Preparing the body for transport and for the farewell
Preparing the body for transport means embalming, where the country or the airline requires it. It also means clothing and, where possible and where local rules allow, cosmetic care, so that the family can say goodbye. The coffin is a wooden one with a soldered metal liner: this is how we meet the requirement of Ukrainian law. We arrange all of this as part of the transport.
Why the body is prepared for the journey
The journey home from another country takes days. There are borders to cross, and sometimes a flight. The body has to withstand that journey, and it matters to the family that their loved one arrives well cared for.
Both the country the deceased is brought from and Ukraine have their own requirements. Without proper preparation and the right coffin, the body will not be allowed to leave one country or enter the other. So preparation is not a separate “extra” service but a required part of the transport. Basic preparation is already included in the price. Embalming, if the country or the airline requires it, may change the total. We will tell you in advance.
What body preparation includes
Hygienic care
The body is washed and treated according to the rules of the country where the death occurred. We check that everything is done properly.
Embalming, where needed
We arrange it if the country the deceased is brought from, or the airline, requires it. If neither does, we will tell you whether it is needed in your case.
Clothing
The deceased is dressed in the clothes the family provides. If you cannot send clothes, we will help you choose them.
Cosmetic care, where possible
Where local rules and the condition of the body allow, the face is given discreet cosmetic care. In some countries this is not usually done; we will tell you in advance. More on this in the section “Will it be possible to say goodbye with the coffin open?”
A coffin with a metal liner
We make sure the body is placed in a wooden coffin with a hermetic metal liner, that the liner is soldered shut and that the coffin is put under official seal.
Documents on the preparation
If the country or the carrier requires them, we arrange the certificates that confirm the embalming, the placing of the body in the coffin and the sealing.
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Is embalming mandatory?
The short answer: it depends on the country and the type of transport. There is no single rule. Some airlines accept only embalmed bodies, and the rules of different countries sometimes even contradict each other. A few examples:
| Country | Embalming rules |
|---|---|
| Czechia | Not mandatory in itself. But if a body that has not been embalmed is transported for more than 8 hours or over 500 km, a hermetically sealed coffin or refrigeration equipment is required. |
| Romania | Mandatory for transport outside the town or city where the death occurred. |
| Denmark | Required if the body travels by air; an embalming certificate is issued. |
| Spain | The body must be embalmed or prepared for a long journey by another permitted method. |
| Ireland | The body is embalmed for transport. We arrange this. |
| United Kingdom | The law does not require embalming for taking the body out of the country. |
| Bulgaria | The rules do not make it mandatory. |
| Italy | Embalming there is mostly available only for international transport, and cosmetic care of the body is not usually done. If the body has not been embalmed, it must be specially prepared for the journey from April to September. |
Rules change, and they differ even within one country. For your case, we check the requirements again, both those of the country of departure and those of the carrier.
What coffin is needed for transport
What Ukraine requires
Ukrainian law states that a body transported across the border must be in a hermetic metal coffin, which is put under official seal. This is the same for every country we bring the deceased from. We meet this requirement as follows: a wooden coffin holds a metal liner, which is soldered hermetically shut, and the coffin is put under official seal.
The rules of other countries
Many of the countries we bring the deceased from are parties to the Strasbourg Agreement on the transfer of corpses. It also requires a hermetically sealed coffin with metal inside and, for air transport, one that is strong enough. Ukraine is not a party to the agreement, but our coffin meets its rules as well.
Examples of local rules
- Poland: a coffin with metal inside, in a tight-fitting wooden case. The sanitary inspector seals it.
- Italy: a double coffin, one of metal, hermetically soldered, and one of wood.
- France: for air transport, a hermetically sealed coffin with a metal casing is mandatory.
We choose the coffin so that it meets the requirements of both the country of departure and Ukraine. If you would like a different model of outer coffin, we will find one and tell you the price straight away. Coffins we offer →
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Clothing, an icon, personal belongings
The family can send the clothes their loved one will wear on the last journey. You can also place an icon, a small cross, a prayer book or other things that matter to the family.
But there is a limit. Under the Strasbourg Agreement, the coffin may hold only the body and personal belongings for burial. And at the Ukrainian border, a certificate is required stating that the body and the coffin contain nothing that may not be taken across the border. So we agree in advance on everything you would like to place in the coffin, and it goes in before the liner is soldered shut.
We will agree with you how and where to hand over the belongings, whichever way is easiest for you.
Will it be possible to say goodbye with the coffin open?
Almost every family asks this.
The metal liner is soldered shut before the body leaves the country it is being brought from. Ukrainian law allows the coffin to be opened at the border only in exceptional cases. Whether the coffin can be opened at home depends on the condition of the body, how much time has passed, the preparation and the rules of the country. We will tell you before departure, so that you know what to expect.
If a farewell with the coffin open is not possible, you can place a photo of your loved one by the coffin, invite a priest, or hold the farewell in a farewell hall. We will help you arrange all of this.
Coffins from our work
Questions about body preparation
Is body preparation included in the price of transport?
Yes, it is already included. Embalming, if the country requires it, may change the total; we will tell you in advance. When you call, we will give you the exact price for your country and tell you what it covers, including which coffin.
Who does the embalming?
We do the embalming ourselves, following the rules of the country. We make sure that everything is done and documented.
Can we decline embalming?
Yes, if neither the country nor the carrier requires it. But in some cases the body will not be accepted for transport without it. Then we will explain why and show you where the rule is written.
Can we send our own clothes?
Yes, and many families do. Let us know, and we will tell you where to send them and by when. If you cannot send clothes, we will help you choose them locally.
What can be placed in the coffin?
Clothing, an icon, a small cross, a prayer book and other personal belongings for burial. We agree on everything in advance, because at the border a certificate is required stating that the coffin contains no prohibited items.
What is a metal liner, and why is it needed?
It is an inner metal “box” inside the wooden coffin. It is soldered shut so that the coffin is hermetically sealed. Ukrainian law requires a hermetic metal coffin, put under official seal, for bringing a body into the country. We meet this requirement by soldering a metal liner inside a wooden coffin.
Will we be able to open the coffin at home?
Not always. It depends on the condition of the body, the time on the road and the preparation. We will tell you before departure.
How long does preparation take?
Preparation is usually not the longest part: the documents take more time. The body's journey home to Ukraine takes from 24 hours after collection. We will tell you the exact timing after we talk.
Do you also prepare the body in Ukraine?
Yes. If the person died in Ukraine and a farewell is planned, we will help with preparing the body in Ukraine. Call us, and we will explain how it works.
Tell us what happened
Oleg Zdendiak and the team. We explain the next steps.
Send a request
Tell us which country the body is in now. We will call you back and explain how the body will be prepared.
Thank you. We will call you back. For urgent matters, please call: +380 77 882 77 77.