Home/Countries/Russia
CIS and Eastern EuropeRepatriation of the deceased to Russia and back to Germany
Since direct flights between the EU and Russia were suspended, every repatriation to Russia requires a carefully planned route via third countries. We organise coffin and urn transfers with our partner funeral directors in Russia and advise you in Russian and German.
Rudolf Nordheimer and team – in German, Russian or English.
Russia at a glance
- Transport route
- By land via the few border crossings still open (e.g. via Poland and Belarus or the Baltic states) or air freight via international hubs in third countries
- Direct flights
- Suspended between Russia and the EU; Russian airspace closed to aircraft from almost all European countries (German Federal Foreign Office, as of October 2026)
- Certificates
- Apostille – Russia and Germany are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention
- Agreements
- Neither the Berlin Agreement of 1937 nor the Council of Europe Agreement of 1973 applies between Germany and Russia
- Representation in Germany
- Embassy of the Russian Federation in Berlin, honorary consulate in Nuremberg (according to the German Federal Foreign Office, as of October 2026)
- Local partners
- Yes – partner funeral directors in Russia
Repatriation from Germany to Russia
Flights, trains and ferries between Germany and Russia are suspended, and Russian airspace is closed to aircraft from almost all European countries. A coffin can therefore be transported either as air freight via an international hub outside the EU or overland in a funeral transport vehicle. According to the German Federal Foreign Office (as of October 2026), only a few border crossings into Russia are still passable, for example via Poland and Lithuania (Kaliningrad), Latvia and Estonia; Finland has closed all crossings. We check daily which route is possible in each case, as closures can occur at short notice.
Import into the Russian Federation is governed by the customs rules of the Eurasian Economic Union (Art. 260 of the EAEU Customs Code). Required are the death certificate of the issuing state or a medical certificate of death (медицинское свидетельство о смерти), as well as an informal certificate from the funeral director stating that the zinc-lined coffin has been soldered and contains no foreign objects – with a list of personal belongings if these are travelling too. An informal declaration by the accompanying person is sufficient as a customs declaration.
We have the German documents apostilled. According to the German Federal Foreign Office's list of missions, consular matters are currently handled by the Russian Embassy in Berlin (as of October 2026); waiting times are to be expected. We therefore schedule appointments and translations early.
- German death certificate with apostilleFrom the civil registry office at the place of death; apostille by the competent state authority
- Body passportFrom the competent German authority at the place of death, for transport abroad
- Certificate of soldering of the zinc-lined coffinConfirms that the coffin contains no foreign objects – mandatory for EAEU customs
- Certificate confirming the absence of infectious diseasesMedical confirmation; we clarify the requirements with the recipient in Russia
- Passport of the deceasedOriginal or certified copy
Death in Russia – repatriation to Germany
If a relative dies in Russia, the civil registry office (ЗАГС, department for civil status records) issues the death certificate (свидетельство о смерти). For repatriation to Germany it needs a Russian apostille. In Russia, a funeral company generally handles the formalities; according to the German Embassy in Moscow, urns are usually not handed over to private individuals.
The German missions in Russia issue the body passport (Leichenpass, for a coffin) or the urn certificate. For this they require, among other things, the apostilled death certificate, a burial or transfer permit, a certificate confirming there was no infectious disease, the passport of the deceased and, from the funeral director, proof of embalming, of the soldering of the zinc-lined coffin and of the grave plot in Germany. On export, Russian customs additionally require the soldering record with an inventory list.
We coordinate the repatriation with our partner funeral director in Russia, choose the route via a third country and take over the transfer from the border or the arrival airport to the cemetery in Germany.
- Свидетельство о смерти with apostilleRussian death certificate from the ЗАГС
- Body passport or urn certificateFrom the German Embassy in Moscow or the competent German mission
- Soldering certificate and proof of embalmingFrom the Russian funeral company
- Confirmation of the grave plotFrom the cemetery or funeral director in Germany
Good to know: funeral customs and particularities in Russia
Many families wish for an Orthodox burial. According to Orthodox tradition, the 3rd, 9th and especially the 40th day after death are marked with a Panikhida (memorial service); the third day often coincides with the funeral. The second Tuesday after Easter is Radonitsa, the day for visiting graves. If the funeral in Russia is to take place on one of these dates, we plan the route accordingly.
According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 284,000 Russian nationals were living in Germany at the end of 2025, plus many ethnic German resettlers (Spätaussiedler) and dual nationals. For many of them, being buried in their home town is a heartfelt wish. Because border rules and consular operations can change at short notice, we confirm every route in writing before you place the order.
If relatives from Germany wish to travel to Russia for the funeral: German citizens need a visa or a residence permit. An e-visa allows stays of up to 30 days but is not issued at the border. The German identity card is not accepted; a passport is required. Health insurance is mandatory for the visa application. Please allow enough time for this – we will gladly arrange the date of the burial accordingly.
Urn transfer to Russia
On the way to Russia, an urn is often the simpler solution, because it can travel as air freight via a third country. Under the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), urns containing ashes require the same basic documents as coffins: a death certificate or medical certificate of death and a confirmation that no foreign objects are enclosed. In the opposite direction, the German mission issues an urn certificate (Urnenbescheinigung) once an apostilled death certificate, the cremation confirmation and the funeral director's confirmation of the contents of the sealed urn have been provided. Whether an urn may be taken as hand luggage is decided by the airline concerned – we clarify this in advance.
More about urn transferFixed price for repatriation to Russia
Tell us where the deceased is now. We check what Russia 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 Russia
Your question isn’t here? Call us – we will answer right away.
All questionsAre there still flights from Germany to Russia for a coffin?
Direct flights between the EU and Russia have been suspended. However, a coffin can be carried as air freight via an international hub outside the EU, or by road. We check which connection is currently reliable.
Which Russian mission in Germany is responsible for consular matters?
According to the German Federal Foreign Office's list of missions (as of October 2026), this is the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Berlin; there is also an honorary consulate in Nuremberg. We coordinate the necessary steps with the embassy.
Do Russian authorities need an apostille on the German death certificate?
Yes, the Hague Apostille Convention applies between Germany and Russia. The apostille is issued by the competent authority of the federal state in which the certificate was issued. For the opposite direction, the German mission requires a Russian death certificate with an apostille.
Which papers does Russian customs require when a coffin is imported?
Under Art. 260 of the Customs Code of the Eurasian Economic Union: a death certificate or medical certificate of death and a funeral director's certificate confirming that the zinc-lined coffin has been soldered and contains no foreign objects. An informal declaration by the accompanying person is sufficient as the customs declaration.
Can I collect the urn of someone who died in Russia myself?
According to the German Embassy in Moscow, urns in Russia are generally not handed over to private individuals. A funeral company has to take charge of the urn. Our partner funeral director on site takes care of this for you.
Sources: German Federal Foreign Office: Russian Federation – travel and safety advice (as of 08.10.2026) · German missions in Russia: deaths (body passport, urn certificate) · Consular Department of the Russian MFA: Перемещение через границу гробов с телами и урн с прахом (Art. 260 EAEU Customs Code) · German Federal Foreign Office: missions of the Russian Federation in Germany · German Federal Foreign Office: status list of the Berlin Agreement of 1937 on the transport of corpses · Destatis: foreign population by nationality (31.12.2025) · Wikipedia: Panikhida (Orthodox memorial days on the 3rd/9th/40th day, Radonitsa)
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.