Ukraine → Netherlands
Repatriation of a body from Ukraine to the Netherlands
We take the deceased from your town in Ukraine to the Netherlands. The Ukrainian paperwork is our job; below we explain what the Netherlands requires when a body is brought in, with links to Dutch law and government pages.
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 the Netherlands requires when a body is brought in
Several Dutch rules apply to bodies from countries that have not joined the international agreements on the transport of bodies. We will check which rules apply to your case before the journey.
The accompanying document and customs
- If a body is brought to the Netherlands from a state that is not a party to the 1973 Strasbourg Agreement on the transfer of corpses, it must be accompanied by a statement from the competent authority of the country of departure giving the name of the deceased and the place the body is being taken to (Art. 11 of the Dutch Burial Decree). wetten.overheid.nl
- When a body enters the Netherlands, the accompanying document (the laissez-passer or the statement mentioned above) must be presented to customs (Art. 11 of the Dutch Burial Decree). wetten.overheid.nl
- 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 Dutch text from the EU Publications Office). publications.europa.eu
Permission for burial
- For a body from a state that is not a party to the Strasbourg or Berlin agreements, permission to bury or cremate is granted by the civil registrar of the municipality where the burial or cremation will take place, once a statement from the competent authority of the country of departure is presented (Art. 11(4) and Art. 14(3) of the Dutch Burial Decree). wetten.overheid.nl
The coffin and transport
- In these cases (transport from a state outside the Strasbourg Agreement) the body is carried to the Netherlands in a watertight coffin (Art. 12 of the Dutch Burial Decree). wetten.overheid.nl
- Funeral transport in the Netherlands is carried out in a hearse (government portal business.gov.nl). business.gov.nl
The Dutch Embassy in Ukraine
If the deceased was a Dutch citizen, this is what the Dutch consular service says:
- If the local authorities do not issue a laissez-passer (temporary travel document for the body), the Dutch embassy or consulate-general can issue one. nederlandwereldwijd.nl
- For this the local funeral director contacts the embassy with an extract from the death register, a death declaration and a statement that the transport of the body has been prepared according to the rules. nederlandwereldwijd.nl
- To bring the deceased back to the Netherlands, the death certificate (overlijdensakte) and the laissez-passer are needed. nederlandwereldwijd.nl
The Ukrainian side
We gather the documents from the Ukrainian side: the extract from the death register and the death declaration issued by the doctor.
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 the Netherlands
We arrange the transport and hand the deceased over to the funeral home in the Netherlands that the family chooses.
Tell us the town in the Netherlands and the funeral home you have chosen, and we will agree the handover with them. We speak Ukrainian, English, Polish and German.
An urn with ashes
- Dutch rules do not require documents to carry ashes across the border; the government portal advises having an English translation of the death certificate and the cremation certificate. The rules of the country of departure and of the airline apply separately. business.gov.nl
We can also take an urn with ashes. To find out the price, send us a request or call us.
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 the Netherlands
What has to be shown at Dutch customs?
A statement from the competent authority in the country of departure, naming the deceased and the destination, when that country is not a party to the 1973 Strasbourg Agreement. The driver or shipper gives this paper, or the laissez-passer, to customs on entry.
Who gives permission for burial in the Netherlands?
The civil registrar of the municipality where the burial or cremation will happen. The registrar decides after seeing the departure-country statement, if the state is outside both the Strasbourg and Berlin agreements.
What kind of coffin is required?
A watertight coffin, when the body comes from a state outside the Strasbourg Agreement.
Are any documents needed to carry ashes?
Not by Dutch rules. The government portal only suggests an English translation of the death and cremation certificates. The requirements of the departure country and of the airline still apply.
Send a request for repatriation to the Netherlands
Thank you. We will call you back. For urgent matters, write to us on WhatsApp or call +380 77 882 77 77.