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 Israel
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.
Repatriation organized from Minsk to Tel Aviv: documents, timing, cost
Belarus and Israel share deep historical ties: thousands of Jews from Minsk, Vitebsk, Mogilev, Bobruisk, and Gomel made aliyah to Israel under the Law of Return, while their relatives and ancestors remained in Belarus. When a Jew passes away in Belarus, relatives in Israel often request repatriation of the body for burial in the ancestral land or next to relatives already buried there. Jewish tradition (Halakha) requires burial within 24 hours of death, so speed is decisive. Our service works with the Chevra Kadisha (Jewish burial society) and handles everything from paperwork in Minsk to handover in Tel Aviv.
In Belarus we issue: death certificate from the local ZAGS, medical cause-of-death opinion from the State Committee of Forensic Expertise, non-infection statement, Health Ministry export permit, the deceased's passport. For Israel an apostille is mandatory — Belarus and Israel are not bound by the CIS Minsk Convention, but both are signatories to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention. The Belarusian MFA (Lenin Street 19) issues the apostille on the death certificate and medical opinion within 1–2 business days. Documents are then translated into Hebrew or English with notarization.
Belavia operates direct Minsk (MSQ) — Tel Aviv (TLV, Ben Gurion) flights regularly; flight time is about 3.5 hours. El Al and LOT (via Warsaw) and Turkish (via Istanbul) are also available. Total air repatriation takes 24–36 hours from call to handover to the Chevra Kadisha in Israel. To comply with the Halakhic 24-hour rule we work at maximum speed: parallel processing of documents and apostille, a pre-sealed zinc coffin, confirmed flight booking. Road transport to Israel is not possible due to the geopolitical situation.
At Ben Gurion Airport the cargo is met by a Chevra Kadisha representative who takes over all subsequent procedures: customs clearance, ritual washing (taharah), dressing in a shroud (tachrichim), and transport to the cemetery (beit olam). Jewish tradition requires burial the same day or the next after arrival, without a coffin, directly in the earth — if the deceased and family observe religious norms. We coordinate Chevra Kadisha work in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Beer Sheva, Netanya, and any Israeli city.
Our dispatch operates 24/7, including Shabbat (noting that burials do not take place during Shabbat in Israel), Jewish holidays (Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Pesach, Sukkot), Christmas, Easter, and all Belarusian dates. Important: during Shabbat and major Jewish holidays Israeli morgues do not receive bodies, so we schedule the flight so burial falls on a working day. The turnkey cost from Minsk to Tel Aviv starts at 3,800 USD. Call +375 29 314-59-59 immediately — every hour counts.
Quick summary
- Phone 24/7: +375 29 314-59-59
- Documents: ZAGS certificate with apostille, medical opinion, Hebrew translation
Frequently asked questions
Where in Israel do you deliver?
We arrange repatriation to every city in Israel: Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Beer Sheva, Rishon LeZion, Petah Tikva, Netanya, Ashdod, Holon, Bnei Brak, Bat Yam, Ramat Gan, Ashkelon, Rehovot, Herzliya. International delivery is to Ben Gurion Airport (TLV); from there the Chevra Kadisha organizes transport to the beit olam cemetery in any locality. We work with all Jewish burial societies — both Orthodox and more liberal ones — respecting the family's wishes regarding rites.
What documents are required in Belarus and Israel?
In Belarus: death certificate (ZAGS), medical cause-of-death opinion, non-infection statement, Health Ministry export permit, the deceased's passport, and the zinc-coffin sealing act. For Israel an apostille is mandatory on the death certificate and medical opinion (Belarus and Israel are Hague Convention signatories). Documents are translated into Hebrew or English with notarization. If the deceased is Jewish under Halakha, the Chevra Kadisha may request additional certificates to confirm the right to a Jewish burial.
How long does delivery from Minsk to Israel take?
By direct Belavia or El Al flight Minsk–Tel Aviv: 24–36 hours from call to handover in Israel. The flight itself is 3.5 hours; the rest is for expedited apostille, coffin sealing, and customs. Jewish tradition (Halakha) requires burial within 24 hours of death, so we work in maximum fast-track mode. If the 24-hour window cannot be met, the Chevra Kadisha accepts 48–72 hours of delay for objective transport reasons, coordinated with the receiving family.
How much does repatriation to Israel cost?
The turnkey cost from Minsk to Tel Aviv is approximately 3,800–5,500 USD depending on airline tariff (Belavia/El Al/LOT), cargo weight, and urgency. The price covers morgue services, embalming, zinc coffin with sealing, wooden crate, apostille at the Belarusian MFA, notarized Hebrew/English translation, air tariff, meeting at Ben Gurion, and Chevra Kadisha coordination. Subsequent Chevra Kadisha services in Israel (taharah, tachrichim, burial plot) are paid separately by the family.
Is a zinc coffin mandatory?
Yes, for international air transport and Israeli customs a hermetically sealed zinc coffin is mandatory under IATA rules. Sealing takes place in Minsk at the morgue or our agency, with a signed act and inventory. In Israel, after arrival, the Chevra Kadisha removes the body from the zinc coffin, performs the ritual washing (taharah), dresses it in a shroud (tachrichim), and buries it directly in the earth without a coffin, in accordance with Halakha. The zinc coffin is only a transport requirement.
How is an apostille obtained in Belarus for Israel?
An apostille is mandatory for Israel — both countries are parties to the 1961 Hague Convention. The apostille is affixed by the Belarusian MFA at Lenin Street 19, Minsk (Consular Service Department). Processing takes 1–2 business days, and the state fee is one base unit. The apostille is placed on the death certificate from ZAGS and on the medical cause-of-death opinion. We handle the apostille by power of attorney from the family and include it in the overall quote; the timing does not extend.
Can family members accompany the body to Israel?
Yes. Relatives can fly on the same Belavia or El Al Minsk–Tel Aviv flight in the passenger cabin. Belarusian citizens do not need a visa for Israel — a visa-free regime of up to 90 days applies on an international passport (since 2014). We assist with ticket bookings and travel paperwork. Male relatives' presence is especially important for the Jewish burial. The Chevra Kadisha coordinates family participation in the funeral; we forward contacts in advance.
Do relatives need a visa for Israel?
Belarusian citizens enter Israel visa-free for up to 90 days on a valid international passport (visa-free agreement since 2014). At passport control at Ben Gurion, standard questions about the purpose of visit may be asked. Russian citizens are also visa-free (up to 90 days). Third-country nationals obtain a visa from the Israeli Embassy in Minsk or an online ETA-IL. We advise on visa matters and help book hotels near cemeteries where relatives wish to stay.
Do you work during Shabbat and Jewish holidays?
Our Belarusian office works 24/7 year-round, including Shabbat, Pesach, Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Hanukkah. However, note: in Israel burials do not take place during Shabbat (from Friday evening to Saturday evening) or major Jewish holidays — the Chevra Kadisha and morgues do not operate. We therefore schedule the flight from Minsk so that burial falls on an Israeli working day. In emergencies the Embassy of Israel in Minsk can assist with coordination.
What if some documents are missing?
We help reconstruct the package: duplicate death certificate from ZAGS (1–2 days), medical statement from the institution where death was confirmed, passport copy via the migration service. If the deceased is an Israeli citizen without valid Belarusian documents, we coordinate with the Embassy of Israel in Minsk (Partizansky Avenue 6A), which issues the necessary certificates and assists with transport. For confirmation of Jewishness (required for burial in a Jewish cemetery), we help obtain supporting certificates.