Repatriation
Many Romanian families in Switzerland wish for a burial in their home town. The route is governed by an old agreement — and simpler than many expect.
A repatriation from Switzerland to Romania falls under the 1937 Berlin Arrangement: Romania is not party to the Strasbourg Agreement, but, like Switzerland, it is party to the Berlin Arrangement. The Romanian foreign ministry states that for deaths in Berlin party states — Switzerland included — the local authorities issue the mortuary passport, not the Romanian consulate.
No mortuary passport is issued for an urn.
Switzerland and Romania are both party to the 1937 International Arrangement concerning the Conveyance of Corpses (in Switzerland SR 0.818.61); Romania since 1943. The Arrangement requires a mortuary passport from the authority of the place of death; destination countries may not require other documents apart from ordinary transport papers.
The Romanian foreign ministry confirms that for deaths in Berlin party states — Switzerland is named — the competent local authorities issue the «pașaport mortuar».
The Berlin Arrangement prescribes a hermetically soldered metal coffin with absorbent lining, set firmly in a wooden coffin at least three centimetres thick. This is the zinc coffin we use — see The zinc coffin. As the coffin travels sealed, an open-coffin farewell is planned in Switzerland before coffining.
The Berlin Arrangement does not cover ashes. According to the Romanian foreign ministry, no mortuary passport is issued for an urn; it recommends carrying the death certificate and the cremation certificate. Whether the urn may travel in the cabin is up to the airline. See Urn transfer abroad.
Romania is a long drive from Switzerland. For a coffin, air freight to Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara or Iași with onward transport to the home town is often faster; the road can be cheaper and does not depend on flight schedules. We calculate both options.
The death of a Romanian citizen abroad is transcribed into a Romanian register, in Romania or at the Romanian mission in Switzerland; the embassy in Bern books appointments through the econsulat.ro portal. According to the ministry, the service is free. The international Swiss death register extract (CIEC form) is exempt from translation and legalisation and is valid for six months for this purpose.
Our flat fee for a repatriation starts at CHF 3,000. Transport and Swiss official fees come on top. You receive a written, itemised quote. Funeral costs in Romania are not included. 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
Yes. Both countries are party to the 1937 Berlin Arrangement. For a death in Switzerland, the local authority issues the mortuary passport, according to the Romanian foreign ministry — not the consulate.
No. The 1937 Berlin Arrangement, to which both states are party, applies.
No mortuary passport is issued for an urn. The Romanian ministry recommends the death certificate and the cremation certificate.
Through a transcription request in Romania or at the Romanian mission in Switzerland, free of charge. The international Swiss extract is exempt from translation and valid for six months for this purpose.