Exhumation in Malta and Reburial in Ukraine

In 30 seconds.

• Exhumation is authorized by the Burials Regulatory Unit (BRU) of the Environmental Health Directorate.
• Exhumation is possible no earlier than two years after burial. This applies to both private and common graves.
• For government cemeteries, a declaration signed by the grave owners is required.
• For repatriation, the remains are placed in a soldered inner coffin made of lead or zinc, which is then placed inside a wooden one. Packing is supervised by the Port Health Services, and their fee is €64.
• Our exhumation costs from €500 plus the cost of transport from Malta. We calculate the exact amount based on your situation.

Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about exhumation

Who can request an exhumation

According to official explanations from the Maltese Environmental Health Directorate, the family or a funeral director applies to the BRU for exhumation. At government cemeteries, a key role is played by the grave owners: they are the ones who sign the Declaration for the use of a grave inside Government cemeteries. Without it, no work is carried out.

Sometimes the grave owner has passed away and no one has transferred the ownership rights. In that case, the BRU first asks for proof that the person claiming to be the owner actually has the right to it. For inheritance transfers, the BRU lists the required documents: a letter from a notary or heirs, the owner's death certificate, a will search, a copy of the will, and the inheritance document (causa mortis). This can take time, so we clarify the ownership issue as the very first step.

Private or common grave

At government cemeteries, burials take place either in a private owned grave or in a common grave. For a burial in a common grave, an owners' declaration is not required. For an exhumation from a private grave, the BRU requires a declaration signed by the owners. We find out which type of grave the person is to be removed from using the cemetery records.

The BRU itself lists the reasons why remains are exhumed: lack of space, a request to rebury in another grave, or repatriation. Transport to Ukraine falls under the last category.

If the family is in Ukraine, there is usually no need to travel to Malta. We work with a local funeral home and prepare the documents, while you sign a power of attorney. If one of you is registered as the grave owner, your specific signature may be required on the declaration.

When it is possible

Two years after burial

The official rule is that exhumation is carried out no earlier than two years after burial, regardless of whether it is a private or common grave. For government cemeteries, the BRU specifies: two years from the last burial in that grave. If someone was recently buried in a family grave, you will have to wait longer.

Season

We found no seasonal restrictions on the official websites. We clarify this individually.

Urn

The BRU explicitly states that cremated remains cannot be disturbed without a permit either. Therefore, removing an urn from a grave also requires a permit. A cremation certificate is required to bury ashes.

Documents for repatriation to Ukraine

According to the Environmental Health Directorate's list, the following are required for exhumed remains:

• Certificate of Death;
• BRU permit (Burial Permit);
• a certificate from the Port Health Services stating that the remains can be safely transported.

Malta and Ukraine are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention, so Maltese documents are apostilled, and we translate them into Ukrainian. Ukraine is represented in Malta by the Embassy of Ukraine in Italy (concurrently). We coordinate the accompanying border documents with them. The general list is on the documents page.

How much exhumation costs in Malta

Officially, the following is known: the Port Health Services charge €64 for supervision during working hours, under regulation L.N. 148 of 1998 as amended. This fee covers supervision only. An additional fee may apply outside of working hours. The BRU also charges a fee for the exhumation itself, but the amount is not listed on the official website. Cemetery work, a new coffin, apostille, and translations are paid for separately.

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