Home/Countries/Italy
EuropeRepatriation to Italy and repatriation to Germany
Germany and Italy have both been parties to the Berlin Agreement on the transport of corpses since 1938. This gives repatriation between the two countries a clear framework – whether the burial is to take place in the home town in Italy or a relative has died while on holiday in Italy.
Rudolf Nordheimer and team – in German, Russian or English.
Italy at a glance
- Transport route
- By road in a funeral transport vehicle across the Alps; urns also by air freight or as accompanied luggage by arrangement with the airline
- Certificates
- No apostille for civil status documents within the EU (Regulation (EU) 2016/1191); multilingual form on request
- Agreements
- Berlin Agreement of 1937 – Italy and Germany parties since 1 June 1938
- Competent authority in Italy
- Municipality (Comune) of the place of death: civil registry office, transport permit (passaporto mortuario)
- Representation in Germany
- Italian Embassy in Berlin; consulates general in Cologne, Frankfurt am Main, Hanover, Munich, Stuttgart; consulates in Dortmund and Freiburg
- German missions in Italy
- Embassy in Rome, Consulate General in Milan, honorary consulates
Repatriation from Germany to Italy
Many Italian families in Germany wish for a deceased relative to be buried in their place of origin – often in the family grave in the cemetery of their home municipality. For the transfer in a coffin, the competent German authority issues a body passport (Leichenpass). Because Germany and Italy are parties to the Berlin Agreement of 1937, this body passport is issued according to the model agreed in the Agreement and is recognised in Italy.
You do not need to have the German death certificate apostilled for Italian authorities: under EU Regulation 2016/1191, civil status documents exchanged between EU states are exempt. On request, the civil registry office (Standesamt) issues a multilingual form as a translation aid. In many cases, this saves you a certified translation into Italian.
We collect the deceased anywhere in Germany, coordinate the date with the cemetery administration of the destination municipality (Comune) and a local funeral company, and carry out the transfer by road across the Alps to the destination. You receive a written fixed price before placing the order.
- Death certificatefrom the German civil registry office, with a multilingual EU form on request
- Body passportaccording to the model of the Berlin Agreement, issued by the competent German authority
- Medical certificatesMedical certificate of death and confirmation of fitness for transport or regarding infectious diseases
- Identity documentPassport or identity card or Carta d'identità of the deceased
- Confirmation from the cemeteryConfirmation of a grave or burial from the municipality in Italy
Death on holiday in Italy – repatriation to Germany
If someone dies in Italy, the death is reported to the civil registry office of the municipality (Comune) in whose area it occurred – usually within 24 hours after a public health doctor has confirmed the death. This is generally done by the local funeral company. The death certificate (certificato di morte) is not handed out automatically but must be requested from the municipality; on request, it is also available in the international, multilingual format. It does not state the cause of death; this is shown in the medical certificate or the ISTAT form of the local health authority (ASL). If someone dies outside a hospital, for example in a hotel, the body remains under observation until the public health doctor has examined it. In unexplained or violent deaths, a public prosecutor (Magistrato) decides on the autopsy and the release.
The permit for transport abroad is issued by the municipal civil registry office. This requires an extract from the death certificate and a certificate from the ASL confirming compliance with the funeral regulations (DPR 285/1990), and in the case of a violent death also the release by the judicial authorities. For Germany, the body passport is issued according to the model of the Berlin Agreement; a separate entry clearance (nulla osta) from a consulate, which Italy requires for many other destination countries, is therefore not needed. Italian law requires a basic preservative treatment for transfer abroad. The local formalities can take up to two weeks.
First check whether there is travel, international health or funeral expenses insurance; some policies cover the repatriation and appoint their own service providers. For German nationals, the German Embassy in Rome and the Consulate General in Milan are the points of contact in an emergency. If you wish, we coordinate the collection in Italy and the transfer to the cemetery or crematorium in Germany.
- Certificato di morteItalian death certificate from the municipality, multilingual on request
- Passaporto mortuarioTransport permit from the municipality according to the model of the Berlin Agreement
- Certificate from the ASLhealth authority confirms coffin and treatment in accordance with DPR 285/1990
- Release by the judicial authoritiesonly in the case of an accident, violence or an unexplained cause of death
- Passport or identity cardof the deceased
Good to know: cremation, heat and Italian families in Germany
In Italy, a cremation is authorised by the municipality on behalf of the mayor. The following must be submitted: a medical certificate stating that there is no suspicion of a criminal offence, proof of the deceased's wishes (for example a will or a declaration by the relatives) and proof of the relationship. If several relatives rank equally, Italian law requires the consent of the majority; the order of precedence is spouse, children, parents, adult siblings.
In the summer months, Italy often experiences heatwaves with temperatures of up to 40 °C. A quick decision between repatriation and a local funeral is then particularly important. At the end of 2025, around 629,000 Italian nationals were living in Germany. We advise in German, Russian and English and clarify the requirements of the respective municipality in advance.
Urn transfer to Italy
If an urn is to be brought from Italy to Germany, the municipality issues a passaporto mortuario, which usually covers the death certificate and the cremation certificate. Anyone taking the urn with them on the plane should inform the airline in advance. In Germany, the urn is received by a funeral company or the cemetery. For an urn travelling from Germany to Italy, we check in advance with the destination municipality whether burial in the family grave is possible; Italy only allows keeping the urn at home or scattering the ashes with the municipality's permission.
More about urn transferFixed price for repatriation to Italy
Tell us where the deceased is now. We check what Italy 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 Italy
Your question isn’t here? Call us – we will answer right away.
All questionsWhat is a passaporto mortuario?
This is the name in Italy for the municipality's permit to transport a deceased person or an urn abroad. For Germany, it is issued according to the model of the Berlin Agreement of 1937. It is the most important accompanying document for the repatriation.
How long does repatriation from Italy to Germany take?
The formalities in Italy can take up to two weeks, or longer if there is an autopsy or an investigation by the public prosecutor. You should only set the burial date in Germany once the release has been granted. We keep you informed at every step.
Does an Italian death certificate need an apostille in Germany?
No. Under EU Regulation 2016/1191, civil status documents exchanged between EU member states are exempt from the apostille. It is best to request the multilingual version from the municipality; then a translation is usually not needed.
Is an autopsy always carried out after a death in Italy?
No. The judicial authorities order an autopsy if the cause of death is unclear, sudden, unnatural or violent. Even in the case of a natural death, the hospital can arrange an autopsy. In investigation cases, the relatives can appoint their own expert.
Can I take the urn from Italy with me on the plane?
In principle, yes, if you have the passaporto mortuario with the death and cremation certificates with you and the airline has been informed in advance. Each airline decides for itself whether the urn is allowed in the cabin. We check this before your journey.
Sources: German Federal Foreign Office: Status list of the International Agreement on the Transport of Corpses (Berlin 1937) · German missions in Italy (Embassy in Rome, Consulate General in Milan) · Ministero dell'Interno / Your Europe: Rules regarding death and repatriation of a body · Ambasciata d'Italia Berlino: La Rete Consolare · German Embassy Athens: Information sheet on the apostille (Regulation (EU) 2016/1191) · German Federal Foreign Office: Italy – travel and safety advice (heat) · GOV.UK (FCDO): When someone dies in Italy (as of 2 October 2026) · Destatis: Foreign population by nationality (reference date 31.12.2025)
Information provided without guarantee, as of 10/2026. Requirements of authorities and airlines change; we check them for each case.
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Day and night, including weekends. One call is all it takes to get the repatriation under way.