Road transportation
• Repatriation of the body from abroad to Belarus
• Transportation of the body to Russia and the CIS:
• Transportation of the body to Russia and the CIS:
Body repatriation from Belarus to Austria
How to arrange transportation of a coffin with the body
Regardless of the mode of transportation (aircraft, road transport), delivery of cargo 200 is a highly responsible task, complex both documentarily and organisationally.
This procedure requires compliance with specific conditions (storage, transportation of the body) and involves the preparation of numerous permit documents for the transportation of cargo.
Full-service repatriation from Minsk to anywhere in Austria
Families living in Belarus sometimes face the need to ship the body of a loved one to Austria: Austrian citizens who died while visiting or working in Minsk, Belarusians who had emigrated to Vienna, Graz or Linz and wanted to be buried next to their relatives, or mixed families who chose Austria as the final resting place. Our company takes care of everything, from collecting the body at a Minsk morgue to handing it over to an Austrian funeral home. We understand how hard it is to organise such travel while grieving, and we act tactfully without upselling unnecessary services.
The first stage is paperwork in Belarus. The death certificate is issued by the civil registry office (ZAGS) where death was recorded, and the forensic conclusion is prepared by the State Committee of Forensic Examinations in Minsk. We also obtain a permit to export the body and a certificate confirming that no foreign objects are placed inside the coffin. Because Belarus is a party to the Hague Convention, all documents are apostilled at the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Lenina Street in Minsk. The full package is then translated into German by a sworn translator for the Austrian authorities.
Logistics from Minsk to Austria work in two ways. Air transport: Belavia departs from Minsk National Airport (MSQ) with transfers via Warsaw (LOT), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines) or Frankfurt, arriving at Vienna International Airport (VIE). Total transit time, including cargo handling, is 18 to 24 hours. For families who prefer to accompany the body in person or reduce costs, a specialised hearse with a refrigerated compartment can drive from Minsk through Brest, Poland and the Czech Republic to Vienna — roughly 1,400 km and around 20 hours on the road.
Upon arrival in Austria our partner funeral home meets the cargo at Vienna airport or at the border, clears customs, and liaises with the chosen cemetery or crematorium. If needed, we coordinate with the Belarusian consulate in Vienna or the Austrian embassy in Minsk for additional legalisation. The Austrian side then transfers the body to the burial site in any federal state — Vienna, Salzburg, Innsbruck or a small village in Tyrol. Orthodox, Catholic, Muslim and secular ceremonies are all supported by our local partners.
Our dispatch line +375 29 314-59-59 is open 24 hours a day, including weekends and Belarusian and Austrian public holidays. On the first call we prepare a free cost estimate: cargo air ticket, zinc coffin sealed in Minsk, documents, apostille, translation, onward transport in Austria. The price is fixed in the contract with no hidden fees. We accept payments in BYN, EUR and USD, work by bank transfer and issue a full set of financial documents. Call now and a specialist will take over all organisational matters.
Quick summary
- Phone 24/7: +375 29 314-59-59
- Documents: ZAGS certificate, forensic report, MFA Belarus apostille, German translation
Frequently asked questions
Which Austrian cities do you deliver to?
We arrange repatriation anywhere in Austria. The main air hub is Vienna International (VIE), reached via Warsaw, Istanbul or Frankfurt. From Vienna our Austrian partners distribute the cargo across all federal states: Lower Austria, Styria, Carinthia, Tyrol, Vorarlberg, Salzburg, Upper Austria and Burgenland. Common destinations include Graz, Linz, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Klagenfurt and Bregenz, as well as small rural parishes. When road transport is chosen, the route is tailored directly to the cemetery address.
What documents are needed in Belarus and in Austria?
In Belarus: the Belarusian death certificate from the ZAGS civil registry, forensic conclusion from the State Committee of Forensic Examinations, embalming certificate, zinc-coffin sealing act, export permit and MFA apostille. In Austria the receiving side presents the apostilled package with a sworn German translation, the international Leichenpass (mortuary passport) and a declaration of burial place. Our legal team prepares both packages in parallel so there are no delays at Vienna customs.
How long does delivery from Minsk to Austria take?
With all documents in place, air transport from Minsk to Vienna takes 2 to 4 calendar days. That covers body preparation at the morgue, embalming, sealing the zinc coffin, apostille at the Belarusian MFA (issued same day or next day), sworn translation and the flight itself with one transfer. Road transport by a specialised hearse through Poland and the Czech Republic takes 3 to 5 days depending on border traffic and the final address inside Austria.
How much does repatriation from Belarus to Austria cost?
The final price depends on the cargo weight, chosen route, additional services and urgency. The quote includes: Belarusian documents and apostille, medical preparation and embalming, zinc and wooden coffins, air tariff or hearse work, customs clearance in Austria, meeting the cargo and handover to a local funeral home. After your first call to +375 29 314-59-59 we prepare a free transparent estimate in EUR or BYN and lock it into the contract with no hidden surcharges.
Is a zinc coffin mandatory for shipping to Austria?
Yes. International IATA rules and EU sanitary standards require a hermetic inner zinc coffin placed inside a wooden one. Sealing is done in Minsk by our specialists in the presence of a sanitary inspector, and a sealing act with a serial number is issued. Austrian customs verify zinc integrity on arrival. Opening the coffin on Austrian soil without sanitary-service permission is prohibited, so the wooden lid is only lifted for farewell while the zinc remains untouched.
How do I obtain the apostille in Belarus on death documents?
Apostilles on ZAGS certificates and medical documents are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus at 19 Lenina Street in Minsk. Since Belarus is a Hague Convention member, the apostille replaces consular legalisation for Austria. Standard processing takes one to two working days; express processing can be done in a few hours. Our lawyer files the papers by proxy, pays the fee, picks up the ready package and hands it to a sworn German translator.
Can relatives accompany the body from Belarus to Austria?
Yes. Relatives can fly on the same flight or travel in parallel with the hearse. For air routes via Warsaw, Istanbul or Frankfurt, book a ticket early and check transit rules. For road transport we offer one or two seats in the hearse cabin or help rent an escort vehicle. Accompanying persons need a valid Schengen category C visa, medical insurance and proof of the purpose of travel — we immediately issue a cargo-200 accompaniment certificate.
What visas do relatives need for Austria?
Belarusian citizens enter Austria on a Schengen visa. For urgent trips the Austrian consulate in Minsk and Polish/Lithuanian visa centres accept documents on an express basis upon presenting the death certificate and accompaniment letter — the visa is usually issued within one to three working days. Citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries apply through the relevant consulates. We provide an official invitation letter from the Austrian funeral home to speed up processing.
Do you work on weekends and public holidays?
Yes. Our dispatch phone +375 29 314-59-59 is answered 24/7, including Saturdays, Sundays, Orthodox and Catholic Christmas, Radunitsa, Victory Day, Independence Day of Belarus and Austrian holidays. The team collecting the body and preparing the coffin is on call at any hour. ZAGS and MFA paperwork is filed on the first working day, but we simultaneously reserve air slots and prepare the zinc coffin so no time is lost when government offices open.
What if documents are not ready on the day of death?
We begin body preparation and book the flight before paperwork is finalised. Our lawyer obtains the medical death certificate from the clinic or State Committee of Forensic Examinations, registers the death at ZAGS, receives the official certificate, orders the MFA apostille and forwards it to a sworn translator. If relatives are abroad, everything is done under a notarised power of attorney. Just tell us on the phone that documents are pending — we handle the rest.