Repatriation
For many Greek families in Switzerland, a burial in Greece goes without saying. The route needs more paperwork than most European countries — preparing it early saves time.
Switzerland and Greece are both party to the 1973 Strasbourg Agreement; the Swiss mortuary passport accompanies the coffin. Greece, however, also requires a certificate from its consular authority, for a coffin as well as an urn. For this, the Swiss documents must carry an apostille and be translated into Greek.
Greece has been party to the Strasbourg Agreement since 1983 (in Switzerland SR 0.818.62). The mortuary passport is issued by the cantonal authority at the place of death. In addition, Greek procedure provides for a certificate from the consular authority; according to the official register of procedures (mitos.gov.gr), the application is made in person, usually by the funeral director, and the consulate may ask for further documents.
All documents must be translated into Greek; the consular authority certifies the translator's signature. The embassy lists its fees on its page.
Embalming is mandatory for Greece. The deceased travels in a closed metal coffin with absorbent lining, inside an airtight wooden coffin — matching the zinc coffin under the Strasbourg Agreement, see The zinc coffin. According to the Greek register of procedures, the coffin is sealed in front of the consular authority by appointment; we arrange this directly with the embassy.
The Strasbourg Agreement does not cover ashes. For an urn, the Greek embassy in Bern requires the original death certificate and the cremation certificate, both with an apostille and translated into Greek, with the translator's signature certified by the consulate. The ashes travel in a sealed urn accompanied by the cremation certificate. See Urn transfer abroad.
To Greece we generally repatriate the coffin by air freight — to Athens or Thessaloniki, and for the islands and other regions with a connection to the nearest airport and onward transport. Relatives can travel as passengers on the same flight.
Our flat fee for a repatriation starts at CHF 3,000. Air freight by weight, embalming, apostilles and translations, consular fees and Swiss official fees come on top. You receive a written, itemised quote. See What a repatriation costs. All prices are approximate and may change: air freight costs vary, and the price depends on the materials used – for example the coffin or zinc liner.
Questions & answers
It accompanies the coffin, as both countries are party to the Strasbourg Agreement. Greece also requires a certificate from its consular authority, based on Swiss documents with an apostille and a Greek translation.
The original death certificate with apostille, for Greek citizens the consular death certificate, a forensic medicine certificate and an embalming certificate, both with apostille. Everything is translated into Greek.
Yes. The embalming certificate is among the documents the embassy in Bern requires.
The original death certificate and the cremation certificate, both with apostille and translated into Greek, with the translator's signature certified by the consulate.