How long does repatriation take? Repatriating a deceased person from Germany to another country typically takes 3 to 7 working days, and repatriation from abroad to Germany usually falls within the same range. Collection in Germany normally takes place on the same day. Most of the time is spent not on the flight or the drive, but on certificates, release and, where required, the consulate. Below is the timeline day by day for both directions, and what can slow it down or speed it up.
Repatriation timeline from Germany: day 0 to day 7
The table shows a typical sequence for a repatriation from Germany abroad. Days are working days. Several steps run in parallel, so the periods overlap. These are figures from experience, not a fixed promise.
| When | Step | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Day 0 | Death and medical examination | A doctor confirms the death and completes the medical death certificate (Todesbescheinigung). You call us, and we normally collect the deceased on the same day. |
| Day 0 to 1 | Release | After a natural death the body is released immediately. If the death was not natural or the cause is unclear, the police and public prosecutor decide. |
| Day 1 to 2 | Death certificate from the registry office | The death must be registered with the registry office (Standesamt) by the third working day. With your power of attorney we do this and also request the international death certificate. |
| Day 1 to 3 | Preparation and coffin | Hygienic care is arranged through our local partners. The coffin is chosen according to the rules of the destination country and the airline, with a zinc liner if required. |
| Day 2 to 4 | Leichenpass or cremation | For a coffin, the competent authority issues the corpse passport (Leichenpass). For an urn, a second medical examination, the cremation and the cremation certificate follow. |
| Day 2 to 5 | Consulate and certification | Depending on the country: apostille, legalisation or consular approval. Some countries require none of these. |
| Day 3 to 6 | Flight or road | Air freight with an air waybill or a funeral vehicle, depending on the route. |
| Day 3 to 7 | Handover in the destination country | Our partner funeral director receives the deceased at the airport or at the destination and accompanies the funeral. |
How the individual steps fit together is explained in detail in “How does an international repatriation work?”.
Repatriation from Germany: what determines the time
The most important moment is the first call. The sooner we have your power of attorney and the documents of the deceased, the sooner the registry office, the authorities and the consulate can work in parallel. The death certificate is the basis for almost every other document, so it comes first.
A coffin repatriation requires the Leichenpass. Which documents the authority asks for and who issues it is covered in “Corpse passport (Leichenpass): what it is, who issues it and which documents are needed”. An urn repatriation does not need a Leichenpass, but the second examination and the cremation are added.
State law deadlines also apply. In North Rhine-Westphalia, for example, burial or cremation must take place within ten days; the local authority (Ordnungsbehörde) can extend this on request. In Bavaria, the transfer must begin within eight days of the death being confirmed, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Other federal states have their own rules. A repatriation within the usual time frame normally stays within them. More about our service on the page International repatriation.
Repatriation to Germany from abroad: the timeline
If a relative dies on holiday or while travelling, the pace is first set by the authorities in the country of death. In most cases the process looks like this:
- Authorities in the country of death. A doctor confirms the death and, depending on the country, the police or judicial authorities become involved. The deceased can only be repatriated once they have given release.
- Local death certificate. It is issued by the competent local authority. For many countries an apostille is enough or no certification is needed at all; otherwise the German mission can legalise it. Translations may also be needed. Details in “Death certificate apostille and legalisation”.
- German embassy or consulate. The mission advises the family, can name local funeral directors on request and helps with the return, for example with a corpse passport or an urn certificate. It does not pay repatriation costs and may not advance them.
- Transport. We work with a partner funeral director in the country of death who prepares the coffin, the deceased and the export papers. Then follows the flight as air freight or, within Europe, often the road.
- Collection in Germany. At the German airport we receive the deceased at the cargo terminal once the shipment has been cleared and bring them to the place of burial.
From arrival in Germany, the burial deadlines of the federal state where the funeral takes place apply. They differ. In Bavaria, for instance, a deceased person who arrives after the regular deadline has passed must be buried without delay. In North Rhine-Westphalia the authority can extend deadlines on request. We settle this in advance with the cemetery and the authority so that there is no time pressure after arrival. What to do first after a death on holiday is covered in “Death on holiday abroad”, and our service on the page Repatriation to Germany.
What makes repatriation take longer
When a repatriation takes longer, distance is rarely the reason. These are the most common causes of delay:
- Post-mortem and public prosecutor. If the death was not natural or the cause is unclear, the body is only handed over after release. This can take a few days, occasionally longer. More in “Why the body is not released”.
- Weekends and public holidays. Registry offices, authorities and consulates are closed or work with reduced hours, in Germany and in the destination country, especially around the turn of the year.
- Consulate. Some countries require approval or legalisation of documents. Appointments and processing times vary from mission to mission.
- Spelling of the name. If the transliteration differs between passport, death certificate and freight documents, questions arise. We check the spelling in advance.
- Cremation. A second medical examination is required before every cremation, and the crematorium needs a free slot. An urn repatriation is therefore not automatically faster than a coffin repatriation.
- Missing documents. Without the passport or civil status documents of the deceased, the registry office cannot issue the death certificate.
Which routes tend to take longer
The time depends less on distance than on the requirements of the destination country. The table lists typical factors. As a rule all routes stay within 3 to 7 working days; this is a figure from experience, not a promise.
| Route | What determines the time |
|---|---|
| Neighbouring EU countries | Mostly by road in a funeral vehicle, few additional papers |
| Ukraine and Eastern Europe | Road transport with border clearance, certification depending on the country |
| Caucasus and Central Asia | Air freight, often consular approval or legalisation, flight connections |
| Long-haul destinations outside Europe | Connecting air freight routes, import rules of the destination country |
| Repatriation to Germany | Release and certificates from the authorities in the country of death, translations |
What families can do to speed things up
You do not have to deal with the authorities yourself. Some things, however, only the family can provide, and the sooner we have them, the shorter the wait:
- Power of attorney. With your signed power of attorney we can act on your behalf with the registry office, authorities, crematorium and consulate.
- Identity documents. The passport or ID card of the deceased, plus birth and, where applicable, marriage certificate. A photo or scan is enough to start.
- Place of burial. Town, cemetery and a contact person in the destination country. Many consulates and airlines need this before booking.
- Coffin or urn. The documents and the route depend on it.
- One contact person. A family member who can answer questions quickly.
What else to clarify before a repatriation is listed in “What should be clarified before an international repatriation?”. You receive a written fixed price from us within a few hours; the most affordable option, an urn repatriation, starts at €990.
Frequently asked questions
Call us and we will give you a realistic timeline
Tell us where the deceased is now and where they are to be taken. We will check which documents and permits are needed and tell you how many days to expect. You will receive a call back within the next hour.
- 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 published regulations at the time of writing and does not replace legal advice. Deadlines, responsibilities and documents differ by federal state, destination country and country of death and may change. The time frames given are typical values, not commitments.
