The following information on the repatriation of coffins is primarily intended for funeral homes, as the transport of a coffin within Germany may only be carried out by a funeral home in accordance with the applicable burial regulations (state law).

In contrast to coffin repatriations, the transport of an urn within Germany does not require the involvement of a funeral home. It is therefore also possible to send an urn by parcel service, provided that the recipient in Germany is a cemetery administration or a funeral home (no handover of urns to, and no transport by, private individuals). The transport of an urn to Germany can be carried out, for example, by so-called „special shipping carriers.“ Information and contact details can be found online (the Embassy assumes no liability for the services of these providers).

The arrival of the urn must also be notified to the funeral home or the cemetery administration. Details regarding the burial and the documents and authorizations required for it should also be coordinated in advance with the relevant offices in Germany.

Any additional regulations that may apply at the place of departure, as well as aviation regulations regarding the repatriation of coffins and the transport of urns (e.g., zinc coffin requirements, x-ray capability of urns), remain unaffected. Under customs regulations, coffins containing the deceased, urns containing the ashes of the deceased, as well as flowers, wreaths, and other typical funeral decorations are exempt from import duties pursuant to the Customs Exemption Ordinance.

Please note:
Although the German Embassy in Wellington does issue certificates for the transport of cremated remains at the request of private individuals, it cannot assist in the preparation or execution of the urn transport itself. The Embassy assumes no liability for the services of the above-mentioned special shipping carriers.

Certificate for the Transport of Cremated Remains (Urnenbescheinigung)

The certificate for the transport of cremated remains is issued by the German Embassy in Wellington. The following documents are required for issuance (original or certified copy):

• Death certificate
• Confirmation of cremation and confirmation from the local funeral home that the urn contains the ashes of the deceased person (the urn should be sealed and numbered)
• If available: the deceased person’s passport
• Information on the airline, flight number, and exact transportation route on which the urn will be transported
• Fee for issuing the certificate for the transport of cremated remains; payable by credit card (for applications submitted in person at the counter) or by bank transfer: Please contact the Embassy in advance regarding the applicable fees
• If postal delivery of the certificate is desired: a self-addressed, pre-paid envelope in which the certificate can be sent together with the required documents

Deceased Person Transport Permit (Leichenpass)

The so-called deceased person transport permit (Leichenpass) is issued by the German Embassy in Wellington. For the repatriation of a body from New Zealand to Germany, the following documents must be submitted by the funeral home (original or certified copy):

• Death certificate
• Burial permit / repatriation authorization
• Certificate stating that no infectious diseases are present
• Passport of the deceased
• Certification of the funeral home’s valid operating license
• Confirmation of proper embalming
• Confirmation that the body has been placed in a zinc-lined coffin
• Information on the airline, flight number, and exact transportation route on which the coffin will be transported
• Fee for issuing the mortuary passport; payable by credit card (for applications submitted in person at the counter) or by bank transfer: Please contact the Embassy in advance regarding the applicable fees
• If postal delivery of the mortuary passport is desired: a self-addressed, pre-paid envelope in which the document can be sent together with the required documents

For inquiries, please contact us using our contact form under „Category Death/ Bereavement“: https://wellington.diplo.de/nz-en/botschaft/kontakt-konsulat