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Caucasus and Middle EastRepatriation to Israel and repatriation to Germany
A burial in Israel, often in a Jewish cemetery, calls for fast and precise action: Jewish tradition requires a prompt burial without embalming. We organise the repatriation by air freight to Ben Gurion Airport and the repatriation of the deceased from Israel to Germany.
Rudolf Nordheimer and team – in German, Russian or English.
Israel at a glance
- Transport route
- Air freight
- Destination airport
- Tel Aviv Ben Gurion (TLV), just under 20 km south-east of Tel Aviv
- Flight connection
- Non-stop or connecting flights depending on the situation; before every booking we check which flights are actually operating
- Certificates
- Apostille in both directions – Israel has been a party to the Hague Convention since 1978
- Current situation
- German Federal Foreign Office (as of October 2026): travel to Israel is advised against; airspace closures and flight cancellations are possible
- Representation in Germany
- Embassy of the State of Israel in Berlin; Consulate General in Munich (Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland)
From Germany to Israel: repatriation for burial
Under Jewish religious law, a deceased person should be treated with respect and buried quickly, if possible within 24 hours. The Chevra Kadisha, the voluntary burial society of the Jewish community, washes the deceased and dresses them in a simple white shroud. Judaism does not practise laying out the body for viewing or embalming, and no burials take place on the Sabbath or on holidays. When repatriating to Israel, the 24-hour period can usually not be met. That makes it all the more important for us to involve the Jewish community at the place of death immediately and to plan the flight so that the burial does not fall on the Sabbath or a holiday.
The coffin travels as air freight to Ben Gurion Airport, non-stop or with a connection depending on the situation. The German Federal Foreign Office currently (as of October 2026) advises against travel to Israel and warns that airspace closures and flight cancellations are possible if the conflicts flare up again. We therefore check before every booking which connections actually exist and inform you openly about possible delays.
German documents used in Israel need an apostille from the competent German authority – for federal documents, this is the Federal Office for Foreign Affairs. As only people of the Jewish faith are buried in Jewish cemeteries in Israel, the local burial society may ask for corresponding proof. We clarify this in advance with you and the community.
- Death certificate with apostillefrom the German civil registry office; apostille by the competent German authority
- International body passportfrom the municipality at the place of death, applied for by us
- Medical certificate of deathmedical certificate, basis for the death certificate and body passport
- Passport of the deceasedGerman and/or Israeli passport for identification
- Documents for the burial societyif applicable, proof enabling burial in a Jewish cemetery
Death in Israel: repatriation to Germany
In Israel, the death certificate is issued in Hebrew by the Ministry of the Interior (Misrad Hapnim). It states the cause of death if this is known at the time of issue. If no autopsy was carried out, the cause of death is not shown on the certificate. In exceptional cases, the local funeral director can apply for it to be added later. For German authorities, the certificate needs an apostille from the consular department of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Misrad Hachutz); prior certification is not required for documents issued by the Ministry of the Interior.
Autopsies are only carried out at the National Centre of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv. If the police request an autopsy, the relatives are first asked for their consent; if they refuse, the police need a court order. After the examination, the body is usually released within a few days. The export formalities are generally handled by a local funeral director, with whom we coordinate the repatriation.
For data protection reasons, the German Embassy in Tel Aviv cannot obtain Israeli documents for you; this is the task of the relatives or their representatives. If the deceased was German, the death can be registered retrospectively in the German register of deaths on application – with no deadline, also via the embassy. For German-Israeli dual nationals, consular assistance is only possible to a limited extent.
- Israeli death certificate with apostilleissued by the Ministry of the Interior, apostille by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Translation from Hebrewgenerally required by German authorities
- Release after autopsyonly if an autopsy has taken place
- Passport of the deceasedpresented for the repatriation
Good to know: Jewish burial and other options in Israel
Judaism has three periods of mourning: the seven days of Shiva, the thirty days of Shloshim and the year of mourning, which ends with the Yahrzeit. Jewish graves are not levelled, and instead of flowers, small stones are placed on the grave. Traditionally, Judaism rejects cremation.
Only people of the Jewish faith may be buried in Jewish cemeteries in Israel. For other deceased persons, there are areas for civil burials in some cemeteries as well as separate burial grounds, including for foreign nationals. Cremation is permitted in Israel. The calendar also matters when planning: many public transport services do not run on the Sabbath, and travel should be avoided on Yom Kippur.
Urn transfer to Israel
As cremations are permitted in Israel, an urn transfer to Germany is possible. According to the British government, anyone taking the urn with them needs the death certificate and the cremation certificate, must observe Israeli export rules and inform the airline in advance. Sending it by post or courier is often not possible, but air freight is. In the opposite direction: for a burial according to Jewish rites, an urn is generally not an option, because tradition rejects cremation.
More about urn transferFixed price for repatriation to Israel
Tell us where the deceased is now. We check what Israel requires and send you a written fixed price – free of charge and without obligation.
- Free and without obligation
- Written fixed price, no extra charges later
- Your data stays with us
- Request
- –
- Urgency
- Immediately
- Contact
- Phone call
Your enquiry goes directly to Rudolf Nordheimer. You will receive a written fixed price.
Frequently asked questions about Israel
Your question isn’t here? Call us – we will answer right away.
All questionsHow quickly can a deceased person be repatriated to Israel for a Jewish burial?
Jewish tradition calls for burial within 24 hours if possible; with an international repatriation, this can usually not be achieved. We immediately involve the Jewish community and the Chevra Kadisha and book the next possible flight. We take the Sabbath and holidays into account in our planning.
Are there currently flights from Germany to Tel Aviv?
That depends on the current situation. The German Federal Foreign Office warns that airspace closures and flight cancellations are possible in the event of a new escalation (as of October 2026). Before every booking, we check which connections actually exist and accept cargo.
Can a non-Jewish deceased person be buried in Israel?
Yes. Although only people of the Jewish faith are buried in Jewish cemeteries, there are areas for civil burials as well as separate burial grounds, including for foreign nationals. We clarify with you in advance which option is suitable.
Does an Israeli death certificate need an apostille in Germany?
Yes. German authorities may require an apostille; it is issued by the consular department of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A translation from Hebrew is usually also needed.
Is cremation possible in Israel?
Yes, cremations are permitted in Israel. To export the urn, you need the death certificate and the cremation certificate. Jewish tradition, however, rejects cremation.
Sources: German Federal Foreign Office: Israel – travel and safety advice (as of 08.10.2026) · German Federal Foreign Office: Israeli missions in Germany · German Embassy Tel Aviv: Apostilles, certifications, documents · German Embassy Tel Aviv: Assistance for German nationals (death) · GOV.UK: When someone dies in Israel (11.11.2025) · Central Council of Jews in Germany: Death and mourning in Judaism · HCCH: Status table of the Apostille Convention
Information provided without guarantee, as of 10/2026. Requirements of authorities and airlines change; we check them for each case.
We are here for you now
Day and night, including weekends. One call is all it takes to get the repatriation under way.