Repatriation from Germany to Georgia or Armenia is carried out in a coffin as air cargo to Tbilisi or Yerevan and typically takes 3 to 7 working days. The key documents are the death certificate, the German corpse passport (Leichenpass), certificates on hygienic preparation and, depending on the authority, an apostille and translations. Below: which missions are responsible, how the flights work, what changes with an urn and what the family can prepare at the destination.
Which embassies and consulates are responsible
Georgia has four missions in Germany: the embassy in Berlin (Rauchstraße 11), the consulate general in Frankfurt am Main – responsible for North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland and Thuringia –, a consulate general for Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, and an honorary consulate in Dresden for Saxony. All other federal states fall under the embassy.
Armenia has its embassy in Berlin (Nussbaumallee 4), which covers the whole of Germany. There are also honorary consuls in Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Leipzig, Magdeburg and Munich.
Whether the mission issues its own certificate, certifies documents or only checks translations varies from case to case – including by whether the deceased was a Georgian, Armenian or German national. We clarify this with the responsible office in advance.
Which documents are needed
The core documents are issued in Germany. The destination country and the airline add requirements of their own. Typically these are:
- Death certificate from the registry office (Standesamt), usually also as an international, multilingual extract;
- Leichenpass (corpse passport) from the competent German authority;
- release by the public prosecutor if the death was not natural or its cause is unclear;
- embalming certificate and certificate of freedom from infectious disease – Armenian Airlines requires both for transport to Armenia; for Georgia, international repatriation services list the same documents;
- certificate that the coffin contains no extraneous items – also an Armenian Airlines requirement;
- passport of the deceased, even if it has expired;
- coffining certificate for the soldered zinc liner – more in our article “Zinc-lined coffin for repatriation abroad”.
We do not carry out hygienic care or embalming ourselves. We arrange it through local partners and obtain the certificates.
Apostille: Both countries have acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention. For Armenia it has applied in relations with Germany since 1994. Georgia acceded in 2007; Germany initially objected and withdrew its objection in 2010. Since then, an apostille rather than consular legalisation is sufficient for German documents in both countries. It is issued by an authority designated by each federal state.
Translations: According to Armenian Airlines, foreign documents for Armenia must be translated into Armenian. Whether Georgia requires a Georgian translation, and whether it must be certified, depends on the office checking the documents.
Flights and timing
The deceased can only travel as air cargo, never as baggage. The route depends on which airline confirms cargo space on the required date.
- Georgia: Lufthansa flies direct from Munich to Tbilisi, with a flight time of about 3 hours 45 minutes. Kutaisi in the west of the country is served from Germany mainly by Wizz Air, for example from Berlin, Dortmund, Memmingen and Frankfurt-Hahn – often a convenient option for relatives travelling to the funeral. We usually route the coffin via Tbilisi and continue by road, for example to Kutaisi or Batumi.
- Armenia: Lufthansa flies non-stop from Frankfurt to Yerevan, with a flight time of about 4 hours 15 minutes. There are also connecting flights, for example with Austrian Airlines via Vienna. Destinations outside Yerevan, such as Gyumri, are reached by road.
Collection in Germany usually takes place on the same day. The whole repatriation typically takes 3 to 7 working days. The time is rarely spent on the flight; it goes into the paperwork: registration of the death, release, apostille and translations.
Costs and the urn as an alternative
As a guide, repatriation from Germany to either country costs EUR 4,500 to 7,500 in a coffin and EUR 2,500 to 3,500 as an urn, excluding collection and additional services. We provide a binding fixed price in writing within a few hours.
An urn is lighter and needs neither a zinc liner nor embalming. The cremation would, however, take place in Germany: according to the UK Foreign Office, cremation is not possible in Georgia, and according to the UK Foreign Office and the US Embassy, Armenia has no crematorium. The Georgian Orthodox Church rejects cremation; in both countries burial in a coffin is the usual form.
Whether an urn is appropriate is for the family to decide – in line with the wishes of the deceased and, if desired, after speaking to the priest. More in our article “Coffin or urn: cost, timing and faith”.
Burial and memorial days: Georgian and Armenian customs
Georgia: Traditionally, the deceased lies at home and relatives and neighbours come to say goodbye. The burial is followed by the funeral meal, the kelekhi, at which the priest blesses the wine. Memorial services are held on the 3rd, 9th and 40th day and then every year; on the 40th day the family hosts another, simpler memorial meal. Close relatives observe a year of mourning.
Armenia: According to the US Embassy, the deceased is often kept in the family home for up to three days; burial takes place no sooner than 24 hours after death. The Armenian Apostolic Church holds the requiem (hokehangist) at the grave on the morning after the burial and on the 7th day, on the 40th day (karasunk) during the Divine Liturgy, and on the first anniversary.
Because repatriation takes several days, the 3rd or 7th day may fall before the arrival. Many families discuss with their priest how to observe the memorial days in that case.
What the family prepares at the destination
- Grave: arrange the cemetery and plot; for a family grave, the consent of the relatives.
- Church and priest: agree the date of the funeral service and burial as soon as the arrival date is known.
- Local funeral director: a local funeral home receives the coffin at the airport. Armenian Airlines notes that a funeral service or authorised agent may be required at the destination. We coordinate with our partner.
- Airport handover: name a person to receive the cargo and confirm the procedure at the arrival airport in advance.
- Viewing and meal: prepare space at home or a hall for the farewell and the funeral meal.
- Copies: keep copies of the death certificate and Leichenpass at hand, including for authorities at home.
Georgia and Armenia compared
| Georgia | Armenia | |
|---|---|---|
| Missions in Germany | Embassy in Berlin, consulate general in Frankfurt am Main, consulate general for Bavaria/Baden-Württemberg, honorary consulate in Dresden | Embassy in Berlin; honorary consuls in Hamburg, Karlsruhe, Leipzig, Magdeburg, Munich |
| Apostille in relations with Germany | since 2010 | since 1994 |
| Destination airport for the coffin | Tbilisi (TBS) | Yerevan (EVN) |
| Direct flight (example) | Lufthansa Munich–Tbilisi, approx. 3 h 45 min | Lufthansa Frankfurt–Yerevan, approx. 4 h 15 min |
| Translation of documents | depends on the checking office | into Armenian (Armenian Airlines requirement) |
| Cremation in the country | not possible | no crematorium |
| Church | Georgian Orthodox Church | Armenian Apostolic Church |
| Memorial days | 3rd, 9th, 40th day, anniversary | day after burial, 7th, 40th day, anniversary |
| Guide price coffin / urn | EUR 4,500–7,500 / 2,500–3,500 | EUR 4,500–7,500 / 2,500–3,500 |
| Typical duration | 3–7 working days | 3–7 working days |
Country details are on our pages Repatriation to Georgia and Repatriation to Armenia. For an overview of other destinations in the region, see “Repatriation from Germany to Russia, Ukraine, Central Asia and the Caucasus”.
Frequently asked questions
Call us – we plan the repatriation to Georgia or Armenia
Tell us where the deceased is now and to which town they are to be taken. We clarify the consulate’s requirements, apostille, translations and flight route and send you a written fixed price within a few hours. If you request a call back, we will ring you within the next hour. 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 flight schedules and does not replace legal advice. Requirements of consulates, authorities and airlines may change.
