Coffins and sealed metal liners for transport
Ukrainian law requires a hermetic metal coffin, so one is always needed to bring the deceased home to Ukraine. Every country the body leaves from has its own requirements, and they differ from country to country; there are examples below. We explain in plain words how it works. We choose a coffin that meets the requirements of the country of departure, and we order and check the documents for it.
Why an ordinary coffin is not suitable
The body's journey home to Ukraine takes from 24 hours after collection, and it often crosses several borders. That is why the coffin is made hermetic and put under official seal: the law requires it.
Ukrainian law is explicit: a body crosses the Ukrainian border in a hermetic metal coffin that is put under official seal. The coffin is opened only in exceptional cases, at a healthcare facility, in the presence of a customs officer and the person accompanying the body. So a hermetic metal coffin is always needed, whichever country the body comes from.
How a coffin for transport is made
The most common option is two coffins in one. On the outside is a wooden coffin. Inside is a metal liner (usually zinc), which is soldered shut all the way round.
- A wooden coffin outside: it keeps its shape and protects the liner.
- A metal liner inside: it is soldered so that it is hermetically sealed.
- Meeting the country's requirements: we prepare a coffin that suits both the country the body leaves from and the Ukrainian border.
- For a flight: a coffin with a valve that equalises the pressure, or one that is strong enough.
- Seals: the coffin is put under seal by an authorised body of the country the body leaves from.
Many European countries are parties to the Strasbourg Agreement on the transfer of corpses, and it also requires a hermetic coffin with metal inside. Ukraine is not a party to the Agreement, but a hermetic metal coffin is required under Ukrainian law as well.
If the coffin travels under the Strasbourg Agreement as ordinary freight, it is placed in packaging that does not look like a coffin and is marked “handle with care”.
We work out your price
Call or leave your number.
What different countries require
Countries of departure have their own requirements, and they differ. Some accept a hermetic bag or a transport container; some set separate requirements for air transport. These details are exactly why the local authorities may refuse to issue a permit to take the body out of the country. A few examples:
| Country | Coffin requirements |
|---|---|
| Poland | A coffin with metal inside, in a tight wooden box. A sanitary inspector puts it under seal. |
| Romania | A hermetically closed coffin in a tight wooden box. |
| Italy | A double coffin: a hermetically soldered metal one and a wooden one. |
| France | For air transport, a hermetic coffin with a metal casing is required. |
| Denmark | We solder the zinc coffin and complete a certificate of sealing, which is submitted together with the application for the permit. |
| United Kingdom | To take a body out of the country: a hermetic coffin or a hermetic metal shell. In Scotland, a zinc-lined coffin. |
| Ireland | A coffin for crossing borders is made with a metal lining and soldered shut. |
| Croatia | For a flight: a hermetic metal coffin placed inside a wooden one. |
| Bulgaria | A hermetic coffin, soldered and put under seal. A sanitary inspector is present while it is soldered. |
Sometimes the coffin itself needs its own papers. For example, in Saxony and Hamburg in Germany and in the Swiss canton of Aargau, we draw up a record that the body was placed in the coffin correctly; it is submitted to obtain the pass for the body (laissez-passer). For other countries, see the country pages or simply call us.
The coffin and embalming
A hermetic coffin and embalming are different things, but they often go together. Whether embalming is needed depends on the law of the country and on the airline.
- In Romania, the body is embalmed for any transport outside the locality where the death occurred.
- In Denmark, embalming is needed if the body travels by air.
- In the United Kingdom, the law does not require embalming to take a body out of the country; in Ireland, the body is embalmed for transport.
- Some airlines accept only embalmed bodies.
Embalming is done by a specialist in a dedicated room. Where the law or the carrier does not require it, it is done only with the family's permission. More on the “Preparing the body” page.
What can be placed in the coffin
Under the rules for international transport, the coffin may contain only the body and the personal belongings placed with it for burial. This is what the authorities of the country check before the coffin is sealed. At the Ukrainian border, a certificate of no prohibited items is required: it confirms that there are none in the body or the coffin.
An icon, a small cross, a funeral headband or a favourite belonging of the deceased can usually be placed in the coffin as personal belongings. Tell us in advance: we will pass everything on before the coffin is soldered, and check whether the country in question has any restrictions.
The farewell and the burial in Ukraine
Families often ask whether they can say goodbye with the coffin open, and whether the burial has to be in the same coffin in which the deceased arrived. The answer depends on the condition of the body, on embalming and on how the coffin was sealed for the journey. We will tell you what is possible as soon as we know the details.
If you need a different coffin for the farewell and the burial, or a cross, a shroud or wreaths, we will select them and tell you the price straight away. We make coffins for the farewell and funeral accessories ourselves, in our own workshop. For the funeral itself, see the “Funerals across Ukraine” page.
Photos of coffins
Our work: pine and lacquered coffins, a coffin in a vehicle.
Questions about coffins for transport
Can we buy a coffin ourselves and hand it over to you?
You can, but the coffin must meet the requirements of both the country of death and Ukraine, and it is soldered and sealed under local rules. It is simpler when we choose the coffin: we know the requirements of the specific country and of the Ukrainian border.
How much does a coffin for transport cost?
A coffin with a zinc liner for transport is already included in our “from” price. Prices by country are on the “Prices” page, together with a list of what the price includes. If you need another coffin, for example for the farewell, we will select one and tell you the price. Get a price.
Why can the body not travel in an ordinary wooden coffin?
Because Ukrainian law lets a body cross the border only in a hermetic metal coffin under official seal. Countries of departure also have their own requirements, which differ; there are examples in the table above.
Is a hermetic coffin needed if the body travels by road from a neighbouring country?
Yes. The requirement of Ukrainian law does not depend on the type of transport or the distance: at the Ukrainian border, the body must be in a hermetic metal coffin under official seal. For the journey by road, see the “Road transport” page.
What is a zinc liner?
It is a metal insert that fits inside the wooden coffin. The body is laid in it, and the liner is then soldered shut all the way round. This is what makes the coffin hermetic.
Is the coffin opened at the border?
Only in exceptional cases, when there is credible information about prohibited items. Even then, not at the border but at a healthcare facility, in the presence of a customs officer and the person accompanying the body. If the documents are in order, the coffin is not opened.
Is a special coffin needed for a flight?
Yes, there are extra requirements for air transport: a valve that equalises the pressure, or a coffin that is strong enough, and some countries add their own. The list is on the “Air transport” page.
Who solders and seals the coffin?
We solder it in the country of death, and the authorised body of that country puts it under seal. In Poland, for example, a sanitary inspector seals the coffin; in Bulgaria, the inspector is present while it is soldered. We arrange this in advance so that no days are lost.
Who arranges the documents for the coffin?
The certificate of no prohibited items is issued by an authority of the country of death. The record that the body was placed in the coffin correctly and the certificate of sealing come from us. We order them, keep track of the deadlines, check the details and submit the certificate of no prohibited items to the Ukrainian consulate for legalisation. The family only needs to provide a few documents, and we will tell you which. More on the “Arranging the documents” page.
Tell us what happened
Oleg Zdendiak and the team. We explain the next steps.
Send a request
Tell us which country we should bring the deceased from. We will call you back and tell you which coffin is needed.
Thank you. We will call you back. For urgent matters, please call: +380 77 882 77 77.