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 Slovenia
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.
From Belarusian morgue to Slovenian cemetery, fully managed
Slovenia, a compact Alpine country, hosts a growing Belarusian and Russian-speaking diaspora: IT professionals, seafarers out of Koper, University of Ljubljana faculty and mixed-marriage families. When a relative passes away in Belarus but the family plot lies in Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje or the Slovenian coast, we take charge of the international logistics. For over fifteen years we have repatriated bodies from Minsk to Slovenia, know the National Sanitary Administration's requirements and partner with licensed Slovenian funeral homes.
Belarusian paperwork begins as soon as the forensic medical certificate is issued by the State Committee of Forensic Expertise. The local ZAGS office issues the official death certificate, the Ministry of Health issues the export permit, and the Belarus MFA affixes a Hague Convention apostille. As an EU member Slovenia accepts the apostille directly without further legalisation. In parallel we commission a sworn translation into Slovenian or English accepted by Slovenian municipalities and cemetery administrations.
The body is embalmed and placed in a zinc-sealed coffin in Minsk. A sanitary certificate follows the cargo throughout. There are no direct flights from Minsk (MSQ) to Ljubljana (LJU), but routings through Vienna, Frankfurt or Warsaw with LOT are well established. Total transit takes 20 to 40 hours. In some cases a hearse drive through Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Austria is cheaper and takes three to four days under continuous sanitary supervision.
At Ljubljana airport or Vienna (with onward ground transfer), the cargo is received by our Slovenian partner — a licensed funeral home. They clear customs, obtain the sanitary inspection permit and deliver the coffin to the burial city. We coordinate with the Serbian Orthodox parish in Ljubljana for Orthodox rites, with Catholic parishes or civil ceremonies. We arrange liaison with Zale, the largest cemetery in Ljubljana, or with municipal cemeteries in other towns.
Our hotline +375 29 314-59-59 is available 24/7, 365 days a year. The first consultation, document review and full estimate are free. The price is locked in the contract: airfare, ground transport in Belarus and Slovenia, zinc coffin, customs, translations and partner fees. No mid-journey surcharges. Call us — within an hour you will receive 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, sworn translation
- Timeline: 4 to 7 days by air, 3 to 4 days by hearse
Frequently asked questions
Which Slovenian cities do you deliver to from Belarus?
We cover all of Slovenia: Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje, Kranj, Velenje, Koper, Novo Mesto, Ptuj, Izola, Piran, Bled. The main arrival airport is Ljubljana Joze Pucnik (LJU). When connections are poor, cargo arrives at Vienna (VIE) or Graz (GRZ) and our Slovenian partner completes the leg by hearse — Slovenia is small and any town is within 1 to 3 hours of an airport. Zale International Cemetery in Ljubljana is the most common destination.
What documents are needed in Belarus and Slovenia?
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 Slovenia: sanitary inspection import permit, documents from the receiving funeral home and confirmation of burial rights at the specific cemetery. All Belarusian documents are translated into Slovenian or English by a sworn translator with notarisation. We prepare and deliver the complete package on behalf of the family.
How long does transport from Minsk to Ljubljana take?
The air route through Vienna or Frankfurt with ground delivery in Slovenia takes 4 to 7 business days from first call. ZAGS paperwork and the MFA apostille take 1 to 2 days, preparation and sealing one day, the flight 20 to 40 hours, Slovenian customs and delivery one more day. A hearse drive through Poland, Slovakia and Austria takes 3 to 4 days and can be cheaper for small regional Slovenian towns with limited air connections.
How much does repatriation from Belarus to Slovenia cost?
The final price depends on the city, cargo weight and chosen route, whether air or road. The base Minsk-to-Ljubljana estimate covering full 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 Slovenian partner's work. A road hearse route is sometimes 15 to 25 percent cheaper.
Is a zinc coffin mandatory for transport to Slovenia?
Yes. For international transport across both air and land borders a zinc coffin is mandatory under the 1937 Berlin Arrangement and Slovenian sanitary regulations. The zinc is hermetically sealed in the presence of a sanitary specialist, with a sealing and contents certificate issued. A wooden crate protects the coffin during handling. All Belarusian certificates accompany the cargo and are handed to the Slovenian partner at the border or airport during acceptance.
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 processing is 1 to 5 business days and can be expedited to one day for urgent repatriations. Belarus is a Hague Convention party and Slovenia as an EU member accepts the apostille without further legalisation. We obtain the apostille under a notarised power of attorney from relatives, so the family only visits a notary once.
Can a relative accompany the coffin on the flight?
A companion travels on a separate passenger ticket, usually on the same flight through Vienna or Frankfurt. Passengers are not admitted to the cargo hold per ICAO rules. Belarusian citizens need a Schengen visa; Slovenia is in the Schengen Area. We prepare documents for an urgent humanitarian visa at the Slovenian Embassy serving Minsk or via a neighbouring Schengen consulate. With our contract, visas are typically issued in 2 to 3 business days.
How do relatives obtain visas to accompany the body?
The Slovenian embassy services Belarusian applicants through an outsourced visa centre in Minsk or via other Schengen consulates. Package: passport, photo, medical insurance, invitation from the Slovenian funeral home or family, proof of kinship, copy of our contract. Humanitarian visas are issued on an expedited track within 24 to 72 hours when repatriation documents are on file. The standard consular fee applies. We help assemble and submit the complete package.
Do you work on weekends and public holidays?
Our dispatch +375 29 314-59-59 operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without weekends or holidays. A crew and vehicle go out anywhere in Minsk and the region at any hour, including overnight. On Belarusian and Slovenian public holidays ZAGS and MFA offices may run reduced hours, extending paperwork by 1 to 2 days. The physical logistics — embalming, sealing, transport — never stop. No night or holiday surcharges apply to our pricing.
What if the deceased had no identity documents in Belarus?
When a passport is missing, identity is established through the Ministry of Internal Affairs via fingerprints, migration databases or a statement from relatives with supporting papers. For foreign nationals the consulate of their country of citizenship assists in parallel. We guide the family through every step: police report, ZAGS duplicates, archive requests. The process takes 3 to 10 days, after which the death certificate, apostille and international transport proceed as usual without further delay.