Repatriation
The most frequent route out of Switzerland — and the most straightforward.
Germany is by far the most common destination for repatriations from Switzerland. It is also the simplest: two states party to the same agreements, a short border and no requirement to fly.
Most of what follows applies to Austria and Liechtenstein as well.
Road transport removes three cost items at once: air freight, airport customs clearance and the wait for a slot on a flight. A zinc coffin is generally not required.
In practice the journey is made in our own vehicles, with no transfer, from the place of collection to the German funeral firm. Munich, Stuttgart or Freiburg are reachable within the day.
The file is lighter than for a flight:
No consular legalisation, and in most cases no sworn translation. That is where the days are saved.
German funeral law is a matter for the federal states. In most of them the funeral must take place within a set period after death, often around ten days; some states also require a local funeral firm to be involved.
We contact the firm on site before departure and agree the place and time of handover. You do not have to coordinate two companies across two countries.
If the funeral is to be held in a particular municipality, ask that cemetery for its availability before the departure date is fixed. Burial slots are the most frequent constraint on this route — more so than the transport itself.
Two to four days from the first call to handover is normal, weekends aside. Where the papers come together quickly, departure within 48 hours is possible.
The reverse direction — Germany to Switzerland — works the same way. We coordinate from Switzerland and carry out the journey.
Questions & answers
For road transport, generally no. It is required only if the journey is made by air. That is one of the main savings on this destination.
Yes, in a separate vehicle. We agree the route and the stops in advance. Travelling in the funeral vehicle itself is not possible.
Yes, and it is common: someone resident in Switzerland dies in Germany. We then arrange collection on site and the return journey.
The base flat rate plus the journey. Without air freight or consular fees the total stays well below an air repatriation. You receive the offer in writing before we act.