Ukraine → Germany
Repatriation of a body from Ukraine to Germany
We take the deceased to Germany from your town in Ukraine. In Germany a great deal depends on the federal state where the burial will take place, so that is where our conversation starts.
We will call you back within 5 minutes and quote the price once we have confirmed the route.
Get a price- Since 2015 repatriation in both directions
- Ukrainian company Company code (EDRPOU) 46261246
- Contract with a fixed price
- Own workshop coffins and funeral goods
- 24/7 one number from start to finish
What Germany requires when a body is brought in
Entry rules differ between federal states, so we check them for the place of burial.
Here are the requirements of two federal states whose laws we have already checked: Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia. One rule applies throughout Germany, because it is EU law:
- EU law: coffins containing a body and urns containing ashes are exempt from import duties when brought into the EU (Council Regulation (EC) No 1186/2009, Art. 113; source: the official German text from the EU Publications Office). publications.europa.eu
Bavaria
- A body brought into Germany from abroad must be accompanied by a document of the country of departure comparable to a body passport (Leichenpass); if there is none, by such a document of the country from which the body crosses the German border (Section 9 of the Bavarian Burial Ordinance). gesetze-bayern.de
- This document must show whether the body poses a risk of infection (Section 9 of the Bavarian Burial Ordinance). gesetze-bayern.de
- If there is neither a body passport nor a comparable document, a certificate is required from the municipality (Gemeinde) where the transfer within Bavaria begins, confirming that onward transport to the place of burial is permissible (Section 9 of the Bavarian Burial Ordinance). gesetze-bayern.de
- A body may only be transported in a suitable, firmly closed, sturdy, opaque and liquid-tight coffin whose bottom is covered with a sufficiently thick layer of absorbent material (Section 12 of the Bavarian Burial Ordinance). gesetze-bayern.de
North Rhine-Westphalia
- Transporting a body across the border of Germany is allowed only with a body passport (Leichenpass) (Section 17 of the NRW Burial Act). recht.nrw.de
- On public roads a body may only be transported in a tightly closed container (coffin) suitable for this purpose (Section 16 of the NRW Burial Act). recht.nrw.de
- Opening the coffin at the funeral service or burial requires permission from the local public order authority (Ordnungsbehörde) (Section 11 of the NRW Burial Act). recht.nrw.de
The German Embassy in Ukraine
If the deceased was a German citizen, some of the documents for the transport are prepared by the German Embassy in Kyiv. This is what the embassy says:
- The German Embassy in Kyiv issues the necessary certificates for the transfer to the company commissioned by the family. ukraine.diplo.de
- The embassy's documents include the body passport (Leichenpass), the urn certificate (Urnenbescheinigung) or a consular certificate; these services are subject to fees. ukraine.diplo.de
- For a transfer the embassy needs the destination airport and burial place, the details of the funeral home in Germany, and which Ukrainian funeral home has been commissioned with the formalities. ukraine.diplo.de
- The embassy needs the first and last names of the deceased's parents to issue the death certificate. ukraine.diplo.de
The Ukrainian side
We prepare the Ukrainian documents for taking the body out of the country, and we will tell you what we need from the family.
The Ukrainian paperwork is the same for every country; it is all on the page “Repatriation of a body from Ukraine to another country”.
Who receives the deceased in Germany
We arrange the transport and hand the deceased over to the funeral home in Germany that the family chooses.
So we will first ask in which town the burial will take place and which funeral home in Germany you have chosen. We speak Ukrainian, English, Polish and German, so we will liaise with the German funeral home ourselves.
An urn with ashes
- Bavaria: bodies and ashes of the deceased must be buried in cemeteries unless the law allows otherwise (Art. 1 of the Bavarian Burial Act). gesetze-bayern.de
If the deceased was a German citizen, the embassy issues a separate certificate for the urn (Urnenbescheinigung). We can also take an urn with ashes; we will give you the price on request: press “Get a price”.
The price for your route
Tell us the country and your city in Ukraine. Once the route is clear, we will give you the price.
Questions about repatriation from Ukraine to Germany
Is a body passport (Leichenpass) needed?
Yes: in North Rhine-Westphalia a body may cross the border only with a body passport. If the deceased was a German citizen, the embassy prepares the documents, and its services are paid. If the deceased was not a German citizen, we check with the German Embassy and with the funeral home you have chosen who issues the document for entry, before the body leaves Ukraine.
What kind of coffin is required?
In Bavaria the coffin must be tightly closed, strong, opaque and liquid-proof, with an absorbent layer at the bottom; in North Rhine-Westphalia, a tightly closed receptacle. For other federal states, we check the requirements for the place of burial.
Will it be possible to open the coffin at the funeral service?
In North Rhine-Westphalia only with permission from the local public order authority (Ordnungsbehörde). Other federal states may have different rules.
What details does the German Embassy ask for if a German citizen has died?
The first and last names of the deceased's parents. The rest, such as the place of burial and the funeral home's details, we will gather together with you.
Send a request for repatriation to Germany
Thank you. We will call you back. For urgent matters, write to us on WhatsApp or call +380 77 882 77 77.