Repatriation of deceased citizens

Documents required for casket or urn with ash to cross Ukrainian State Border

According to Ukrainian Legislation to cross a border of Ukraine by the casket with deceased or urn with ash the following documents are required:

1. The Certificate of Death with Apostille and notarized translation from English to Ukrainian.
2. The Document about the absence of any foreign objects inside the casket (Example 1) or urn with ash (Example 2). This document can be arranged in English with Apostille and notarized translation from English to Ukrainian. For your convenience all examples of documents were prepared both in Ukrainian and English.

Passport of a deceased person should be sent to the Embassy of Ukraine to the U.S. or Ukrainian Consulate General (the consular district is mentioned at the main page – Consular Issues) along with a notarized copy of the Certificate of Death, Apostille and translation from English to Ukrainian. Practically it means that when the Funeral Home receives Certificate of Death with Apostille and a notarized translation from English to Ukrainian it is necessary just to make copies of the mentioned documents and notarized copies.

An original Certificate of Death with Apostille and notarized translation from English to Ukrainian along with the original Document about absence of any foreign objects inside the casket or urn with ash with Apostille and notarized translation from English to Ukrainian have to accompany the casket or urn with ash to Ukraine.

The casket with body or urn with ash must be sealed-up by the Funeral Home.

Also, the above documents can be delivered to Ukraine by relatives or friends of a deceased person who will accompany the casket or urn with ash.

There are no strict requirements with respect to the urn with ash; however, the body should be transported in a metal casket.

For the air cargo transporting it is necessary to specify a cemetery in Ukraine as well as Ukrainian Funeral Home which will care about casket or the urn with ash in Ukraine. Both of them are a subject of private choice by relatives or friends of a deceased person.

For further information or comments please call at (415) 398 0240

Consular assistance in case of death

The Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco can provide assistance to distressed Ukrainians who seek repatriation of deceased family members.

In the case that you obtain information about the death/perish of a Ukrainian national within the consular district please contact our Office - (415) 398 0240, (415) 690 0460 or send information to our fax: (415) 398 5039.

Please be advised that we need not only the name, but also personal data of the deceased Ukrainian such as the copy of his/her ID (if possible Ukrainian passport) or any available information concerning his/her place of final residency in Ukraine and that of his/her relatives.

After receiving the information, the Consulate will immediately inform relatives in Ukraine or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine so that they may establish contact with existing family members in Ukraine. With the consent of the existing family members, we are ready to assist in compliance with the Ukrainian law regarding repatriation of the body.

All other questions should be addressed to the funeral homes themselves.

• In accordance with the Article 22 of the Law of Ukraine on funeral and burial services for the shipment of the remains to Ukraine, the following documents must be provided:
• The deceased's ID, passport or seamen document.
• Authenticated death certificate (section "Documents authentication").
• Non-communication disease document.
• Permission from local cemetery in Ukraine.
• Schedule of shipment.

All above-mentioned documents are to be authenticated (Apostille) by the relevant Secretary of State Office as well as be attached to the casket so that it may pass through customs and border control in Ukraine.