Exhumation in Liechtenstein and Reburial in Ukraine

In 30 seconds.

• Municipalities manage the cemeteries, and each has its own cemetery regulations (Friedhofordnung).
• According to the regulations of the municipality of Schaan, the exhumation permit is granted by the Government of Liechtenstein (Regierung) or the Chief Medical Officer (Landesphysikus).
• The resting period of a grave (Grabesruhe) in Vaduz, Schaan, and Balzers is 25 years. In Vaduz, it can be shortened for a valid reason.
• The municipality of Vaduz does not carry out the exhumation itself, and the cost falls on the relatives.
• Our exhumation service starts at €500 plus the cost of transport from Liechtenstein. We calculate the exact amount for your situation.

Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about exhumation

Who can request an exhumation

The request comes from the relatives. There is no ownership right to a grave in Liechtenstein. The Vaduz cemetery regulations clearly state that there is only a right of use (Benützungsrecht) for a grave or an urn niche. Therefore, the cemetery will deal with the person who arranged the funeral and under whose name the plot is recorded in the grave register (Grabkataster).

The Vaduz regulations allow relatives to request the closure of a grave (Grabauflösung) even before the resting period ends. The municipality has a short written form for this. It applies to the grave itself. For exhuming a body, this is not enough; a state permit is also required (see below).

If the family lives in Ukraine, there is usually no need to travel in person. We prepare the applications, and you sign a power of attorney. If the authority asks to confirm the family relationship, birth or marriage certificates translated into German will be needed. We check the exact list with the municipality where the person is buried.

When it is possible

Resting period (Grabesruhe)

In Vaduz, the cemetery supervisory board (Friedhofaufsicht) can shorten the period for valid reasons. In the regulations we reviewed, there is no minimum period after the funeral before an exhumation is allowed. So for requests like "exhumation after a year or two", the honest answer is: the authority granting the permit decides.

Season

We found no seasonal restrictions in the regulations of Vaduz, Schaan, or Balzers. We check with the local authority whether the Chief Medical Officer will set any.

Urn or coffin

It is simpler with an urn. However, in Vaduz, only biodegradable urns are placed in the ground. Durable urns are used for urn niches. The municipal form for grave closure specifically includes the option "prepare the urn for collection" (for urn niches). Once the resting period expires, ashes from niches are moved to a communal grave (Gemeinschaftsgrab). It will no longer be possible to retrieve them from there, so do not delay.

Documents for transfer to Ukraine

Usually required:

• exhumation permit (from the government or Chief Medical Officer);
• international death certificate (Todesschein international). It is issued by the Civil Registry Office (Zivilstandsamt) and costs 30 CHF;
• a document allowing the body to cross the border. Due to the customs treaty with Switzerland, international agreements on the transfer of corpses (from 1937 and 1973) apply in Liechtenstein. We clarify with the local authority who exactly issues this document in the case of an exhumation;
• for an urn: cremation certificate.

Liechtenstein is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention (LGBl. 1987.060), so documents receive an apostille. Then we translate them into Ukrainian. Ukraine is represented in Liechtenstein by the Embassy of Ukraine in Switzerland (concurrently), with the consular section in Bern. We coordinate the accompanying border documents with them in each case. The general list is on the documents page.

How much an exhumation costs in Liechtenstein

We did not find an official fee for exhumation. The Vaduz regulations state that a possible exhumation is paid for by the relatives, while the municipality only pays for regular burial services. The exhumation itself is not part of the municipality's work there, so the price is set by the funeral company. Separate fees apply for the death certificate (30 CHF), apostille, translations, the new coffin, and dismantling the headstone.

Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus the cost of transport (repatriation) from Liechtenstein. We calculate the exact amount for your situation. There is no prepayment for transport; payment is made after handover according to the contract.