TRANSFER OF REMAINS

A special permit is needed for the transportation of remains for burial in Cyprus. In order to obtain a permit, the following documents should be submitted to the Embassy. Please note that arrangements need to be made with funeral homes both at the place of departure of the deceased, as well as in Cyprus.

• Certified death certificate from the Department of Health, Hospital or Doctor who pronounced the death.
• Certified embalming certificate.
• Certified transportation permit / travel document / removal order issued by the competent authority of the country of departure.
• Certificate from the Department of Health confirming that there was no epidemic or communicable disease in the area where the deceased passed away.
• Itinerary of the transfer.
• Copy of the passport of the deceased.

All certified documents must bear the seal of “APOSTILLE”.

If the remains to be transferred have been cremated, then a certified crematorium certificate must be presented in lieu of the embalming certificate. The carrier of the ashes is obligated to take all necessary measures for the safety of their packaging in a suitable container made of a leak-proof material.

Please note that in the event the death was due to a communicable disease, the remains must be placed in a carefully welded steel or zinc coffin, with its base covered with an absorbent material. The metallic coffin must then be wrapped in a shroud soaked in antiseptic solution and placed in a 20mm thick wooden coffin. A certificate from the funeral home attesting to this procedure is necessary.

The fee for the permit is the equivalent of €11.96 in US$ (based on the exchange rate at the time of application). If the documents are sent to the Embassy by mail, then a self-addressed pre-paid envelope must be included in order to return the permit and certified documents.

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