Ukraine → Poland
Repatriation of a body from Ukraine to Poland
We collect the deceased from your town in Ukraine and take them to Poland. We handle the Ukrainian paperwork for taking the body out of the country. Below we set out what the Polish side requires and who issues it, with links to Polish law and the consulate's 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
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What Poland requires when a body is brought in
To bring a body into Poland you need a permit from the starosta (county head) of the county where the burial will take place, and a certificate from a Polish consul. For the starosta's permit, the death document may have to be translated into Polish; below is an example of this requirement from one county office.
The starosta's permit and the consul's certificate
- To bring a body into Poland for burial, a permit is needed from the starosta (county head) of the county where the burial will take place. It is issued in agreement with the county sanitary inspector (Art. 14 of the Polish Act on Cemeteries and Burial). isap.sejm.gov.pl
- After the starosta's permit, a certificate from a Polish consul is needed stating that the body may be brought into Poland. The consul issues it on the basis of the starosta's permit (Art. 14 of the Polish Act on Cemeteries and Burial). isap.sejm.gov.pl
- The application for the permit can be filed with the starosta or city mayor (prezydent miasta) by the deceased's family or by a funeral home they have authorised. gov.pl
Documents and Polish translation
- Documents for the Polish consul in Ukraine: the burial permit issued by the starosta or city mayor (prezydent miasta), an extract of the death record or another document confirming death, the medical certificate of death issued by a local doctor, a certificate from the sanitary-epidemiological service for the place of death, and the local authorities' permit to take the body out. gov.pl
- For the starosta's permit, the death document is submitted with a Polish translation, either by a sworn translator or confirmed by a Polish consul (example of the requirement: the Włocławek county office). samorzad.gov.pl
- If the death document does not state the cause of death, the application must include an official document ruling out a listed infectious disease as the cause of death, also translated (example of the requirement: the Włocławek county office). samorzad.gov.pl
The coffin and import duty
- In Poland it is prohibited to carry or transport a body in an open coffin (Art. 12 of the Polish Act on Cemeteries and Burial). isap.sejm.gov.pl
- 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 Polish text from the EU Publications Office). publications.europa.eu
The Polish Embassy in Ukraine
- The certificate for bringing a body or ashes into Poland ('zaświadczenie na sprowadzenie zwłok lub prochów') is issued by the territorially competent Polish consulate in Ukraine; documents can be filed in person or by post. gov.pl
This is the same consul's certificate mentioned above. Once we know which town in Ukraine the deceased is in now, we will tell you which Polish consulate to apply to.
The Ukrainian side
Some of the papers the Polish consul asks for are issued in Ukraine: the death document, the medical certificate of death, the sanitary certificate and the permit to take the body out of the country. We gather these documents ourselves.
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 Poland
We arrange the transport and hand the deceased over to the funeral home in Poland that the family chooses.
The starosta's permit is issued where the burial will take place. So we will first ask where in Poland the burial will be, and for the funeral home's contact details if you have already chosen one. We speak Ukrainian, English, Polish and German.
An urn with ashes
- Bringing in an urn with ashes also requires the starosta's permit. The office verifies the cremation, so a cremation certificate with a sworn translation must be attached to the application (example of the requirement: the Kraśnik county office). samorzad.gov.pl
We can also bring an urn with ashes from Ukraine to Poland; we will tell you the cost once we know where it is going.
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 Poland
Who can apply to the starosta for the permit?
The family, or a funeral home they have authorised, files it with the starosta or the city mayor (prezydent miasta).
What language should the documents be in for Poland?
Polish. The starosta wants the death document translated by a sworn translator, or with the translation confirmed by a Polish consul. We will arrange the translation.
What if the death document does not state the cause of death?
Then the file also needs an official document, translated as well, ruling out a listed infectious disease as the cause. The Włocławek county office states this requirement, for example.
Can a body be carried through Poland in an open coffin?
No. The Polish Act on Cemeteries and Burial (Art. 12) bans it, so the coffin is closed.
Is import duty charged on a body or an urn?
No. Under an EU customs regulation (EC No 1186/2009, Art. 113), a coffin with a body and an urn with ashes come into the EU duty-free.
Send a request for repatriation to Poland
Thank you. We will call you back. For urgent matters, write to us on WhatsApp or call +380 77 882 77 77.