Ukraine → Spain
Repatriation of a body from Ukraine to Spain
Repatriation of the deceased from Ukraine to Spain: if the farewell is to take place in Spain, we collect the deceased from your town in Ukraine and bring them there. We take care of the Ukrainian documents and the paperwork for the Spanish consulate, and we explain every step in plain words.
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 Spain requires when a body is brought in
A body can only be brought into Spain with a permit and a full set of documents. Below are the requirements from official Spanish sources, with a link next to each point. Gathering everything that is prepared in Ukraine for this, without missing anything, is our job.
Who authorises entry
- Entry of human remains into Spain is controlled and authorised by Sanidad Exterior (Spanish Ministry of Health); the whole procedure is handled electronically via the SISAEX platform. sanidad.gob.es
- For a body coming from a country that is not party to the Strasbourg (1973) or Berlin (1937) agreements, a relative or other interested person applies to the Spanish consulate in the country of origin. The application states, among other things, the means of transport, the border entry point and the cemetery or place of burial or cremation. sanidad.gob.es
- After checking the documents, the Spanish consulate issues the so-called "Documento Único", certifying that all legal requirements for the transfer are met. This document is also presented to Sanidad Exterior when the body arrives in Spain. sanidad.gob.es
Regional rules
Entry rules differ between autonomous communities, so we check them for the place of burial.
- Mortuary health rules in Spain have been transferred to the autonomous communities, each of which has its own regulations applying in its territory. Burial requirements therefore differ by region. sanidad.gob.es
Documents and language
- The application to the Spanish consulate must include: a medical certificate of the cause of death; a judicial permit if the death was violent; a certificate of embalming or temporary preservation; the death certificate from the local civil registry; and a copy of the request for transfer authorisation made to the local health authority. boe.es
- The Spanish consulate issues the Documento Único on the basis of duly legalised documents (Art. 36, Decree 2263/1974). boe.es
- Procedures before the Spanish central government administration are conducted in Spanish (Castilian). Official translations include those made by sworn translators recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. exteriores.gob.es
The coffin and preparing the body
- For Spain to authorise entry, the body must be embalmed or treated by temporary preservation that keeps it until burial (Art. 35, Mortuary Health Police Regulation, Decree 2263/1974). boe.es
- The body is placed in a transfer coffin as defined in Art. 40 of Decree 2263/1974 (unless international agreements provide otherwise): two boxes, an outer one of strong wood and an inner metal one, e.g. of soldered zinc sheets at least 0.45 mm thick; the coffin must have gas-filtering valves or similar devices against internal gas pressure. boe.es
- The closing of the coffin is witnessed by an official of the Spanish consulate, who draws up a report describing the coffin; a ribbon sealed with the consulate's wax seal is crossed over the coffin. boe.es
We prepare the body for the journey and place it in the coffin as Spanish rules require.
The Spanish Embassy in Ukraine
Where the entry permit is obtained through the Spanish consulate (see above), the case goes through the embassy's consular section:
- The consular section of the Spanish Embassy in Ukraine continues to operate, in a limited way, in Warsaw. exteriores.gob.es
Before each transfer we check how documents can currently be submitted.
The Ukrainian side
We prepare everything needed to take the body out of Ukraine.
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 Spain
We arrange the transport and hand the deceased over to the funeral home in Spain that the family chooses.
- Entry into Spain is requested by the funeral home through the SISAEX platform, addressed to the Sanidad Exterior service at the point of entry. Once issued, the entry authorisation is presented to Customs for final clearance of the body. sanidad.gob.es
That funeral home then conducts the funeral in Spain. We send it the documents for the border crossing in advance.
An urn with ashes
- Transporting ashes is not subject to sanitary requirements in Spain: the ashes only need to travel in a case (urn) with the deceased's name on the outside. sanidad.gob.es
We can also bring an urn with ashes from Ukraine to Spain. To find out the price, press the button below.
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 Spain
Where is the application to bring a body into Spain submitted?
At the Spanish consulate in the country of origin, when that country is outside the 1973 Strasbourg and 1937 Berlin agreements. A relative or other interested person files it and gives the transport, the border crossing and the burial or cremation place. We gather the documents for this application.
What is the Documento Único and who issues it?
It is the certificate that the Spanish consulate issues after checking the papers, confirming that the legal requirements for the transfer are met. Sanidad Exterior asks for it again at arrival. We will help prepare the documents for it before the body leaves Ukraine.
What language should the documents for Spain be in?
Spanish (Castilian). Sworn translators recognised by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs are one way to get an official translation. We order the translation and apostille where they are needed.
Is embalming or preservation of the body compulsory for Spain?
Yes: Decree 2263/1974 (Art. 35) allows entry only for a body that is embalmed or temporarily preserved until burial. We carry out this preparation in Ukraine, before the coffin is closed.
Are the rules the same in every region of Spain?
No. Health rules for the dead are handled by each autonomous community, with its own regulations, so burial conditions vary. That is why, right at the start, we check the rules of the region where the burial will take place.
Send a request for repatriation to Spain
Thank you. We will call you back. For urgent matters, write to us on WhatsApp or call +380 77 882 77 77.