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 Brazil
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.
Professional repatriation from Minsk to GRU, GIG, BSB and all Brazilian airports
Repatriation of a deceased person from Belarus to Brazil is a route requested by descendants of Belarusian and Russian emigrants settled in Brazil since the early 20th century, as well as modern mixed Belarusian-Brazilian families in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasília and Porto Alegre. A special category is descendants of Cossack Old Believers and the Jewish diaspora from Belarus and Ukraine who have maintained ties to their homeland across generations. We also handle the return home of Brazilian footballers, athletes and tourists who passed away in Belarus during their sporting or business careers.
Documentation in Belarus includes a Minsk ZAGS death certificate, State Forensic Committee medical report, Ministry of Health export permit and an ANVISA (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária) format infection-free certificate. Brazil joined the Hague Convention in 2016, so a Belarus MFA apostille (Lenina 19) is sufficient without consular legalisation. Documents are translated into Portuguese by a sworn translator (tradutor juramentado) recognised by Brazilian authorities for use in Cartório and customs proceedings.
Logistics from Minsk-2 (MSQ) to Brazil is one of the longest transatlantic routes: Lufthansa via Frankfurt (FRA) to São Paulo (GRU) — 16-20 hours; Air France via Paris (CDG) to GRU or Rio (GIG); KLM via Amsterdam (AMS) to GRU; Turkish Airlines via Istanbul (IST) to GRU or Brasília (BSB); TAP Portugal via Lisbon (LIS) to GRU, GIG, BSB, Recife (REC). Total time 18-24 hours. Main receiving airports: São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), Rio Galeão (GIG), Brasília (BSB), Salvador (SSA), Fortaleza (FOR), Recife (REC).
On arrival in Brazil the body clears Receita Federal customs and ANVISA sanitary control, plus registration with Polícia Federal. Our partner Brazilian funerárias (Vila Alpina in São Paulo, Velório Memorial in Rio, Funerária Campo da Esperança in Brasília) meet the cargo and coordinate with the Russian Embassy in Brasília (SES Av. das Nações Quadra 803, Lote 28). The body is then handed over for burial under Catholic (predominant Brazilian tradition), Protestant, Jewish, Orthodox or Spiritist rites. Tropical climate requires accelerated handover.
We operate 24/7 no days off — on Brazilian holidays (Carnaval, Natal, Ano Novo, Independência 7 September, Tiradentes 21 April, Nossa Senhora Aparecida 12 October) and Belarusian ones. Repatriation cost from Minsk to Brazil is 8500-11000 EUR depending on destination city, season and weight. The fixed quote includes embalming, zinc coffin, documents with apostille, Portuguese translations, air freight, customs, ANVISA, funerária handover. Remote cities add 500-900 EUR for the domestic segment. Call +375 29 314-59-59.
Quick summary
- Documents: ZAGS + Belarus MFA apostille (Hague 2016), Portuguese translation, ANVISA
Frequently asked questions
Which Brazilian cities do you deliver to?
We deliver to all major Brazilian cities: São Paulo (Guarulhos GRU and Congonhas CGH), Rio de Janeiro (Galeão GIG and Santos Dumont SDU), Brasília (BSB), Salvador (SSA), Fortaleza (FOR), Recife (REC), Belo Horizonte (CNF), Porto Alegre (POA), Curitiba (CWB), Manaus (MAO), Belém (BEL), Florianópolis (FLN), Natal (NAT). Then by ground transport or LATAM/Gol/Azul domestic flight to any city. For Amazon and remote states we account for the tropical climate and ensure continuous cold-chain handling.
What documents are required in Belarus and Brazil?
In Belarus: ZAGS certificate, forensic report, Ministry of Health permit, ANVISA infection-free certificate, embalming statement, zinc coffin sealing act. All with Portuguese translation and MFA apostille. In Brazil: ANVISA body import permit, Receita Federal declaration, Polícia Federal registration, Russian consular note, municipal (Prefeitura) burial permit. The complete package is prepared turnkey in 3-5 days including sworn Portuguese translation with Cartório recognition across all Brazilian states.
How long does delivery from Minsk to São Paulo take?
The full cycle from time of death to arrival in São Paulo is 5-7 days. Belarus processing with apostille and embalming — 2-3 days, transport to MSQ and cargo check-in — 1 day, flight with European hub connection — 18-24 hours. Receita Federal customs and ANVISA sanitary control at GRU — 6-12 hours. For Rio, Brasília, Recife add a domestic segment of 2-4 hours. The tropical climate requires fast handover to the funerária within hours of arrival at the final city.
How much does repatriation from Belarus to Brazil cost?
Base cost to São Paulo (GRU) and Rio (GIG) from 8500 EUR; to Brasília, Fortaleza, Recife from 9000 EUR; to Amazon (Manaus, Belém) and south (Porto Alegre, Curitiba) from 9500 EUR. Quote includes embalming in Minsk, zinc coffin and outer wooden casket, full document package with apostille, Portuguese translations, Lufthansa/TAP/Air France air freight, customs, ANVISA, Polícia Federal, funerária handover. Domestic flights add 300-700 EUR depending on distance and urgency level.
Is a zinc coffin mandatory for Brazil?
Yes, a hermetically sealed zinc coffin is mandatory under ANVISA, IATA and Brazilian sanitary standards. In Minsk sealing is performed at the State Morgue or certified private agencies with an airtightness statement in Belarusian and Portuguese. The zinc container is placed inside an outer wooden casket with 'Restos Mortais' (Human Remains) marking. The funerária in Brazil has the right to open the zinc for velório open-casket rite preparation, which is important for Catholic traditions predominant across the country.
How to get an apostille in Belarus for Brazil?
The apostille is issued at the Main Consular Department of Belarus MFA at Lenina 19, Minsk. Booking via mfa.gov.by or in person, processing 1-3 working days, state fee one base unit. Brazil has been a Hague Convention member since 2016, so an apostille is sufficient without consular legalisation. A Portuguese translation by a sworn tradutor juramentado recognised by Brazilian Cartórios and authorities is prepared in parallel. We handle the entire procedure with courier delivery of ready documents.
Can a relative accompany the body to Brazil?
Yes, the accompanying person flies on the same flight in the passenger cabin while the body travels in the cargo hold as AVI/HUM. For entry to Brazil, Belarusian citizens need an eVisa from 2025 via vfsglobal.com or the Brazilian embassy in Moscow. Processing 5-10 days, cost 80 USD. For humanitarian cases an expedited mode is possible. Alternative is visa-free transit via a third country if the relative holds a valid US or Schengen visa. We assist with documents and arrival coordination.
How to obtain a Brazilian visa for Belarusian relatives?
Belarusian citizens obtain a Brazilian eVisa via vfsglobal.com portal (10 USD submission + 80 USD consular fee) or via the Brazilian embassy in Moscow (Bolshaya Nikitskaya 54). Documents: passport valid 6+ months, photo, completed form, purpose-of-travel confirmation (funerária invitation, our repatriation documents), bank statement, return ticket. Timeline 5-10 working days. For acceleration we provide covering letters establishing the humanitarian nature of the trip and next-of-kin status.
Do you work on Brazilian and Belarusian holidays?
Yes, dispatch operates 24/7 all 365 days. On Brazilian holidays (Carnaval in February-March, Natal 25 December, Ano Novo, Independência 7 September, Tiradentes 21 April, Nossa Senhora Aparecida 12 October, Finados 2 November, Páscoa) — Receita Federal and ANVISA operate at airports but funerárias may be closed. Belarusian holidays halt ZAGS and MFA — paperwork shifts 1-2 days. Air logistics continue uninterrupted via European hubs with automated rebooking as needed.
What if documents are missing on the day of death?
A typical situation for Brazilian footballers, athletes and tourists in Belarus — passport lost or at the club/hotel. We immediately engage a lawyer to contact the Brazilian embassy in Moscow for urgent passaporte de emergência, while Minsk ZAGS registers death on available data. Forensic examination follows the protocol. Body preparation and zinc coffin sealing begin immediately so as not to lose time waiting for consular documents from Brazil, given the tropical climate at the receiving end which mandates speed.