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Exhumation in Canada and Reburial in Ukraine: Ontario, Quebec, Documents

Your loved one is buried in Canada, and your family wants to rebury them in Ukraine. Exhumation in Canada is possible, but there is no single rule for the whole country. Each province regulates its own cemeteries. Below we look at two examples, Ontario and Quebec, and explain what we do.

The short version, in 30 seconds.

  • Exhumation rules are set by the provinces. Other provinces have their own procedures, which we check for the specific cemetery.
  • Ontario: requires the consent of the interment rights holder and prior notice to the medical officer of health.
  • Quebec: exhumation of a body is authorized by the national director of public health (DNSP), and then by a Superior Court judge.
  • Rules for an urn are simpler in both provinces.
  • Our exhumation service starts at €500 plus transport from Canada. No prepayment for transport.

Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about exhumation

Marble chapel in a cemetery

Who Can Request an Exhumation

Ontario

The key person here is the interment rights holder. This is the person who bought or inherited the right to the plot. Exhumation is not carried out without their prior consent (Regulation O. Reg. 30/11, section 162).

If the holder cannot be found or identified, or is unable to give consent, the registrar may give consent on their behalf under the law. Before doing so, the registrar checks whether there are other interested persons and may require that they be notified. Any interested person may submit a written objection. The registrar's decision can be appealed to the tribunal within 15 days, and it does not take effect until the end of that period.

Quebec

A lawyer or notary files the court application on behalf of the family. The lawyer will advise which family member should be the applicant. We recommend gathering written consents from the closest relatives right away.

If the Family Lives in Ukraine

You do not have to travel to Canada. You sign a power of attorney and consent forms, and we pass them to our partners in Canada. They work with the cemetery, and in Quebec, with a lawyer or notary. Documents from Ukraine are translated into English or French. We check whether certified translation is needed before submitting them.

Law and Permits

Ontario

The Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002, and its regulation (O. Reg. 30/11). Under section 162 of the regulation, exhumation is possible if:

  • there is prior consent from the interment rights holder;
  • the medical officer of health has been notified in advance. No notice is needed for cremated remains.

Section 162 does not require a separate government permit for a family exhumation. The cemetery operator carries out the work and keeps a record of who requested the exhumation, and when and where the remains were moved.

Quebec

The Funeral Operations Act (Loi sur les activités funéraires) and the Government of Quebec describe the procedure as follows:

  • the National Director of Public Health of Quebec (directeur national de santé publique, DNSP) grants authorization if the exhumation poses no risk to human health;
  • with this authorization, an application is made to a judge of the Superior Court (Cour supérieure), and the court grants its permission;
  • the cemetery where the person is buried must be notified.

A lawyer or notary submits the request to the DNSP. It states who is buried, the cause of death (for example, from the SP-3 certificate) or the dates of birth and death and place of death, the place of burial and new burial, and the name of the funeral service provider. The DNSP may set conditions.

Official sources do not state how long the wait is. We check this for each specific case.

When It Is Allowed

We did not find a minimum waiting period after burial in the Ontario regulation or on the Government of Quebec website. Nor did we find any restricted seasons. A cemetery may have its own work schedule, which we check in advance.

Infectious diseases. In Ontario, if the medical officer of health determines that the person died of an infectious disease, the remains are handled under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. In Quebec, the health risk is assessed by the DNSP.

Urn or coffin. In Ontario, cremated remains do not require notice to the medical officer of health, only the consent of the interment rights holder. In Quebec, cremated remains do not require DNSP authorization because, according to the government, ashes pose no risk of contagion. We verify whether court permission is still required in that case.

How the Exhumation Works

In Ontario, the cemetery operator carries out the work. The medical officer of health may attend, supervise, or direct the process. Before the body is removed from the cemetery, a certificate from the medical officer of health or the cemetery operator confirming that the Act and regulations have been complied with is attached to the container (section 162(18)).

In Quebec, the conditions are set by the DNSP and the court. Only licensed funeral service providers may remove the body. The body is transported in a sealed container with a copy of the death certificate.

The cemetery decides whether relatives may be present. For the journey to Ukraine, we prepare a hermetically sealed metal coffin for transport.

Cremation After Exhumation

Sometimes the family wants to cremate the remains in Canada and bring home an urn. This makes the journey simpler and cheaper. We check in advance with the cemetery and crematorium whether this is possible for exhumed remains.

Documents for Transport to Ukraine

  • consent of the interment rights holder and the container certificate (Ontario);
  • DNSP authorization and court order (Quebec);
  • coroner's permit to remove the body from Quebec. The Government of Quebec states that this is required for any transport of a body outside the province;
  • death certificate;
  • certificate of a hermetically sealed coffin.

Canada has been a party to the Hague Apostille Convention since 2024. The apostille is issued by Global Affairs Canada or the competent provincial authority, depending on the document. We handle the translation into Ukrainian.

The Embassy of Ukraine in Canada is in Ottawa, and there are also consulates general. The consulate will advise which certificates are required to bring the remains into the country. We provide a full list of documents to every family.

Reburial in Ukraine

A permit is also required in Ukraine. Reburial is authorized by the executive committee of the local council at the place of the new burial. We handle this part together with the family.

In Quebec, the request to the DNSP must state the place of the new burial. Therefore, arrange a plot with the cemetery in Ukraine and get a certificate in advance. After arrival, we take the coffin to the cemetery or to the morgue, as agreed. Read about delivery on our repatriation of a body from Canada page.

How Much It Costs

The cemetery sets the price for exhumation. Examples from municipal cemeteries in Ontario, 2026 rates excluding HST:

CemeteryCoffin exhumationUrn exhumation
Municipality of Hastings Highlands1,000 CAD500 CAD
County of Brant, removal only2,055 CAD415 CAD

In Brant, there is an additional 310 CAD fee for equipment and safety gear. Private cemeteries and Quebec have their own prices. In Quebec, lawyer or notary fees and court costs are added. Documents, translations, the coffin, and transport are paid separately.

Our price: exhumation from €500 plus the cost of transport (repatriation) from Canada. We calculate the exact amount for your situation. No prepayment for transport: payment is made after handover under the contract.

How Long It Takes: From the First Call to the Funeral

StageOntarioQuebec
Consultation, consents, power of attorney1–3 weeks1–3 weeks
Certificate for the plot in Ukraine1–2 weeks, in parallel1–2 weeks, in parallel
Holder's consent, notice to medical officerseveral weeksnot applicable
DNSP and court authorizationnot applicableseveral weeks or months
Exhumationper cemetery scheduleper cemetery schedule
Documents, apostille1–2 weeks1–2 weeks
Transport to Ukrainea few daysa few days
Local council permit and burial1–3 weeks1–3 weeks

Timeframes are approximate and depend on the cemetery, authorities, and court. We will keep you updated on the progress at every stage.

Frequently asked questions

Can a body be exhumed in Canada and transported to Ukraine?

Yes, but the procedure depends on the province. Ontario requires the consent of the interment rights holder and notice to the medical officer of health. Quebec requires authorization from the DNSP and the court.

Who authorizes an exhumation in Ontario?

Section 162 of the regulation does not require a separate government permit. The consent of the interment rights holder is required, or if they cannot be found, the registrar may give consent.

Is court permission needed in Quebec?

For a body, yes. First authorization from the DNSP, then a Superior Court judge.

Is it easier to move an urn?

Yes. Ontario does not require notice to the medical officer of health, and Quebec does not require DNSP authorization.

How much does exhumation cost in Canada?

It depends on the cemetery. For example, Hastings Highlands charges 1,000 CAD for a coffin in 2026. Our work starts at €500 plus transport.

Do we need to travel to Canada?

No. A power of attorney and written consents are enough. Our partners submit the documents.

What to Do Now

  1. Call us and tell us where the person is buried: province, city, cemetery, coffin or urn.
  2. Find out who holds the interment rights and locate the death certificate.
  3. Collect written consents from relatives and sign a power of attorney.
  4. Arrange a plot with the cemetery in Ukraine. We will take care of the rest.

Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about exhumation

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