Coffin repatriation means transporting a deceased person in a coffin from the place of death to the place of burial – within Germany, from Germany abroad, or from abroad back to Germany. It is needed whenever a burial in the ground is planned at the destination or cremation is not an option for the family. The cost depends mainly on distance, mode of transport and the documents required; we give you a written fixed price within a few hours.
When families choose a coffin rather than an urn
Repatriating an urn is simpler and cheaper. Even so, many families deliberately choose a coffin. The most common reasons:
- Faith. In Islam and Judaism, burial in the ground is the rule and cremation is not part of the tradition. In a 2015 Synod document, the Russian Orthodox Church describes cremation as undesirable and accepts it only where there is no other way.
- Burial at the destination. There is a family grave back home, or the cemetery there does not provide for urn burials.
- Saying goodbye. Relatives want to see the deceased once more. It is important to know that a soldered zinc-lined coffin stays closed at the destination as well. We therefore arrange a viewing at an open coffin in Germany, before the coffin is sealed.
- The wishes of the deceased. Whether written down in funeral instructions or expressed verbally, they come first. A cremation cannot be undone.
For a side-by-side comparison of both options, see “Coffin or urn: cost, timing and faith when repatriating a loved one”.
Transfer coffin or zinc-lined coffin: the difference
The coffin used for the journey is not automatically the one the person will be buried in. Which coffin is needed depends on the destination and the mode of transport.
| Type of coffin | Used for | Construction |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer coffin (Überführungssarg) | transport within Germany, for example to a funeral director or a cemetery in the home town | tightly closed coffin; state law requires a suitable, tightly sealed container |
| Coffin with zinc lining (zinc-lined coffin) | international repatriation, especially as air cargo | hermetically soldered metal liner inside a wooden coffin, as described in Article 3 of the 1937 Berlin Agreement |
The Berlin Agreement applies directly only between its contracting states, but many other countries require the same construction in practice through their consulates. For air cargo, airlines require a hermetically sealed coffin – Lufthansa Cargo explicitly names hermetic sealing and appropriate inner lining. For road transport within Europe, it depends on the destination country.
When a zinc-lined coffin is mandatory and when it is not is explained in “Zinc-lined coffin for repatriation abroad”.
Transporting a coffin within Germany
Within Germany, the burial laws of the 16 federal states apply. They set out how the deceased are transported and which documents must travel with them. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, the deceased may only be carried on public roads in a suitable, tightly sealed container, and the medical death certificate (Todesbescheinigung) must accompany the body (§ 16 BestG NRW).
Corpse passport (Leichenpass): within Germany it is only needed where a state requires it. In North Rhine-Westphalia it is mandatory for transport across the border of the Federal Republic (§ 17 BestG NRW), not for journeys within the country. Authorities in Baden-Württemberg explain that a corpse passport is needed for a transfer to another state if the destination state or a state crossed on the way requires one. We check this for the specific route.
Deadlines: in North Rhine-Westphalia, a burial may take place no earlier than 24 hours after death and must take place within ten days; the authority can extend this on request (§ 13 BestG NRW). Other states have their own deadlines, which we take into account when planning.
In Germany we usually collect the deceased on the same day. More on the page Transport within Germany.
Coffin repatriation abroad: by vehicle or as air cargo
There are two ways to carry out an international repatriation:
- Funeral vehicle. For destinations that are easy to reach by road, such as Poland or the Balkan countries. The vehicle drives without reloading straight to the partner funeral director or the cemetery.
- Air cargo. For more distant destinations, for example in Central Asia or the Caucasus. The coffin travels in the hold of a scheduled flight. Such transport can be booked by funeral directors and specialised forwarders; Lufthansa Cargo generally does not accept direct bookings from private individuals. At the destination airport, a partner funeral director takes over.
Both ways require, among other things, the death certificate (Sterbeurkunde), the corpse passport, a certificate of encoffinment or sealing and, in many cases, a permit from the consulate of the destination country. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the health authority also arranges a further examination of the body before transport abroad unless another permit is presented (§ 16(5) BestG NRW).
We repatriate in both directions – from Germany abroad and from abroad to Germany, to and from more than 30 countries. An overview is on the page International Repatriation of the Deceased.
Process and timing
- Call. You tell us the place of death, the destination and your wishes. If you leave a call-back request, we will get back to you within the next hour.
- Fixed price. You receive a written quote within a few hours.
- Collection. In Germany usually on the same day.
- Care and encoffinment. We arrange hygienic care through local partners; for destinations abroad, the zinc liner is soldered shut.
- Documents. Death certificate, corpse passport, releases and consular approval.
- Transport and handover to the funeral director or cemetery at the destination.
A repatriation abroad typically takes 3 to 7 working days. Within Germany it is usually quicker, as there is no consulate and no cargo booking. Delays almost always come from the paperwork: registration of the death at the registry office (Standesamt), a release by the public prosecutor, or additional consular requirements.
What coffin repatriation costs
There is no list price. The cost comes down to a few factors:
| Cost factor | What drives it |
|---|---|
| Distance | the route from the place of death to the destination, including the onward journey to a place far from an airport or major city |
| Mode of transport | vehicle or air cargo; for air cargo, the airline’s rate on the chosen date and the cargo weight |
| Coffin | transfer coffin within Germany, or coffin with a soldered zinc liner for abroad |
| Documents | death certificates, corpse passport and other certificates; fees are set by each authority (the corpse passport costs €40 in the district of Lüneburg, for example) |
| Consulate | permit, certified translations or legalisation – depending on the destination country |
| Hygienic care | through local partners, plus encoffinment and, if you wish, a viewing |
| Timing | call-outs at night, at weekends or on public holidays |
Repatriation in a coffin costs considerably more than repatriating an urn, which starts at €990 with us. Guide prices by region are on the page What a repatriation from Germany costs. What counts is the written fixed price you receive within a few hours. It covers, among other things, collection, hygienic care through partners, the coffin, transport, death certificate, corpse passport and consular certificates.
Frequently asked questions
Call us – we will plan the repatriation with you
Tell us where the deceased is now and where the burial is to take place. We will establish which coffin and which documents are needed and give you a written fixed price. Around the clock, in English, German, Russian and Ukrainian.
- Call back within one hour
- Written fixed price within a few hours
- Around the clock, in four languages
A first conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing.
This article reflects the published regulations and does not replace legal advice. Requirements, responsible authorities and documents vary between federal states and destination countries and may change.
