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Repatriation of the deceased from Germany to Ukraine
from €2,100 including documents, the coffin and transport to your town. We will give you the exact price within 5 minutes.
Summary. The price of bringing the deceased home from Germany is from €2,100: it covers the documents, the coffin and the road to your town, while the funeral in Ukraine is a separate service. Every German state has its own offices, so we first find out where exactly the death occurred. You need the death certificate with an apostille, the body passport (Leichenpass) and the accompanying letter of the Embassy of Ukraine for the coffin. We go by road or with an air leg (from 2.5 hours). The body's journey home to Ukraine takes from 24 hours after collection. Call us and within 5 minutes you will have the exact price.
Thank you. We will call you back. For urgent matters, please call: +380 77 882 77 77.
- Since 2015 bringing people home
- Ukrainian company Company code (EDRPOU) 46261246
- Contract with a fixed price
- 35 countries with “from” prices
- Own workshop coffins and funeral goods
- 24/7 one number from start to finish
If it has just happened
- Call or write any time. We explain what to say. We contact the hospital and the police.
- Find the insurance policy. The compensation depends on it.
- Name two cities. Where it happened. Where to bring the body. The passport can come later.
What we do once you have called
Germany is large, and each federal state has its own authorities. So the first thing we do is find out where exactly the death occurred and where the body is now: in a hospital, a morgue or under the supervision of the police. We do the work ourselves: we arrange for the coffin to be closed and prepare the German documents.
XREQUIEM runs the whole case for you, from the first call until the deceased is handed over to the family. If the hospital or the police ask who is handling the transport, give them our number, +380 77 882 77 77 — we will take care of everything ourselves. If calling from abroad is expensive for you, write to us on Viber, WhatsApp or Telegram, or leave your number and we will call you back. Here is how it goes:
We take your call at any time
We ask the city, the date, whether you have the deceased's passport and who in the family will be our contact. We tell you the price straight away.
We obtain the death certificate
It is issued by the civil registry office at the place of death (Standesamt); in German the certificate is called Sterbeurkunde.
We get the apostille and the translations
Without an apostille, the certificate is not recognised in Ukraine, so we never skip this step.
We arrange the “passport for the body”
In German it is called Leichenpass, a document in several languages. It is issued by the local authorities, which differ from one federal state to another.
We prepare the body and the coffin
The body is placed in an airtight metal coffin, which is sealed. We draw up the document confirming that the body was properly placed in the coffin. We order and check the document confirming that the coffin contains no prohibited items before everything goes to the embassy.
We obtain the letter from the Embassy of Ukraine
This is the accompanying letter for the coffin. For it we submit the deceased's passport, the certificate and the Leichenpass with an apostille and a translation.
We bring the deceased home
By road or combined with a flight, and we hand the deceased over to the family in Ukraine.
We work out your price
Call or leave your number.
Documents in Germany
The names of German documents sound complicated, but there are only a few of them. Below is what Germany issues and what we do with it.
What the German authorities issue
- Sterbeurkunde: the death certificate. Instead of it, the Standesamt may issue an Auszug aus dem Sterbeeintrag (an extract from the death register).
- Bescheinigung über die Zurückstellung eines Sterbefalls: a certificate of deferred registration of death. It may be enough for burial in Ukraine, but not for inheritance matters.
- Apostille on the certificate: placed by the Bezirksregierung or the Regierungspräsidium (the regional government).
- Leichenpass: the “passport for the body”, issued in several languages.
- A document confirming that the body was properly placed in the coffin, drawn up by us (in Hamburg it is the Einsargungserklärung).
- A document confirming that the coffin contains no prohibited items.
- A medical certificate stating that the deceased had no infectious diseases.
What we take on
- We collect the documents ourselves where the body is now: at the Standesamt, from the doctor, the police or the hospital, whichever of them issues the paper.
- We get the apostille and order translations into Ukrainian.
- We arrange the Leichenpass at the office responsible for it in your federal state.
- We submit the documents to the Embassy of Ukraine on the family's behalf.
- We put together everything Ukrainian border customs will ask for.
What we need from you
- The deceased's international passport, if you have it.
- Your passport and a document showing you are a relative.
- A power of attorney for us; we will explain how to arrange it.
Who issues the Leichenpass depends on the federal state. In Bavaria it is the municipality (Gemeinde) where the transport begins. In Saxony it is the district health office. In Hamburg it is the district office. You do not need to work this out: we know where to go.
More about what to do in the first hours is on the page What to do if a loved one dies abroad.
The general list of papers is in the Documents section.
The Embassy and consulates of Ukraine in Germany
The Embassy of Ukraine is in Berlin. There are Consulates General in cities including Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main, Düsseldorf and Munich. There is an honorary consul in Cologne.
To transport a coffin to Ukraine, the Embassy issues an accompanying letter. It requires:
- the deceased's international passport;
- the death certificate with an apostille and a translation into Ukrainian;
- the Leichenpass with an apostille and a translation;
- the original document confirming that the coffin contains no prohibited items, with a translation;
- a medical certificate confirming the absence of infectious diseases.
The Embassy marks the death in the deceased's international passport. A funeral home can handle the documents on the relatives' behalf, and that is what we do. The death of a Ukrainian citizen abroad is registered by the Ukrainian consul, and the first death certificate is issued free of consular fees. Based on the registration, the consul issues a certificate that the family uses to apply for the funeral allowance in Ukraine.
How we bring the deceased home from Germany
Germany does not border Ukraine, so the journey passes through other countries. We choose the route for your case: the city, the timing and the family's wishes.
Where we collect from
We collect the deceased from Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt am Main, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Leipzig and from any other town or village: from a hospital, a morgue or another place where the deceased is. The state where it happened decides which office issues the Leichenpass, so please name it at the start of the call.
By road
Our specialist vehicle collects the coffin in Germany and takes it to the place of burial in Ukraine. Germany is one of the Western European countries closest to us, so the road is usually the most convenient option, especially from the east of the country. More on road transport.
Plane and road
A plane makes sense when the body is in the south or west of Germany and time matters more than cost. We do not promise direct flights to Ukraine: the plane flies to an airport near Ukraine (Warsaw, Rzeszów or Chișinău). The air leg takes from 2.5 hours, then the journey continues by road.
Time on the road
The journey home takes from 24 hours after collection. The real timing depends on how quickly the documents are issued.
At the Ukrainian border, the body must be in an airtight metal coffin, which is sealed. Customs clearance is done with a short written declaration and the documents. We prepare the declaration and the documents.
Bringing home an urn from Germany
We bring urns with ashes too. For an urn, the Embassy issues a separate accompanying letter. It requires:
- the passport;
- the death certificate with an apostille and a translation;
- the cremation certificate (Einäscherungsbescheinigung) with a translation;
- a document confirming that the urn contains no prohibited items.
Bringing home an urn costs from €500. More on the page “Transport of an urn with ashes to Ukraine”.
How an urn goes through customs, whether you can take it on a plane and whether the post accepts it: see the article “Customs clearance of an urn with ashes”.
Price of repatriation from Germany
Body from Germany from €2,100What the price includes
The price includes:
- contact with the hospital and the morgue
- local, consular and border documents
- preparing the body for the journey
- hermetic coffin, soldered zinc liner
- sealing as the border requires
- usually by road; if needed, part of the way by air
- handover to the family in your town
Farewell coffin: quoted separately.
The “from” price covers the whole journey home. A funeral in Ukraine is a separate service and is not included. The final amount depends on the city in Germany, the town in Ukraine, the type of transport, the coffin model and how many documents are already done. Give us these details and you will hear the exact price straight away. Prices for all countries →
Our work
Call us, day or night
Languages: Ukrainian, English, Polish, German. The same number works on Viber, WhatsApp and Telegram.
Questions about repatriation from Germany
How much does it cost to bring the deceased home from Germany?
From €2,100 for the whole journey home: documents, preparing the body, the transport coffin, transport and customs formalities. A funeral in Ukraine is separate. The exact amount depends on the city in Germany and in Ukraine and on the type of transport. Call us and we will tell you the price.
How long does it take?
The journey home with the deceased takes from 24 hours after collection. If part of the journey is by plane, the air leg takes from 2.5 hours. What usually takes longest is the documents: the certificate, the apostille, the Leichenpass and the embassy letter. We apply for them in parallel so as not to lose days.
What is a Leichenpass and why is it needed?
It is the “passport for the body”: a document in several languages that the body crosses borders with. The Embassy of Ukraine needs it for the accompanying letter. It is issued by the local authorities, and each federal state has its own office. We arrange it.
I was given a “certificate of deferred registration of death”. Is that enough?
For burial in Ukraine, such a document may be enough. But it is not valid for inheritance matters; for those you will need a full death certificate. Tell us which document you have and we will tell you what to do next.
Which documents do you need from the family?
Usually the deceased's international passport (if you have it), your passport, a document proving the family relationship and a power of attorney for us. We arrange the rest: the certificate, the apostille, translations, the Leichenpass and the embassy letter.
Do I need to travel to Germany?
In most cases, no. A funeral home can handle the documents on the relatives' behalf, and that is us. If an office asks for a relative's signature in person, we will tell you in advance. More in the article If the family cannot travel abroad.
What coffin is needed? Is embalming mandatory?
To bring the body into Ukraine, it must be in an airtight metal coffin, which is sealed. Embalming requirements in Germany depend on the federal state, and an airline may have its own. So we decide how to prepare the body based on the route and the carrier's requirements. Preparing the body is already included in the price. If embalming is needed, we will tell you in advance whether the amount changes. More on preparing the body.
The deceased had insurance. What should I do?
It depends on the policy. Before you accept an offer from a funeral home or hospital, send us a photo of the policy. We will establish the terms and settle things with the insurer; if the policy pays only part of the way, we will tell you how much is left to pay.
Which cities in Germany do you collect from?
From any town or city in Germany: from a hospital, a morgue or another place where the deceased is. Give us the address and we will tell you when we can collect.
Can you bring home an urn with ashes?
Yes, at from €500. The documents you need are described in the section “Bringing home an urn from Germany” above on this page.
Tell us what happened
Oleg Zdendiak and the team. We explain the next steps.
Send a request for repatriation from Germany
Leave your number and we will call you back.
Thank you. We will call you back. For urgent matters, please call: +380 77 882 77 77.
We also take the deceased from Ukraine to Germany
Nearby destinations: Poland, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland. All countries are on the countries page.