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 Norway
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 repatriation from Minsk to Oslo and any Norwegian fylke
Bodies are shipped from Belarus to Norway less often than to EU countries with larger Belarusian diasporas, but each case is its own difficult story: parents of an oil-and-gas specialist who emigrated to Stavanger, a fisherman's wife from Murmansk who moved to relatives in Bergen, a UiO student who did not make it home. We accompany such families from the very first call — calmly, without extra words, with a clear plan. Logistics to Norway require special arrangements because the country is outside the EU but inside Schengen, with its own sanitary requirements.
In Belarus we issue the death certificate at ZAGS, obtain the forensic conclusion from the State Committee of Forensic Examinations in Minsk, prepare an embalming certificate, the zinc-coffin sealing act and the export permit. The Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issues the apostille — Norway recognises it under the Hague Convention. A sworn translator prepares a Norwegian bokmål or English version; both Skatteetaten and begravelsesbyrå accept either. Church cemeteries may require additional confirmation from the parish.
The main air route departs from Minsk National Airport (MSQ) with a transfer in Warsaw (LOT) or Frankfurt via Lufthansa Cargo, landing at Oslo-Gardermoen (OSL), Bergen (BGO) or Stavanger (SVG). Total transit time is 24 to 30 hours. A road-and-ferry option is also available: hearse from Minsk through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, then Tallinn–Stockholm ferry and overland to Oslo, or Kiel–Oslo ferry from Germany. Either option allows the family to accompany the cargo to destination.
In Norway our partner — a licensed begravelsesbyrå — meets the cargo at the airport or port, clears customs and coordinates the funeral with a parish of den norske kirke, a Muslim community or the non-religious Humanistisk organisasjon. Registration takes place at the Folkeregisteret Skatteetaten; the gravplassmyndighet issues the burial permit. Traditional burials at kirkegård, cremation with an urn on minnelund, and Orthodox rites at the Russian church in Oslo are supported. We coordinate with the Belarusian embassy in Oslo.
The number +375 29 314-59-59 receives calls round the clock. During the first conversation we prepare a free quote: body preparation in Minsk, zinc coffin, documents, apostille, sworn translation, LOT/Lufthansa air tariff or hearse with ferry, customs in Norway, handover to the begravelsesbyrå. The price is fixed in the contract and no extra charges arise. We accept payments in BYN, EUR, USD and NOK by bank transfer and issue a full set of financial documents. Call us — the coordinator will take every formality off your shoulders.
Quick summary
- Phone 24/7: +375 29 314-59-59
- Documents: ZAGS, forensic report, MFA apostille, Norwegian/English translation
Frequently asked questions
Which Norwegian cities do you deliver to?
We arrange repatriation across all of Norway. Main air gateways are Oslo-Gardermoen (OSL), Bergen (BGO), Stavanger (SVG) and Trondheim (TRD). From there our Norwegian partners transport the cargo to Kristiansand, Tromsø, Ålesund, Drammen, Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg and any small commune in Vestland, Møre og Romsdal, Nordland or Troms og Finnmark. For remote municipalities above the Arctic Circle, cargo is forwarded on Widerøe domestic flights — we coordinate this right away.
What documents are needed in Belarus and Norway?
In Belarus: Belarusian ZAGS death certificate, forensic conclusion from the State Committee of Forensic Examinations, embalming certificate, zinc-coffin sealing act, export permit and MFA apostille. In Norway: international Laissez-Passer, apostilled dossier with Norwegian or English translation, melding om dødsfall at the Folkeregisteret, and gravferdsløyve from the gravplassmyndighet. Our team prepares both packages in parallel so there are no delays at Gardermoen.
How long does delivery from Minsk to Norway take?
Air transport via Warsaw or Frankfurt to Oslo takes 3 to 5 calendar days. That covers embalming, zinc-coffin sealing, the Belarusian MFA apostille (one to two days, or same-day express), sworn translation and the flight with transfer. Road-and-ferry routing through the Baltic states and Sweden, or through Germany and Kiel port, takes 5 to 7 days depending on ferry schedules and the final address in Norway.
How much does repatriation from Belarus to Norway cost?
The quote includes body preparation in Minsk, zinc and wooden coffins, ZAGS documents, MFA apostille, sworn translation, LOT/Lufthansa/KLM air tariff or hearse with ferry, customs clearance in Norway, meeting the cargo and handover to the begravelsesbyrå. The final figure depends on weight, urgency and fylke distance. Call +375 29 314-59-59 — a specialist will prepare a free transparent estimate in EUR or NOK and fix it into the contract without hidden surcharges.
Is a zinc coffin mandatory for Norway?
Yes. IATA rules, Schengen sanitary requirements and Norwegian Folkehelseinstituttet standards mandate a hermetic zinc insert inside a wooden coffin. Sealing is performed in Minsk by our specialists with a sanitary inspector present and a sealing act with a serial number is issued. Norwegian customs verify zinc integrity on arrival. Opening the zinc coffin without sanitary-service permission is forbidden — at the begravelsesbyrå only the wooden lid is lifted for farewell.
How do I obtain the apostille in Belarus?
The apostille is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus at 19 Lenina Street in Minsk. Since Belarus is a Hague Convention member, the apostille is fully recognised in Norway without additional legalisation. Standard processing takes one to two working days; express can be done the same day. Our lawyer files documents by notarised proxy, pays the state fee and hands the ready package to a sworn translator for bokmål or English translation.
Can I accompany the body to Norway?
Yes. Relatives may fly on the same LOT/Lufthansa/KLM flight or travel with the hearse to the port and continue by ferry. For flights via Warsaw or Frankfurt a Schengen visa is required — the Norwegian consulate in Moscow and visa centres in Minsk accept applications on an express basis with the death certificate. The hearse cabin has one or two seats for accompanying persons. We issue the accompaniment certificate for consulates and border guards.
What visas do relatives need?
Belarusian citizens obtain a Schengen visa via the Norwegian visa centre VFS Global in Minsk or Polish/Lithuanian consulates. With the apostilled death certificate and an invitation letter from a Norwegian begravelsesbyrå, the visa is issued urgently within one to three working days. Citizens of Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries apply through their own consulates. We prepare an official invitation in Norwegian and English and send it to the family.
Do you work on weekends and holidays?
Yes, the +375 29 314-59-59 line operates 24/7. We answer calls on New Year, Orthodox and Catholic Christmas, Radunitsa, Easter, Belarusian Victory and Independence Days, and Norwegian Jul, Nyttår, Påske and 17. mai. The body-collection team is dispatched at any hour. ZAGS and MFA paperwork is filed on the next working day, while body preparation and zinc-coffin sealing proceed in parallel.
What if documents are not yet ready?
Call immediately. We start body preparation, embalming, zinc-coffin sealing and flight booking in parallel with the paperwork. Our lawyer obtains the medical death certificate from the State Committee of Forensic Examinations, registers the death at ZAGS, picks up the official certificate, submits it for the MFA apostille and forwards it to a sworn translator. If relatives are abroad, everything is handled under a notarised power of attorney certified at the Norwegian embassy or by a local notary.