpass). In Vienna, it is issued by the city administration upon written notification from a licensed funeral home. It states the name, age, place, date, and cause of death, destination, type of coffin, and mode of transport (WLBG, § 16–17);
• death certificate (Sterbeurkunde) with an apostille. The apostille is affixed by the government of the federal state where the document was issued, for example, in Tyrol by the citizenship department of the state government;
• translation of documents into Ukrainian.

Before departure, we coordinate the document package with the Embassy of Ukraine in Austria. The general list can be found on the documents page.

How Much Exhumation Costs in Austria

There is no single standard fee. Each cemetery sets its own prices in its fee schedule. For example: in the city of Wels (Upper Austria), the fee for 2026 is €506 for exhuming a body and €80 for exhuming an urn. In other cities, the amounts are different.

Paid separately:

• cemetery work according to its fee schedule;
• new coffin for transport;
• apostille, translations;
• dismantling of the headstone, if the family is taking it.

Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus the cost of transportation (repatriation) from Austria. We calculate the exact amount for your situation, including local fees. For transportation, we work without advance payment: payment is made after handover according to the contract.