How much does it cost to repatriate a body to Ukraine

The cost of bringing a body home from abroad depends first of all on the country: from Poland it starts at €800, from Germany at €2,100 and from the USA at €7,100. Yet two families from the same city can get different quotes, because several other things affect the total. Here is what the price is made of, what is charged separately and how not to overpay.

Starting prices by country in 2026

This is the minimum price for bringing a body to your city in Ukraine. It covers the documents in the country of death, the coffin, the journey and the border.

For Moldova and Egypt we quote the price by phone. Documents and procedures for each country are on separate pages, linked from the table on the international repatriation page.

What the price depends on

Distance and mode of transport. From countries near Ukraine the body travels by hearse, and most of the price is the mileage. From Spain, Portugal or the USA it goes by air, and the airline charges by the weight of the coffin and its packaging. That is why Portugal costs more than Italy, even though the difference in distance is not that big.

The city in the country of death. A mortuary in the capital and one in a small town 300 km from the border mean different journeys. The destination in Ukraine matters too.

Documents. Every country has its own list. Where an apostille, sworn translations or a coroner's or prefect's permit are needed, the paperwork costs more.

Preparing the body. Embalming is not required everywhere. It is usually required for flights and long routes, and often not for a short drive from a neighbouring country. More on this: embalming for repatriation.

Time in the mortuary. Storage is charged, roughly €10 to €60 a day depending on the country. If the prosecutor delays the export permit, those days are billed by the mortuary too.

What is charged separately

The repatriation price does not include anything to do with the farewell and burial in Ukraine: the farewell hall, the priest, wreaths, the grave plot, digging the grave or the memorial meal. You can order these services from us or from a local funeral home.

Cremation is also charged separately if the family chooses it. Cremation costs from €800 in Poland, from €1,400 in the Czech Republic and from €1,900 in Germany. Bringing the urn to Ukraine is charged separately, from €800 (from the USA, from €3,500). Details are on the pages cremation abroad and transporting an urn with ashes.

Body or urn: which is cheaper

Many people think an urn is always cheaper. It is not:

• Poland: a body from €800, while cremation from €800 plus the urn from €800. The body works out cheaper.
• Germany: a body from €2,100, cremation from €1,900 plus the urn from €800. The difference is small.
• USA: a body from €7,100, the urn from €3,500 plus cremation in America. Here the urn is noticeably cheaper.

The further the country and the more flying on the route, the more the urn saves. We can price both options for your case.

How to compare quotes

When you collect several quotes, check that they cover the same things:

1. Are the documents in the country of death and the consular certificate for the border included?
2. Is the coffin the Ukrainian side requires included: metal, hermetically sealed and closed with seals?
3. Will the body be brought to your city or only to the border?
4. Are mortuary days included, and who pays if the permit is delayed?
5. Is embalming in the quote if the route needs it?

The cheapest offer often ends at the border, and the family pays for the last few hundred kilometres separately. We put the price to your city and the full list of services in the contract before any work starts.

Where to find the money

Check the deceased's insurance: travel cover, cover from the employer, a bank card with travel insurance. Repatriation is often covered, but the assistance company must be told within the first 24–48 hours.

Some countries pay a funeral allowance that Ukrainians who worked there can also receive: in Poland it is the zasiłek pogrzebowy of 7,000 zł, in the Czech Republic pohřebné. In Ukraine, once the death is registered, you can apply for the state funeral allowance.

If there is no money at all, read the article a body in the mortuary and no money. It goes through every legal option, using Poland as the example.

Need help right now? We advise around the clock and can give you an exact price for your country and city in a few minutes. Phone +380 73 319 25 35.

Frequently asked questions