Exhumation abroad and reburial in Ukraine

Sometimes a person is buried abroad because there was no other way at the time: there was not enough money, no relatives were found, or the local community arranged the funeral. Months or years later the family wants to rebury them at home. This is possible, but the procedure is harder and longer than an ordinary repatriation. Here is how it works.

Why reburial is harder than repatriation

An ordinary repatriation starts at the mortuary. A reburial starts at the cemetery, and every step needs its own permit:

1. An exhumation permit in the country where the person is buried.
2. The exhumation itself, under the supervision of the health authority.
3. A new coffin, or an urn if the family chooses cremation.
4. A permit to take the remains out of the country.
5. Transport, the border and burial in Ukraine.

So our advice is: if the family is still deciding where to bury someone, decide before the funeral. Bringing the person home straight away costs less and takes less time. We wrote about this in a body in the mortuary and no money, which covers the options when funds are short.

Who grants the exhumation permit

In most European countries the decision is made by the health authority or the local council, on an application from a close relative. The application usually comes with:

• the death certificate;
• a document proving the family relationship;
• consent from the management of the cemetery where the person is buried;
• confirmation of the new burial place: in our case, a letter from a cemetery in Ukraine.

Poland. The permit is issued by the powiatowy inspektor sanitarny on the application of the nearest relative. As a rule, exhumations take place in the cold season, from 16 October to 15 April. If a prosecutor or court orders the exhumation, the season does not apply. On repatriation from Poland in general: repatriation from Poland.

Other countries. Rules differ: in some places the local council issues the permit, in others the health authority, and some countries allow exhumation in the first years after burial only in exceptional cases. Before applying, we check the rules of the specific town and cemetery.

If the person died of an infectious disease, the timing and conditions of exhumation can be stricter. Tell us straight away if you know this.

How long it takes

The longest wait is for the exhumation decision and, in countries with seasonal limits, for the permitted period. From the application to the reburial in Ukraine can take anything from a few weeks to a few months. The exhumation itself takes a few hours, and the journey with the body from 24 hours, as with an ordinary repatriation.

Body or urn after exhumation

After exhumation there are two ways:

• Bring the remains home in a new coffin. The Ukrainian side requires a metal, hermetically sealed coffin closed with seals, as for any body repatriation.
• Cremate the remains locally and bring home the urn. This is often simpler: an urn is easier to transport and can be buried in a family grave or placed in a columbarium. Not every country allows cremation after exhumation, and we check this. On cremation abroad: cremation abroad and in Ukraine; on urn transport: transporting an urn with ashes.

What to arrange in Ukraine

Before applying abroad, agree with the cemetery in Ukraine where the new burial will be. For a burial in a family grave, or to inter an urn there, the cemetery may ask for documents about the family plot. A letter confirming the new burial place is often needed already for the exhumation permit abroad.

The applications abroad are usually filed by a close relative or by an agency under their power of attorney. How to draw one up so it is accepted abroad: power of attorney for repatriation and apostille.

Once the person arrives, we can arrange the farewell and burial in Ukraine: funeral arrangements.

How much a reburial from abroad costs

The price has several parts: fees and services abroad (the permit, cemetery work, health authority supervision), a new coffin or cremation, transport and the burial in Ukraine. We price the transport of the body the same way as an ordinary repatriation: starting prices by country are on the international repatriation page. We quote the other parts once we know the cemetery's rules, so the exact total comes after the first call.

Need help right now? We advise around the clock. We will find out whether and when exhumation is possible in your town, arrange the permits and bring your loved one home. Phone +380 73 319 25 35.

Frequently asked questions