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CIS and Eastern EuropeRepatriation to Kazakhstan and repatriation to Germany
Kazakhstan is the most important country of origin for ethnic German resettlers (Spätaussiedler) in Germany, and many families have graves on both sides. We repatriate the deceased in a coffin by air freight to Almaty or Astana and bring the deceased back from Kazakhstan to Germany – together with our partner funeral director on the ground.
Rudolf Nordheimer and team – in German, Russian or English.
Kazakhstan at a glance
- Transport route
- Air freight in a soldered zinc-lined coffin, usually departing from Frankfurt am Main
- Distance
- Straight-line distance Frankfurt–Almaty approx. 5,100 km, Frankfurt–Astana approx. 4,300 km; nonstop or with a connection, depending on the flight schedule
- Destination airports
- Almaty (ALA), Astana (NQZ); onward transport to other regions by road or domestic flight
- Certificates
- Apostille – the Hague Convention has applied to Kazakhstan since 31.01.2001; translation into Russian or Kazakh
- Agreements
- Hague Apostille Convention; in addition, the German-Soviet Consular Treaty of 1958 remains in force
- Representation in Germany
- Embassy in Berlin, branch office in Bonn, consulates general in Frankfurt am Main, Munich and Hamburg
Repatriation from Germany to Kazakhstan
We collect the deceased anywhere in Germany and take care of the German formalities: the death certificate from the civil registry office (Standesamt), medical certificates and the body passport (Leichenpass) from the competent authority. For air freight, the deceased receives hygienic preparation and is placed in a soldered zinc-lined coffin with an outer coffin. Depending on the flight schedule, there are nonstop or connecting flights from Frankfurt to Almaty and Astana. Because flight schedules change, we check with every booking which connection is currently accepting freight.
According to the German Embassy in Astana, Kazakh authorities generally only recognise German documents bearing an apostille. The apostille is always issued by an authority in Germany, never by the embassy; the issuing civil registry office will tell you which authority is responsible. This is followed by a certified translation into Russian or Kazakh. We agree in advance with the embassy in Berlin or the consulates general in Frankfurt am Main, Munich or Hamburg which additional documents the Kazakh side requires for the import of the coffin.
In Kazakhstan, our partner funeral director receives the coffin at the cargo terminal, accompanies customs clearance and brings the deceased to the family or directly to the cemetery. In Germany you have one contact person, Rudolf Nordheimer, who speaks Russian with everyone involved.
- Death certificate with apostillefrom the German civil registry office; apostille by the competent German authority
- Body passportfrom the German authority at the place of death, required for transport across the border
- Medical certificateconfirms that there was no infectious disease
- Certificate of coffiningProof of hygienic preparation and soldering of the zinc-lined coffin
- Passport of the deceasedOriginal or copy, depending on the requirements of the Kazakh side
- Translationscertified translation into Russian or Kazakh
Death in Kazakhstan – repatriation to Germany
If a relative dies in Kazakhstan, the death is registered at the local civil registry office. The death certificate is issued in Kazakh and Russian and does not state the cause of death. In the case of a sudden or unexplained death, an autopsy is carried out, usually within 24 hours; the forensic medicine service then issues a medical certificate of death (form No. 045/у). For repatriation, Kazakhstan requires embalming as well as a permit from customs.
The body passport (Leichenpass) for the transfer to Germany is issued by the German Embassy in Astana or the Consulate General in Almaty. Among other things, the following are required: the original Kazakh death certificate with an apostille, a certificate from the forensic medicine service confirming that there was no infectious disease, confirmations of embalming and soldering of the zinc-lined coffin, the order confirmation from a German funeral home stating the address of the cemetery, and the flight booking. As a rule, the local funeral director attends the mission in person; the embassy does not provide interpreters.
The embassy expressly recommends engaging a German funeral home with Russian-speaking staff. That is exactly what we do: we coordinate with the Kazakh funeral director, receive the coffin in Frankfurt and bring it to the cemetery in Germany. Without funeral insurance, the family bears the costs; the mission cannot advance any money. That is why you receive a written fixed price from us in advance.
- Kazakh death certificateOriginal with apostille, in Kazakh and Russian
- Medical certificate of deathfrom the hospital, or form 045/у from the forensic medicine service if the cause of death is not stated
- Certificate from the forensic medicine serviceno infectious disease
- Embalming and soldering certificatefrom the local funeral home
- Passport of the deceasedOriginal or certified copy
- Order confirmation and flight bookingGerman funeral director with cemetery address; basis for the embassy's body passport
Good to know: funeral customs and special features in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is religiously mixed. According to the 2021 census, around 69 per cent of the religious population describe themselves as Muslim, overwhelmingly Sunni of the Hanafi school, and just over 17 per cent as Christian. Cemeteries are often separated by denomination or divided into sections; burial in a particular section requires prior approval from the cemetery administration. Muslim families usually wish for a prompt burial – so we prepare the paperwork and the freight in parallel.
In winter, temperatures often fall below minus 25 degrees, especially in the north and east, and even main roads can be closed due to cold, wind and snow. We plan for this when arranging onward transport from the airport to remote places.
Since 1992, around 935,000 ethnic German resettlers (Spätaussiedler) have come to Germany from Kazakhstan. Many families wish to bury their relatives next to their parents in Kazakhstan. Anyone travelling to the funeral should know: Kazakhstan generally does not accept dual citizenship, and entering with an old Kazakh passport may result in the passport being confiscated or a fine.
Urn transfer to Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is a special case when it comes to urns. The German Embassy's information sheets assume that cremation and urn transfer from Kazakhstan are not possible. According to the British government, the first crematorium opened in Almaty in April 2026; cremation there is only permitted for people who gave notarised consent during their lifetime and did not die a violent death. Scattering ashes is prohibited in Kazakhstan. If an urn cremated in Germany is to be taken to Kazakhstan, we clarify in advance with the Kazakh consulate and the airline which certificates are required for import and burial.
More about urn transferFixed price for repatriation to Kazakhstan
Tell us where the deceased is now. We check what Kazakhstan 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 Kazakhstan
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All questionsHow much does repatriation to Kazakhstan cost?
The costs depend on the collection point in Germany, the destination airport (Almaty or Astana), onward transport within the country and the freight rate. We give you the written fixed price before you instruct us. Without funeral insurance, the relatives bear the costs themselves.
Does the German death certificate need an apostille for Kazakhstan?
Yes. Kazakh authorities generally only recognise German documents bearing an apostille. It is issued by a German authority, not by the embassy. The document is then translated into Russian or Kazakh.
Are there direct flights for a coffin from Germany to Kazakhstan?
Depending on the flight schedule, there are nonstop or connecting flights from Frankfurt am Main to Almaty and Astana. For every repatriation, we check which connection is currently carrying freight.
Who issues the body passport if someone has died in Kazakhstan?
The German Embassy in Astana or the Consulate General in Almaty, depending on the consular district. Documents to be submitted include the death certificate with apostille, the embalming and soldering certificate and the confirmation from a German funeral director. This is usually handled by the local funeral director we work with.
Can a deceased person be cremated in Kazakhstan?
According to the British government, there has been a crematorium in Almaty since April 2026; cremation is only carried out with the deceased's notarised consent given during their lifetime. The German Embassy's information sheets, however, still assume that cremation is not possible. In most cases, therefore, the coffin is repatriated to Germany. We advise you on which option is possible in your case.
Sources: German Embassy Astana: Death (body passport, repatriation) · German Embassy Astana: Certifications, apostille procedure · German Federal Foreign Office: Kazakhstan – travel and safety advice · German Federal Foreign Office: Kazakh missions in Germany · GOV.UK: When someone dies in Kazakhstan · U.S. Department of State: 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom – Kazakhstan · bpb: (Late) resettlers – facts and figures
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.