Body repatriation from Russia to Italy
Citizen of Italy died in Russia – What to do:
1. Notify the deceased person's insurance company
To enter Russia, citizens of Italy are required to have insurance covering the costs of post-mortem repatriation. In the event of Italian citizen`s death occurred within territory of Russia their family or representatives should first and foremost notify the insurance company by telephone on the number specified in the policy.
2. Contact the Consular office of Italy
Consular offices of the Italian Embassy are located in the cities of Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, Lipetsk, Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk, Samara and Volgograd.
More information about the consular offices of Italy in Russia you can find here: https://ambmosca.esteri.it
Consular officials will advise on the issues of burial in Russia or transportation of body/ashes to Italy. They will help you to arrange paperwork and assist in returning the remains to Italy. The participation of the consulate is necessary for the organization of posthumous repatriation and burial.
3. Choose a funeral company that will help return the body/ashes to Italy
The transportation of the body or ashes can be arranged independently; usually is takes up to several weeks. Therefore, in many cases it is preferable to turn to professionals for help.
Collecting and executing of documents that meet all requirements of the Russian Federation, the Customs Union, the EU is quite complicated and bureaucratized; a qualified funeral director will collect them faster and help to avoid mistakes related to post-mortem repatriation arrangement.
Post-mortem repatriation to Italy: Specifics
If a citizen of Italy died in Russia, his death must be registered at the Italian consulate, who will arrange and provide all the necessary documents. To register the death, you will need to provide the consulate with the originals of the following documents:
1. Russian death certificate translated into Italian and certified by the apostille. The list of certified translators can be requested at the consulate or downloaded here: http://sedi2.esteri.it
2. Documents of identification of the deceased person: ID, Italian passport or certificate of Italian citizenship.
3. Application for registration of death. You can get it at the consulate or download and fill out yourself: http://sedi2.esteri.it
Assistance from the Italian Embassy in post-mortem repatriation
In the event of the death of an Italian citizen, Embassy employees will:
- provide up-to-date list of requirements and documents for the importation of the deceased back home,
- advise on the general procedure for arranging the transportation of the body from the Russian Federation to Italy,
- help to correctly register death and draw up relevant documents, and
- provide a list of accredited translators.
What Embassy of Italy and consulates do not do:
- pay for the cremation, burial, and post-mortem repatriation of an Italian citizen;
- interfere with private legal issues related to the deceased person (including inheritance matters), and
- provide any legal advice.
Post-mortem repatriation to Italy – body or ashes?
Russia and Italy allow the exporting and importing of the remains:
- the body in a sealed container,
- the ashes in a cinerary urn.
Ashes shipment is always cheaper and easier to arrange.
Choosing transportation method to bring the remains from the Russia to Italy
| Transport | Pros | Cons |
| By air |
The fastest, most reliable, and safest way. Requires a minimum number of documents and customs checks. |
Usually more expensive than other options. You'll need to arrange the body / ashes handover at the airport. An attendant with a full ticket is often required. |
| By car |
In most cases it is cheaper than by air. An accompanying person is usually not required. The attendant does not need to have an additional ticket. Body / ashes can be delivered directly to destination. |
Journey may take several days. Higher risk of delay due to accident or other external circumstances. Additional documents to cross several borders may be required. |
| By train |
Cheaper than by air An accompanying person is usually not required. |
Will take couple of days More documents will be required to cross borders. |
Is it allowed to bring the body/ashes of foreign nationals to Italy?
Yes. We recommend you contact the Italian Embassy for advice in each particular case, because the detailed requirements for organizing this procedure are not publicly available.
Requirements for remains transportation from Russia to Italy
To ship a body or an urn from Russia to Italy you will need to:
- collect the documents,
- sign a shipping contract with the selected transport company, and
- hand over the remains to the transport company for transportation to Italy.
Documents for remains transportation from Russia to Italy
All documents should be translated into Italian and certified with an apostille.
The exact list of documents is subject to change. We recommend to clarify it at the consulate.
| Document | Where to obtain |
| Proof of Italian citizenship of the deceased (ID, passport, citizenship certificate) | In case of loss of these documents you must contact the consular department of the Italian Embassy |
| Original and photocopy of the medical certificate of death (form N 106 / y-08) |
Morgue May only be required in the event of a violent death or death in unclear circumstances. It may be needed only in the case of transportation across land borders (by car or train) - in such cases, it is better to have a certified translation of the document into English. |
| Russian death certificate (stamped) | Municipal services center or registrar office |
| Italian death certificate |
Consulate of Italy In some cases, it is not required. It is better to check this issue in the consulate |
| Original and photocopy of embalming certificate | Morgue or funeral home |
| Original and photocopied Certificate of Encasement (certifying that the container is sealed and contains no extraneous objects) | Morgue or funeral home |
| Original and photocopy of export permit to ship the body outside the Russian Federation | Rospotrebnadzor |
| Application for customs declaration |
Funeral home that is arranging the repatriation When you arrange remains shipment without assistance, you must complete a declaration at the airport or when you hand over the body or the ashes to the carrier |
| Consular death certificate |
Embassy of Italy The certificate costs 5-15 USD depending on the circumstances of death and the registration procedure |
You can collect the documents independently. It may take up to 1-2 weeks. A funeral home will do it within up to 3 business days.
Rules of remains importation from Russia to Italy
- The body must be in a zinc container or coffin with a zinc liner, which is also packed in a wooden transport box.
- When transporting ashes, the urn should be transparent to X-rays.
- The container with the body or the ashes must be sealed and have no unauthorized contents.
Choosing an airline to transport the remains to Italy
- According to Russian Ministry of Transport decree 82 dated 28.06.2007, and ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), it is the airline itself who determines the body carriage rules.
- The Russian airlines allow carrying the body or the ashes only in the luggage compartment.
- Carriers from other countries may allow you to carry the ashes in your hand luggage.
- Make sure that you check the details on the rules and applicable fares from the chosen airline representatives – this information may often not be publicly available.
The cost of remains transportation to Italy
- The cost depends on weight of remains, travel distance & carrier rates.
- It is always cheaper to ship ashes rather than a body.
- Many airlines require an attendant on board the aircraft. This applies to both the body and the ashes. A relative of the deceased person or a funeral home representative can be such an attendant. The attendant must have a flight ticket. Some airlines (e.g. Lufthansa) have special rates for shipping remains and attending persons. Make sure you check the rates at each specific airline.
Useful Links
Gosuslugi (Public Services)
Russian Federation Public Services Portal. Here you can find how to get various documents required to arrange remains transportation.
Website: https://www.gosuslugi.ru
Rospotrebnadzor
Address: Vadkovsky Pereulok 18, building 5 and 7, Moscow, 127994
Phone: +7 (499) 973-26-90
Website: http://www.rospotrebnadzor.ru
Embassy of Italy in Russia
Address: Denezhny pereulok 5, Moscow, 115127
Phone: + 7 (499) 241-10-92 | +7 (495) 796-96-91
Fax: + 7 (499) 241-77-33
E-mail: embitaly.mosca@esteri.it
Office hours: Monday — Friday, 09.00 — 13.00; 15.00 — 18.00
Website: https://ambmosca.esteri.it/ambasciata_mosca/ru
General Consulate of Italy in Russia
Website: https://consmosca.esteri.it/consolato_mosca/it/
Consular network of the Italian Embassy
Website: https://ambmosca.esteri.it/ambasciata_mosca/ru/ambasciata/la_rete_consolare
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy
Website: https://www.esteri.it/mae/it
Website: http://www.viaggiaresicuri.it/
Ritual.ru – assistance in post-mortem repatriation to Italy
With our vast experience, knowledge, resources, and status of the official state funeral service Ritual.ru can quickly arrange post-mortem repatriation to Italy. To arrange shipping of the deceased Italian citizen back home call Ritual.ru hot line +7 (495) 100-3-100 .
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