Repatriation to Germany · 24/7
Repatriation to Germany
When a loved one dies abroad on holiday or while travelling, we bring them home to Germany with dignity – and handle every authority and document in the country where the death occurred. You do not need to travel abroad yourself.
Available around the clock · Fixed price within a few hours · Free & without obligation · English, German, Russian and Ukrainian
What does it cost?
Repatriation to Germany – what to expect
The guide prices below apply to repatriation of remains to Germany; the cost depends heavily on the country where the death occurred. We give you a binding fixed price after a short conversation.
Death abroad on holiday
What to do now
You do not have to deal with everything yourself. These four steps are enough to get the repatriation started quickly and avoid unnecessary costs. We take care of the rest.
+49 1511 74 63 888 Call now – around the clockHave the death confirmed
A local doctor confirms the death and issues the medical certificate of death. At a hotel or on a package holiday, the tour representative can help with this.
Inform the insurer
Call the emergency number of the travel health insurance or the credit card. Many policies cover repatriation in full or in part.
Call us – before you sign anything
Do not sign anything locally until we have checked it together. Some quotes from local providers abroad are heavily overpriced.
Have the papers ready
The passport or ID card of the deceased and the insurance number. We deal with the authorities and the consulate.
Process and timing
How repatriation works – typically 3–7 working days
Most of the time is taken up not by the transport but by the release and the paperwork in the country of death. You have one dedicated contact person throughout.
- 01Immediately
Call and authorisation
You describe the situation, we check the insurance and give you the fixed price. You sign a power of attorney.
- 02The longest part
Release and paperwork
Death certificate, release by the authorities, corpse passport (Leichenpass) and a certificate from the German embassy or consulate. Weekends and public holidays make this step longer.
- 03On site
Preparation
Our local partner takes charge of the deceased and prepares the repatriation – in a zinc-lined coffin or, after cremation, as an urn.
- 04Usually 1–2 days
Transport
Within Europe usually by funeral vehicle, from overseas as air freight. We coordinate customs and the airport.
- 05In Germany
Handover
To the funeral director or cemetery in your home town. You plan the date of the funeral service with us.
If the deceased is cremated in the country of death, it is often quicker and less expensive: an urn needs no zinc-lined coffin and no corpse passport. Read more in our guide Bringing ashes from abroad to Germany.
Services
What the fixed price includes
- Collection abroad by our local partner
- All dealings with authorities in the country of death and with the consulate
- Documents and translations for the German registry office
- Transport by road or as air freight, including customs
- Help with the insurer – where possible we bill them directly
- Handover in your home town to the funeral director or cemetery
What determines the price
- The country of death
- Distance, route and the requirements of the local authorities are the biggest factor.
- Coffin or urn
- A zinc-lined coffin needs cargo space. Urn repatriation costs considerably less.
- The insurance
- Travel health insurance with a repatriation clause often covers the costs in full or in part. We check this first.
Documents
What is needed
To bring a body home to Germany, the following documents are usually required. We obtain and check them for you – including in the language of the country of death.
- Death certificate from the country of death (Sterbeurkunde), with apostille if required
- Medical certificate of death (Todesbescheinigung)
- Corpse passport (Leichenpass, laissez-passer)
- Release by the local authorities
- Certified translations for the German registry office (Standesamt)
- depending on the case: embalming and sealing of the coffin
For funeral directors
Repatriations from abroad as a trade service
A family you serve needs a repatriation, and you would rather not tie up your firm with foreign authorities, the consulate and air freight? We handle the transport all the way to your door – you remain the family’s point of contact.
- 10%trade discount on our regular price for families
- Neutralon request, we deal with the family in the name of your firm
- Directinvoicing to your firm, payment terms by arrangement
- 24/7collection abroad, paperwork, transport and handover to your firm
Frequently asked questions
What families often ask us
What should we do first if someone dies on holiday?
Does insurance cover repatriation?
Why do you give a range rather than a fixed price?
How long does repatriation to Germany take?
Can the deceased be cremated abroad and brought home as an urn?
Who pays if there is no insurance?
Do we have to travel abroad ourselves?
When time matters
One call is enough
We take over from the very first step – around the clock, including Sundays and public holidays. Free initial advice and support with authorities in Germany and abroad, in English, German, Russian and Ukrainian.
+49 151 17463888
Guidance
Information that helps families
Answers to the most common questions about international repatriation – from our guidance section.
How does international repatriation work?
From the first call to the handover at the destination – the steps of a repatriation at a glance.
Read more →Bringing ashes from abroad to Germany
Import, documents, cemetery and costs when the deceased was cremated in the country of death.
Read more →Claiming costs against tax
Which expenses relatives can claim from the German tax office (Finanzamt) after a death.
Read more →