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 Serbia
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.
Minsk to Belgrade turnkey, for relocatees and families
Serbia has become a primary destination for Belarusians and CIS citizens relocating after 2022: visa-free entry, easy legalisation, affordable property. When such an emigrant loses a relative in Belarus, or a Belarusian passes away in Serbia wishing to rest at home, the family needs international repatriation. For over fifteen years we have been shipping bodies from Minsk to Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis, Subotica and Kragujevac, and we understand Serbian law and the customs of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Belarusian paperwork starts with the forensic medical certificate from the State Committee of Forensic Expertise. ZAGS issues the death certificate, the Ministry of Health issues the export permit, and the Belarus MFA affixes a Hague Convention apostille. Serbia is a Hague party and accepts the Belarusian apostille directly. A translation into Serbian (Cyrillic or Latin) with notarisation is prepared in parallel and is accepted by Serbian registry offices (maticni ured) and funeral companies (pogrebno preduzece).
At the Minsk morgue the body is embalmed and placed in a zinc coffin with hermetically sealed seams. From Minsk (MSQ) to Belgrade (BEG) Air Serbia operates regularly — direct or connecting — as does Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. Transit takes 8 to 26 hours. A hearse drive through Poland, Slovakia and Hungary takes 3 to 4 days and often ends up cheaper than air when the destination is far from the airport in regional Serbia.
At Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport (BEG) our Serbian partner — a licensed funeral company — receives the cargo. They clear customs, obtain the sanitary inspection permit and deliver the coffin by hearse to any city in Serbia. We coordinate with Serbian Orthodox Church parishes for memorial services, liaise with Belgrade cemeteries (Novo Groblje, Bezanijsko Groblje, Centralno Groblje) and regional necropolises. On request, we also arrange cremation at the New Crematorium in Belgrade.
Our 24/7 dispatch +375 29 314-59-59 runs without weekends or holidays. The initial consultation, document review and full estimate are free. Repatriation cost is fixed in the contract: airfare, ground transport in Belarus and Serbia, zinc coffin, airport fees, translations, customs and the Serbian partner's work. No mid-transport surcharges. Call us and within an hour you will have an action plan, a document checklist and the exact price.
Quick summary
- Phone 24/7: +375 29 314-59-59
- Documents: ZAGS certificate, Belarus MFA apostille, Serbian translation
- Timeline: 3 to 6 days from first call
Frequently asked questions
Which Serbian cities do you deliver to from Belarus?
We repatriate to every city in Serbia: Belgrade, Novi Sad, Nis, Kragujevac, Subotica, Zrenjanin, Pancevo, Cacak, Kraljevo, Smederevo, Leskovac, Vranje, and to villages and small settlements. Primary arrival airport is Belgrade Nikola Tesla (BEG). The regional Nis airport (INI) is used less often. Our Serbian partner delivers the coffin by hearse to any point in the country within 2 to 6 hours of the airport.
What documents are needed in Belarus and Serbia?
In Belarus: ZAGS death certificate, medical cause-of-death report, infection-free statement, Ministry of Health export permit, embalming certificate, zinc sealing certificate, MFA apostille. In Serbia: sanitary inspection import permit, documents from the receiving funeral company, confirmation of burial rights at the specific cemetery. All Belarusian documents are translated into Serbian (Cyrillic or Latin) with notarisation. We prepare and deliver the full set on the family's behalf.
How long does transport from Minsk to Belgrade take?
The air route on Air Serbia or Turkish Airlines takes 3 to 6 business days from first contact. ZAGS paperwork and the MFA apostille take 1 to 2 days, preparation and sealing one day, flight 8 to 26 hours, Serbian customs and delivery another day. A hearse drive through Poland, Slovakia and Hungary takes 3 to 4 days and is often chosen when flight connections are poor or the destination is in a remote Serbian region.
How much does repatriation from Belarus to Serbia cost?
The final price depends on the destination city, cargo weight and chosen route, whether air or road. The base Minsk-to-Belgrade estimate covering paperwork, zinc coffin, airfare and ground delivery starts at a figure we quote during the first call. The cost is fixed in the contract. It covers airport fees, translations, customs and the Serbian partner. Serbia is a comparatively affordable destination thanks to direct flights and light customs.
Is a zinc coffin mandatory for Serbia?
Yes. A zinc coffin is mandatory under the 1937 Berlin Arrangement and Serbian sanitary regulations. The zinc is hermetically sealed in the presence of a sanitary officer at the Minsk morgue, with a sealing and contents certificate issued. A wooden crate protects the coffin during handling. All Belarusian certificates accompany the cargo to Belgrade and are handed to the Serbian funeral company on acceptance. Customs at BEG will not release cargo without the complete package.
How is the Belarus apostille on a death certificate obtained?
The apostille on ZAGS documents is affixed by the Main Consular Department of the Belarus MFA in Minsk, 19 Lenina Street. Standard turnaround is 1 to 5 business days, expedited to one day for urgent repatriations. Belarus and Serbia are both Hague Convention parties and the apostille is recognised directly without consular legalisation. We obtain it under a notarised power of attorney from relatives — a single visit to a notary suffices.
Can a relative accompany the coffin on the flight?
A companion travels on a separate passenger ticket on the same Air Serbia or Turkish Airlines flight. Passengers are not admitted to the cargo hold per ICAO rules. Belarusian citizens do not need a visa to enter Serbia — visa-free stay for up to 30 days. This makes Serbia one of the easiest destinations for family accompaniment: a passport and a ticket suffice. We assist with bookings and accompany the family at Minsk and Belgrade airports.
Do accompanying relatives need a visa?
For Belarusian citizens no visa is required for Serbia — visa-free entry for up to 30 days on a passport. This greatly simplifies accompaniment and participation in the funeral. For foreigners residing in Belarus, entry terms depend on citizenship — most European nationals also enter visa-free. We consult every family individually and help with visas for relatives from countries under a visa regime with Serbia when needed.
Do you work weekends and holidays?
The +375 29 314-59-59 hotline operates 24/7, 365 days a year. Crews deploy anywhere in Minsk and the region at any hour, including overnight. On Belarusian and Serbian state and religious holidays (Julian-calendar Christmas on 7 January, Easter, Vidovdan on 28 June), ZAGS and MFA offices may work reduced hours, which can extend paperwork by 1 to 2 days. The physical logistics — embalming, sealing, transport — never stop.
What if the deceased had no identity documents in Belarus?
When a passport is missing, identity is established through the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs via fingerprints, migration databases or a statement from relatives with supporting papers. For foreign nationals the embassy of their country of citizenship — the Serbian embassy in Minsk assists its own citizens — helps in parallel. We guide the family through every step: police report, ZAGS duplicates, archive requests. The process takes 3 to 10 days; afterwards paperwork proceeds normally.