Exhumation in Egypt and Reburial in Ukraine: Where to Start, Documents, Timelines

In 30 seconds.

• Permission for exhumation is granted by Egyptian authorities. We clarify which specific authority and under what conditions for the particular cemetery and city.
• The first conversation is always with the cemetery administration. In Cairo, the British government names the Latin and Protestant cemeteries among the common ones.
• Egypt is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Documents go through full legalization: the issuing authority, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, and the Consulate of Ukraine.
• There are no official crematoria in Egypt, so a coffin will have to be transported.
• Our exhumation service starts from €500 plus transport from Egypt. No prepayment for transport.

Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about exhumation

Who Can Request an Exhumation

Usually, the decision is made by the next of kin. In its guidance on bereavement in Egypt, the British government states that decisions are made by the next of kin and they can authorize another person to handle the matter. For exhumation, this is also the main principle.

However, we have not officially confirmed who exactly has the right to submit the application and whether the consent of all heirs is required. We clarify this with the local authority and the cemetery before submitting documents. Be prepared that they will ask for documents proving the family relationship and the consent of other close relatives.

If the Family Lives in Ukraine

You do not have to travel to Egypt. You issue a power of attorney, we pass the documents to our partners in Egypt, and they handle the case on the ground. Important: a power of attorney from Ukraine for Egypt will need to be legalized, as an apostille is not valid there. We explain how below.

When Exhumation Is Possible in Egypt

A minimum period after burial, seasonal restrictions, and bans for certain infectious diseases may apply in Egypt. We did not find them in an official source, so we check with the local authority for your burial date and cause of death.

The British government also reminds us: if a person had an infectious disease, such as hepatitis or HIV, the local authorities must be informed so they can take precautions. Therefore, we check the medical part of the documents first.

Documents for Export to Ukraine

Legalization Instead of an Apostille

Egypt is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Therefore, every Egyptian document goes through a chain:

1. certification by the authority that issued the document. For example, a paper death certificate is certified by the Ministry of Health or the Governorate Health Directorate, and then by the Secretary General of the Governorate;
2. certification at the legalization office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt. Standard certification costs 115 Egyptian pounds;
3. consular legalization at the Embassy of Ukraine in Egypt.

The translation is certified separately, after the original. According to the rules of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt, documents from Ukraine for use in Egypt are first certified at an Egyptian diplomatic mission or at the Embassy of Ukraine in Egypt, and then at the legalization office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt.

Embassy of Ukraine

The Consular Section of the Embassy of Ukraine in the Arab Republic of Egypt (Cairo) will advise which documents are needed to bring the remains into Ukraine and how to legalize Egyptian papers. We provide a complete list of documents to each family individually.

How Much It Costs

We have not found official tariffs for exhumation in Egypt. The price for the work is set by the cemetery or the local funeral service for the specific grave. Only the fee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Egypt for standard legalization is officially known: 115 Egyptian pounds per document.

Cemetery work, permits, translations, legalization, the coffin for transport, and the transport itself are paid for separately.

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