Repatriation of the body from Russia to Vietnam
Citizen of Vietnam died in Russia – What to do:
1. Notify the deceased person's insurance company
To enter Russia, citizens of Vietnam are required to have insurance covering the costs of post-mortem repatriation. In the event of Vietnamese citizen’s death in Russia their family or representatives should first and foremost notify the insurance company by telephone on the number specified in the policy. The insurance company bears the expenses on returning the body home and participates in organizing the process of post mortem repatriation.
2. Contact the Consulate (Embassy) of Vietnam
The Consulate of Vietnam will assist in paperwork and arranging the return of the remains home. The embassy may be involved in investigating the circumstances of death if there is reason to suspect unnatural causes of death. The consulate representative must provide required support to the insurance company and go to the place of death / body storage location in order to verify the examination done by the competent authorities (mortuary, police, etc.).
To repatriate the remains in Vietnam, the participation of the embassy is mandatory: it will be necessary to draw up several required documents.
3. Choose a funeral director that will help transport the body to Vietnam
To organize the transportation of the remains to Vietnam, it is recommended to contact funeral director from Russian for help. A qualified local professional will help to collect all necessary documents and arrange transportation in accordance with the customs and sanitary requirements. They will do it faster and help to avoid mistakes related to post-mortem repatriation arrangement.
There are no Vietnamese funeral directors entitled to provide funeral services in Russia currently. You can collect all the documents and arrange for the transportation of the body or ashes independently, but you will need to have direct contacts in Vietnam who will meet the remains at the airport and arrange for burial.
Specifics of post-mortem repatriation to Vietnam:
To register the death the following documents are required:
- death certificate;
- passport of the deceased;
- a completed application form for registration of death (Link to the application form on the website of the Embassy of Vietnam in the Russian Federation);
To organize a funeral, you will need direct contacts of Vietnam funeral director or the help of a Vietnam citizen located in Vietnam.
Assistance from the Vietnam Embassy in post-mortem repatriation
In the event of the death of a Vietnam citizen, Embassy employees will:
- provide up-to-date list of requirements and documents for the importation of the deceased;
- advise on the general procedure for arranging the transportation of the body from the Russia to Vietnam;
- advise on the possible options and prices for burial / cremation in Russia.
- help to correctly register death and draw up the relevant documents (paid service).
- certify documents (paid service)
- seal the container with the remains for importing into Vietnam.
- help you choose a funeral company in Vietnam;
- contact the relatives of the deceased in Vietnam if necessary.
What Vietnam embassy and consulates do not do:
- pay for the cremation, burial, and post-mortem repatriation of a Vietnam citizen;
- provide any legal advice.
Post-mortem repatriation to Vietnam – the body or ashes?
Russia and Vietnam allow the exporting and importing of the remains:
- the body in a sealed container;
- cinerary urn.
Ashes shipment is cheaper and easier to arrange.
Requirements for remains transportation from the Russian Federation to Vietnam
To ship a body or an urn you will need to:
- collect the documents;
- sign a shipping contract with the airline;
- hand over the remains to the airline for transportation to Vietnam.
List of documents for remains transportation from Russia to Vietnam
Up-to-date requirements for arranging documents for body / ashes importation to Vietnam can only be provided by the Embassy of Vietnam.
| Document | Where to get it |
| Proof of Vietnam citizenship of the deceased | In case of loss of these documents contact the consular department of Vietnam Embassy |
| Medical death certificate (form N 106 / у-08) | required only in case of violent death or death in unclear circumstances |
| Death certificate in Russian (stamped) | Municipal services center or registrar office |
| Embalming certificate |
Morgue or funeral home Only needed to transport the body. Not required for transportation of ashes. |
| 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 or ashes 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 registration certificate |
Embassy of Vietnam 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 into Vietnam
- The body must be in a zinc container or coffin with a zinc liner, which is 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 Vietnam
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 to carry 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 Vietnam
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 Vietnam in Russia
Адрес: ul. Bolshaya Pirogovskaya, 3, Moscow, 119034
Tel.: + 7 (495) 956-3579
Phone (Consular Section): + 7 (499) 246-1383 / +7 (903) 682-1617
Факс (Consular Section): + 7 (499) 246-0687
E-mail: vnemb.ru@gmail.com
Office hours: Monday — Friday, 09.00 —17.00
Website: https://vnembassy-moscow.mofa.gov.vn/en-us
Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Website: http://www.mofa.gov.vn/en
Vietnam Community in Russia:
Link: https://vnembassy-moscow.mofa.gov.vn/ru-ru
Official advice & help for Vietnam citizens living and travelling abroad:
Link: https://vnembassy-moscow.mofa.gov.vn/ru-ru.
Vietnam Embassy: Consular fees
Link: https://vnembassy-moscow.mofa.gov.vn/ru-ru
Vietnam Embassy: Death Registration
Link: https://clck.ru/HW7ri
Funeral traditions in Vietnam: Brief Overview
Link: https://www.vietnamonline.com
Ritual.ru – assistance in post-mortem repatriation to Vietnam
With our vast experience, knowledge, resources, and status of the official state funeral service Ritual.ru can quickly arrange post-mortem repatriation to Vietnam. To arrange shipping of the deceased Vietnam citizen back home call Ritual.ru hot line +7 (495) 100-3-100.
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