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 Ukraine
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 Kyiv, Lviv and other Ukrainian cities
Belarus and Ukraine are bound by long shared history, numerous mixed families, labour migration and family ties. In Belarus Ukrainian citizens sometimes pass away — elderly people who moved in with their children in Minsk, students, labour migrants. In current circumstances body transfer from Belarus to Ukraine requires a flexible approach, taking into account altered logistics, borders and routes. Our agency continues to organise such transfers, using overland routes through neighbouring states and coordinating with Ukrainian funeral services.
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. Thanks to the 1993 Minsk CIS Convention on Legal Assistance, the Ukrainian side has traditionally recognised Belarusian documents in CIS format without apostille. For added reliability we obtain an MFA apostille. Russian-language documents are understood by Ukrainian services; we provide Ukrainian translations as well.
There are no direct flights or direct overland links between Belarus and Ukraine at present. The route runs through third countries: road transit via Poland with entry into Ukraine at Medyka, Hrushiv, Yahodyn, Ustyluh crossings. The Minsk–Kyiv distance on this route is about 1200–1400 km, travel time 30–40 hours including border formalities. The zinc coffin is sealed in Minsk, placed inside a wooden outer crate marked «Human Remains»; supporting documents are prepared in Russian, Ukrainian and English.
At the Polish–Ukrainian border, customs clearance takes 4–8 hours. Our Ukrainian partner meets the hearse inside Ukraine and escorts it to the destination — Kyiv, Lviv, Ternopil, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr, Vinnytsia, Odesa, Kharkiv (routing may adjust to the security situation). Burial is available at UOC/OCU Orthodox cemeteries, Greek Catholic parishes, Jewish, Muslim cemeteries. Cremation is possible in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa.
Our dispatch desk operates 24/7. Call +375 29 314-59-59 for a fixed all-inclusive price covering the zinc coffin, embalming, documents, road transit via Poland and handover in Ukraine. Average lead time 6–9 working days including transit. We accept bank transfers. We communicate in Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian and English, and guarantee a dignified return of your loved one to Ukrainian soil.
Quick summary
- Methods: Road transit via Poland, 30–40 hours
- Documents: ZAGS certificate — 1993 CIS Minsk Convention, no apostille required; Ukrainian translation
Frequently asked questions
Where in Ukraine do you deliver?
We deliver to Ukrainian cities accessible given the current situation: Kyiv, Lviv, Lutsk, Ternopil, Rivne, Khmelnytskyi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Uzhhorod, Chernivtsi, Vinnytsia, Zhytomyr, Cherkasy, Poltava, Odesa. Delivery to some regions (Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Kherson) is carried out where the route is possible and safe. Always clarify the current availability of the destination with the operator at the time of enquiry.
Which documents are required in Belarus and Ukraine?
In Belarus: ZAGS death certificate, forensic opinion from the State Committee of Forensic Examinations, embalming and zinc-sealing certificates, sanitary export passport. Under the 1993 CIS Minsk Convention the Ukrainian side recognises Belarusian documents without apostille; however, for additional reliability given Polish transit we obtain an MFA apostille. Ukrainian translations are prepared in advance.
How long does delivery from Minsk to Ukraine take?
In current conditions the full cycle is 6–9 working days including Polish transit. Belarusian documents take 2–3 days (with apostille), body preparation and zinc-coffin sealing one day, transit paperwork one day, road delivery through Poland to the Ukrainian border 20–24 hours, border crossing 4–8 hours, delivery to the destination in Ukraine a further 5–15 hours.
How much does repatriation from Belarus to Ukraine cost?
The price depends on the destination city in Ukraine, consignment 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 (for transit reliability), Ukrainian translation, road transit via Poland and handover in Ukraine. Call +375 29 314-59-59 for a tailored calculation.
Is a zinc coffin required for Ukraine?
Yes, international transport of human remains to Ukraine 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, Poland (transit) and Ukraine throughout the journey.
Is an apostille needed for Ukraine?
Formally under the 1993 CIS Minsk Convention, an apostille for Ukraine is NOT required — Belarusian ZAGS documents are recognised directly. However, given Polish transit (an EU country that requires apostille) and current Ukrainian practice, we recommend and obtain an MFA apostille for all repatriations to Ukraine. This ensures smooth passage through Polish customs and Ukrainian border control. Our lawyer obtains the apostille in 1–2 working days.
Can a relative accompany the body to Ukraine?
Yes, the accompanying relative travels in the hearse next to the driver. Belarusian citizens currently need a Ukrainian visa to enter Ukraine and a Schengen visa to cross Poland. Ukrainian citizens returning home do not need a visa. For Russian and other nationalities — case by case, please clarify with the operator. We assist with visa applications, provide invitations from the Ukrainian funeral director and a copy of the death certificate.
What visas do relatives need for Ukraine?
Belarusian citizens need a Ukrainian visa to enter Ukraine, issued via the Ukrainian consulate (currently through Ukrainian consulates in EU countries, e.g. Warsaw or Vilnius). For Polish transit a Schengen Category C visa is required. Ukrainian citizens do not need a visa. For bereavement reasons visas are issued on an expedited basis in 5–7 working days. We provide the invitation and a copy of the death certificate.
Do you work on weekends and holidays?
Yes, our dispatch desk operates 24/7, including state holidays of Belarus and Ukraine (Christmas, Easter, Ukrainian Independence Day on 24 August). ZAGS and the MFA are closed on weekends, so paperwork resumes on the next working day, but body preparation, embalming, zinc-coffin sealing and transit route coordination 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 Ukrainian or Belarusian passport — via the MIA of Belarus or the Ukrainian consulate. We obtain residence certificates and medical records. Body storage in our +2..+4 °C refrigerated facility is complimentary throughout. The full package is normally ready in 2–3 working days.