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 Georgia
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 transfer of the deceased from Minsk to Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi
Georgia is a country of strong Orthodox tradition with numerous family ties with Belarus that developed over the Soviet and post-Soviet periods. Georgian citizens live and sometimes pass away in Belarus — entrepreneurs, retirees who joined their children, students. Our agency organises body repatriation from Belarus to Georgia end to end, accompanying the family from body collection at a Minsk morgue to handover to a Georgian funeral director at Tbilisi (TBS), Batumi (BUS) or Kutaisi (KUT) airports. The direction is well-established with timelines and costs significantly lower than to Western European countries.
Documents are prepared in Minsk. The district ZAGS issues the death certificate based on the forensic opinion of the State Committee of Forensic Examinations. We obtain the sanitary passport, embalming certificate and zinc-coffin sealing certificate. Although Georgia left the CIS in 2009, it maintains a simplified approach to Belarusian documents under bilateral agreements and traditional recognition of ZAGS documents. For additional reliability we obtain an MFA apostille (Georgia has been a Hague Convention member since 2007). Documents are translated into Georgian and English.
There are no direct flights from Minsk to Tbilisi. The main routing is Turkish Airlines via Istanbul (IST–TBS), travel time 8–10 hours with transfer. Alternatives — via Warsaw (LOT), Vienna (Austrian), Doha (Qatar). A road transfer is possible via Russia (Minsk–Moscow–Vladikavkaz–Upper Lars–Tbilisi, about 2500 km, 50–60 hours), subject to border coordination. The zinc coffin is sealed in Minsk and placed in a wooden outer crate marked «Human Remains»; supporting documents are duplicated in Georgian and English.
On arrival at Tbilisi Shota Rustaveli International Airport the shipment is met by our Georgian partner. Customs clearance with an apostilled death certificate takes 2–4 hours. The body is then transferred to a funeral home in Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Gori, Zugdidi, Telavi or other cities. Burial is arranged by Orthodox rite at Georgian Orthodox Church parishes (an autocephalous church), as well as Catholic, Armenian Apostolic, Muslim or Jewish rites. Cremation capacity in Georgia is limited.
Our dispatch desk operates 24/7. Call +375 29 314-59-59 for a fixed all-inclusive price covering the zinc coffin, embalming, documents, apostille, air transport and handover in Georgia. Average lead time 5–7 working days. We accept bank transfers and work with insurers. We communicate in Russian, Georgian, Belarusian and English, assist with visa invitations (Georgia is visa-free for Belarusian citizens) and guarantee a dignified return of your loved one to Georgian soil.
Quick summary
- Methods: Air via Istanbul 8–10 h or road via Russia 50–60 h
- Documents: ZAGS certificate + MFA apostille, Georgian translation
Frequently asked questions
Where in Georgia do you deliver?
We deliver to Tbilisi, Batumi, Kutaisi, Rustavi, Gori, Zugdidi, Telavi, Akhaltsikhe, Poti, Ozurgeti, Borjomi and other cities. Main points of arrival are the international airports of Tbilisi (TBS), Batumi (BUS) and Kutaisi (KUT). From there a partner funeral home hearse transports the body to the selected parlour or directly to an Orthodox, Catholic, Muslim or Jewish cemetery on the day of arrival.
Which documents are required in Belarus and Georgia?
In Belarus: ZAGS death certificate, forensic opinion of the State Committee of Forensic Examinations, embalming and zinc-sealing certificates, sanitary export passport, MFA apostille. In Georgia: laissez-passer mortuaire, Georgian and English translations, clearance from the Georgian Ministry of Health and coordination with the local municipality. We prepare every translation and legalisation in advance.
How long does delivery from Minsk to Georgia take?
The full cycle is 5–7 working days. Documents with MFA apostille take 2–3 days, body preparation and zinc-coffin sealing one day, flight booking one day, the flight with transit via Istanbul 8–10 hours, customs in Tbilisi 2–4 hours. A road transfer via Russia and Upper Lars takes 50–60 hours. Urgent cases can be compressed to 4 days.
How much does repatriation from Belarus to Georgia cost?
The price depends on the chosen mode (air or road), destination city, weight, embalming requirements and urgency. We quote a fixed price and lock it into the contract — no hidden fees. It includes the sealed zinc coffin, wooden outer crate, embalming, full paperwork, MFA apostille, Georgian translation, airfare, customs and handover in Georgia. Call +375 29 314-59-59 for a tailored calculation.
Is a zinc coffin required for Georgia?
Yes, international transport of human remains to Georgia is performed exclusively in a hermetically sealed zinc coffin prepared at a certified ritual facility in Minsk. The zinc coffin is placed in a wooden outer crate labelled «Human Remains». We issue an official sealing certificate, signed by the technician in charge, presented to sanitary and customs authorities in Belarus, transit countries and Georgia throughout the journey.
Is an apostille needed for Georgia?
Yes, for Georgia we obtain an MFA apostille. Although Georgian authorities historically recognised Belarusian ZAGS documents under a simplified procedure, after Georgia left the CIS in 2009 and joined the Hague Convention in 2007 the official form of legalisation is the apostille. Belarus is also a Hague Convention member since 1992, so mutual recognition applies. Our lawyer obtains the apostille in 1–2 working days.
Can a relative accompany the body to Georgia?
Yes, the accompanying relative travels on the same flight or nearest connection as a regular passenger, meets the body at Tbilisi, Batumi or Kutaisi airport after customs and hands it over to the partner funeral home, or attends the burial directly. Belarusian citizens enjoy visa-free entry to Georgia for up to one year — a major advantage of this direction. For air transit via Istanbul a Turkish visa or transit-free regime is needed.
What visas do relatives need for Georgia?
Belarusian citizens can enter Georgia without a visa for up to one year — one of the most liberal visa arrangements in the region. A valid international passport is sufficient, and for some CIS citizens even an internal passport suffices. For transit through Istanbul a Turkish e-Visa is needed (online in 5 minutes) or a visa-free airport transit (up to 24 hours). Third-country nationals — case by case, clarify with the operator.
Do you work on weekends and holidays?
Yes, our dispatch desk operates 24/7, including state and religious holidays of Belarus and Georgia (Orthodox Christmas on 7 January, Easter, Assumption, Georgian Independence Day on 26 May). ZAGS and the MFA are closed on weekends, so paperwork resumes on the next working day, but body preparation, embalming, zinc-coffin sealing and flight booking begin immediately. Call +375 29 314-59-59 at any time.
What if documents are missing on the day of death?
Under a notarised power of attorney from the family, our lawyer liaises with the clinic, the State Committee of Forensic Examinations and ZAGS in Minsk. We help to reissue a lost Georgian or Belarusian passport — via the MIA of Belarus or the Embassy of Georgia in Minsk. We obtain residence certificates and medical records. Body storage in our +2..+4 °C refrigerated facility is complimentary. The full package is typically ready in 2–3 working days.