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CIS and Eastern EuropeRepatriation to Uzbekistan and repatriation to Germany
In Uzbekistan, burial usually takes place within two days – so families in Germany are under great time pressure. We repatriate the deceased in a coffin to Tashkent, bring the deceased back from Uzbekistan and work with our partner funeral director in Uzbekistan.
Rudolf Nordheimer and team – in German, Russian or English.
Uzbekistan at a glance
- Transport route
- Air freight in a hermetically soldered zinc-lined coffin, usually departing from Frankfurt am Main
- Distance
- Distance Frankfurt–Tashkent approx. 4,700 km as the crow flies; connections depend on the flight schedule
- Destination airports
- Tashkent (TAS); depending on the flight schedule also Urgench (UGC) in the Khorezm region
- Certificates
- Legalisation instead of apostille: in 2012 Germany objected to Uzbekistan's accession to the Apostille Convention
- Agreements
- Apostille Convention not in force between Germany and Uzbekistan
- Representation in Germany
- Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Berlin, Consulate General in Frankfurt am Main
Repatriation from Germany to Uzbekistan
After collection anywhere in Germany, we take care of the death certificate and body passport (Leichenpass); for the flight, the deceased is given hygienic preparation and placed in a hermetically soldered zinc-lined coffin. Connections to Tashkent depend on the current flight schedule; for families from the Khorezm region we check whether there is a connection to Urgench. We book the cargo space as soon as the documents are complete.
Uzbekistan has acceded to the Hague Apostille Convention, but Germany lodged an objection on 1 February 2012. A German apostille is therefore not sufficient. German documents for Uzbek authorities are legalised; this is done by the Uzbek mission. We clarify which preliminary certifications are required with the embassy in Berlin or the Consulate General in Frankfurt am Main.
A joint regulation of Uzbek ministries from 2011 sets out how consulates assist with repatriation: they register the death of Uzbek nationals and issue the papers for transport and border crossing. Required documents include the export permit of the country of death and a certificate on the presence or absence of infectious diseases. All foreign documents must be translated into Uzbek or Russian and sealed by the consul.
- Death certificate (legalised)from the German civil registry office (Standesamt), legalised by the Uzbek mission
- Body passportExport permit from the competent German authority
- Certificate on infectious diseasesconfirms the presence or absence of infectious diseases
- Passport of the deceasedor a copy; required by the consulate to register the death
- Translationsinto Uzbek or Russian, with the consul's seal
Death in Uzbekistan – repatriation to Germany
If someone dies in Uzbekistan outside a hospital, the police must be informed immediately. The deceased is taken to the forensic medicine institute; the autopsy is usually carried out within 24 hours. Forensic medicine then issues a medical certificate of death, and the civil registry office (ZAGS) issues the death certificate in Uzbek and Russian within one to three days.
Uzbekistan requires embalming for repatriation. The coffin must be hermetically soldered and be at the cargo terminal no later than four hours before departure. Before that, a customs permit is needed, based on the death certificate and a certificate from the sanitary authority confirming the embalming. According to British sources, refrigeration facilities are scarce – so decisions should be made quickly. Entry into Germany requires a body passport (Leichenpass), which can be issued by the German Embassy in Tashkent.
Important for later registration in Germany: the German Embassy stopped legalising Uzbek documents in June 2002. German authorities therefore decide at their own discretion, based on a free assessment of the evidence, whether an Uzbek death certificate is recognised. A verification of documents via the embassy can only be initiated by an authority, not by the family; it takes several months. Our advice: order several originals of the death certificate from the ZAGS straight away.
- Medical certificate of deathfrom the hospital or forensic medicine, in Uzbek or Russian
- ZAGS death certificatein Uzbek and Russian; several copies advisable
- Health inspectorate certificateconfirms the embalming
- Customs permitfor exporting the coffin by air freight
- Body passportfrom the German Embassy in Tashkent
- Translationcertified German translation for the civil registry office and cemetery in Germany
Good to know: funeral customs and particularities in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is predominantly Sunni Muslim; according to government figures, around 35 million people belong to the Sunni majority, alongside some 822,000 Orthodox Christians. The deceased are usually buried within 48 hours. Local funeral directors also carry out the ritual washing and dressing. For families in Germany this means that relatives in Tashkent, Samarkand or Fergana are waiting, and every hour counts. We start on the paperwork and cargo booking immediately and keep you informed in German or Russian.
For repatriations the reverse applies: refrigeration and embalming are not available everywhere locally. Our partner funeral director in Uzbekistan knows the procedures at forensic medicine, the ZAGS and customs and prepares the coffin so that the international requirements for air freight are met.
Urn transfer to Uzbekistan
There are no crematoria in Uzbekistan, and scattering ashes is not possible there. Cremation can therefore only take place in Germany. In addition to the body, the Uzbek regulation of 2011 expressly provides for the transfer of ashes to Uzbekistan; the paperwork is then also handled via the consulate. We check in advance with the family and the local partner funeral director whether the chosen cemetery permits urn burial.
More about urn transferFixed price for repatriation to Uzbekistan
Tell us where the deceased is now. We will check what Uzbekistan 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 Uzbekistan
Your question isn’t here? Call us – we will answer right away.
All questionsIs an apostille valid in Uzbekistan for documents from Germany?
No. In 2012 Germany objected to Uzbekistan's accession to the Apostille Convention, so it does not apply between the two countries. Instead, German documents are legalised by the Uzbek embassy in Berlin or the Consulate General in Frankfurt am Main.
How quickly can a coffin be flown to Tashkent?
That depends mainly on how quickly the death certificate, body passport and legalisation are available, and on the current flight schedule. We work on the paperwork and cargo booking in parallel. We cannot responsibly promise a fixed lead time.
Can an urn be transferred to Uzbekistan?
Yes, but cremation can only take place in Germany, as there are no crematoria in Uzbekistan. The Uzbek regulation of 2011 also covers the transfer of ashes; the paperwork is then handled via the consulate. We check in advance through our partner funeral director whether the cemetery in the home town accepts an urn.
What should be done if a relative dies in Uzbekistan?
If someone dies outside a hospital, the police are informed and the deceased is taken to forensic medicine. The civil registry office (ZAGS) then issues the death certificate. Repatriation to Germany requires embalming, a customs permit and a body passport from the German Embassy in Tashkent – we coordinate this with our local partner.
Is an Uzbek death certificate recognised in Germany?
The German Embassy has not legalised Uzbek documents since 2002. The German civil registry office decides, based on a free assessment of the evidence, whether it recognises the certificate. Several original copies and a certified translation are helpful.
Sources: German Embassy Tashkent: Verification of documents by way of administrative assistance · HCCH: Apostille Convention – Objections to Uzbekistan's accession · German Federal Foreign Office: Uzbek missions in Germany · GOV.UK: Bereavement information Uzbekistan · Norma.uz: Порядок погребения в Узбекистане лиц, умерших за границей (2011 regulation) · U.S. Department of State: 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom – Uzbekistan
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.