Exhumation in Moldova and Reburial in Ukraine

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General rules are set by the Regulation on Cemeteries, approved by Government Decision No. 1072 of 22.10.1998 (Regulamentul cu privire la cimitire). Specific details are set by each municipality in its own cemetery rules.
Reburial at the request of relatives is allowed with an opinion from the territorial center of preventive medicine (centrul de medicină preventivă teritorial).
Exhumation is recommended during the cold season, in the daytime, in the presence of local government and sanitary service representatives.
For example, in the Băcioi commune (Chișinău municipality), graves are opened only from November 1 to March 31 and no earlier than 7 years after burial.
Our exhumation costs from €500 plus the cost of transportation from Moldova. We calculate the exact amount based on your situation.

Call +380 77 882 77 77 Ask about exhumation

Who can request an exhumation

Relatives make the request. The cemetery regulations of the Băcioi commune, adopted on the basis of the government regulation, state directly: reburial of remains is permitted "at the wish of the relatives" with an opinion from the sanitary service. When the grave is opened, relatives or their representative by power of attorney must be present, along with a representative of the cemetery administration.

This is important for a family from Ukraine. You do not have to travel in person: someone can represent you with a power of attorney. We prepare the power of attorney and the documents, and our representative attends at the cemetery. Documents issued in Ukraine may need to be translated into Romanian.

If the grave is in a cemetery owned by a religious community, you also need to arrange it with them in addition to the municipality. We clarify the exact procedure on site.

Law and permits

The legal framework is as follows:

Government Decision No. 1072 of 22.10.1998 approved the Regulation on Cemeteries. Cemeteries in Moldova are managed by local authorities, and burials and reburials are carried out under this regulation.
Municipal cemetery regulations. Each community specifies its own rules. We refer to the current regulations of the Băcioi commune (council decision of 16.12.2021) because they are published in full on the official website.

Under the Băcioi regulations:

opening a grave or exhumation is carried out in accordance with the requirements of medical and sanitary authorities;
opening a grave and exhumation are recorded in an official report (proces-verbal), which is added to the cemetery register;
reburial at the wish of relatives is allowed with an opinion (aviz) from the territorial center of preventive medicine.

We check with the local authority to see which public health bodies currently issue this opinion and how long it takes. Processing times are not specified in the regulations.

When it is allowed

Season

The regulation recommends conducting exhumations during the cold season and in the daytime. In Băcioi, this is a strict rule: only from November 1 to March 31. If you apply in the summer, be prepared that the exhumation will take place in autumn or winter.

Time since burial

In Băcioi, exhumation is allowed no earlier than 7 years after burial. In other communities, the period may differ. We check this with the municipality of your cemetery.

Infectious diseases

The Băcioi regulations prohibit opening the coffin during the transportation of a person who died of an infectious disease. If this was the cause of death, we clarify the exhumation conditions with the sanitary service before submitting the application.

Transportation to another locality

Under the same regulations, transporting a deceased person from the place of death for burial in another locality requires a transport permit certificate from the territorial center of preventive medicine. For exhumed remains going abroad, we clarify the exact procedure.

How the exhumation takes place

A representative of the cemetery administration and the relatives (or their representative by power of attorney) must be present. The regulation also recommends the presence of municipality and sanitary service representatives. An official report is drawn up.

The remains are placed into a new, hermetically sealed metal coffin for transport, which is soldered shut. Another option is to cremate the remains and transport the urn. We check separately whether cremation of exhumed remains is possible in Moldova. We will calculate the costs for both options.

Someone will need to dismantle the headstone and fence on the old grave. We arrange this with the cemetery administration in advance.

How to plan so you don't miss the season

The cold season is short, and the weather in November and March can be unpredictable. So the plan is this: in the summer or early autumn, we collect the documents and power of attorney, submit the application, and get the sanitary service opinion. At the same time, we make arrangements with the cemetery in Ukraine. When the season opens, all that is left is to set the exhumation date. This way, the family does not have to wait an extra year.

If another family member is buried in the same grave, we speak with the cemetery administration separately about what exactly will be opened and how the site will be put back in order afterward.

Documents for repatriation to Ukraine

Usually, you need:

the sanitary service opinion and the municipal permit for exhumation;
the exhumation report;
the death certificate;
a mortuary passport (paşaport mortuar). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova states that this passport is mandatory for international transport of a body and is issued under the Strasbourg Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses of 26.10.1973. We check with the local authority to see who issues it for taking exhumed remains out of Moldova.

Both Moldova and Ukraine are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. We apostille the Moldovan documents and translate them into Ukrainian. Ukraine is represented in Moldova by the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Moldova in Chișinău. We coordinate the accompanying border documents with the embassy. The general list is on the documents page.

Reburial in Ukraine

A new burial in Ukraine also requires a permit from the executive body of the local council at the new burial site. Submit the Ukrainian paperwork in parallel with the Moldovan side, especially if you are waiting for the cold season: there will be enough time for everything.

How much exhumation costs in Moldova

Rates for cemetery work are set by each municipality or municipal enterprise. We did not find official figures specifically for exhumation, so we do not list them here. Separate fees apply for the sanitary service opinion, the new coffin, documents, apostille, and translations.

Our exhumation costs from €500 plus the cost of transportation (repatriation) from Moldova. We calculate the exact amount for your situation. There is no prepayment for transportation; payment is made after delivery under the contract.

How long it takes

Stage	Estimated time
Initial call, checking the cemetery and municipal rules	1–3 days
Power of attorney, family documents	1–2 weeks
Sanitary service opinion, municipal permit	confirmed with the authority
Waiting for the season (if November–March applies)	up to several months
Exhumation, new coffin, documents	1–2 weeks
Transportation to Ukraine	usually 1–2 days
Reburial in Ukraine	as agreed with the cemetery

Timeframes depend on government authorities beyond our control.

Frequently asked questions

Who approves an exhumation in Moldova?

Reburial at the wish of relatives is allowed with an opinion from the territorial sanitary service. The work takes place at the cemetery under the supervision of the municipality that manages it. Each community has its own procedure.

When can an exhumation be done?

The regulation recommends the cold season. In Băcioi, it is allowed only from November 1 to March 31 and no earlier than 7 years after burial. We check the rules of your specific community.

Do relatives have to be present?

Yes, either the relatives or their representative by power of attorney. We can act as your representative.

How much does an exhumation cost in Moldova?

Cemetery rates vary, and we have not found official figures. Our exhumation costs from €500 plus transportation to Ukraine.

What document is needed to take a body out of Moldova?

International transport requires a mortuary passport (paşaport mortuar). We clarify who issues it in your case.

Is exhumation possible in the summer?

In many communities, it is not allowed or not recommended. Submit your documents in advance to be ready for the cold season.

What to do now

Gather what you have: the name of the locality and cemetery, the year of burial, the death certificate, and the grave plot documents.
Decide which family member will be the applicant, or sign a power of attorney for our representative.
Call us. We will check the municipal rules, obtain the required opinions, and prepare the exhumation for the open season. For details on transporting a body, see the body repatriation from Moldova page.

We work 24/7, and we are also available on Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram.

Call +380 77 882 77 77 Ask about exhumation

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