Transportation of the Deceased’s Remains from Abroad to Lithuania

When a loved one passes away abroad, families often face numerous emotional and practical challenges related to bringing the remains back to Lithuania: transportation, required documents and permits, and funeral arrangements. Specialists from Vilnius Funeral Home have shared useful advice to help you better understand what you need to know about the process of transporting a deceased person’s remains, the costs involved, bureaucratic nuances, and available state support.

How Is the Transportation of the Deceased Organized?

Choose a Transportation Service Provider

Transportation of remains to or from a foreign country is a fairly complex process. To ease your burden during a time of grief and ensure that all necessary procedures are handled properly, it is recommended to contact specialized companies or funeral homes that organize international transportation of remains. They will professionally take care of all logistical details, such as document handling, preparation of the deceased, and transportation.

Contact the Embassy or Consulate of the Foreign Country

Lithuanian diplomatic missions abroad can provide information about local laws, communicate with local authorities, and assist with completing the necessary procedural documents.

Obtain the Death Certificate

The death certificate is issued in the country where the person passed away (usually by the institution that officially confirms the death). The document must later be legalized and certified with an Apostille. An Apostille confirms the authenticity of the signature, the name and position of the signing person, and the seal on the document. Legalization or Apostille certification is required so that official documents issued in one country are recognized in another. The Apostille is particularly important, as it ensures that the death certificate is recognized in accordance with Lithuanian law.

Transportation Requirements

The deceased must be transported in a special zinc-lined coffin capsule that meets international standards. Your chosen funeral service provider will ensure proper body preparation and transportation.

Required Documents

• Death certificate (with translation into Lithuanian)
• Permit to transport the remains (issued in the country where the death occurred)
• Transportation documents issued by the competent authorities
• Identification documents (of the deceased and the family members responsible for arranging the transportation)

How Much Does the Transportation of Remains Cost?

The cost of transporting a deceased person’s remains is calculated individually and depends on factors such as:

• Document processing fees
• The distance between the country where the death occurred and Lithuania
• Selected services (body preparation, coffin preparation, ground or air transportation)

The average cost typically ranges from €2,000 to €6,000.

What State Support Is Available?

Types of support in the event of death:

• Funeral allowance
• Support for transporting the remains of Lithuanian citizens who died (or were killed) abroad back to the Republic of Lithuania

Funeral Allowance:

A one-time funeral allowance equal to 8 basic social benefit amounts (from January 1, 2024 – €440) is paid to the person arranging the funeral.

Support for Transportation of Remains from Abroad:

Financial support for transporting remains is equal to the actual costs incurred in bringing the remains to Lithuania, but may not exceed 54 basic social benefit amounts (from January 1, 2024 – €2,970).

For more detailed information about funeral-related benefits and eligibility conditions, please refer to the explanation prepared by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour of the Republic of Lithuania here.

Organizing a Funeral in Lithuania

Choose a Funeral Home

A professional funeral service provider will help take care of all matters related to funeral arrangements, allowing you to focus calmly, without additional stress, on grieving and saying goodbye to your loved one.

At Vilnius Funeral Home, we provide comprehensive funeral services: cremation of the deceased, viewing halls and their décor, caskets, urns, funeral clothing, flowers and other accessories, transportation of remains, and hearses.

Create a Funeral Plan

Together with a funeral planner, prepare a preliminary funeral plan: decide on the viewing hall, whether the farewell will follow religious or secular traditions, whether the deceased will be cremated or buried in a casket, and choose the burial location. This will help you plan the funeral budget more effectively.

Arrange the Necessary Documents

Our funeral home strives to ease your burden as much as possible by assisting with formalities, grave reservations, funeral allowance documentation, and other required permits.

Transporting a loved one’s remains and organizing a funeral are processes that are challenging both emotionally and practically. Therefore, it is recommended to seek professional assistance. Experienced specialists can help ensure that everything is carried out smoothly, on time, and in compliance with international and local requirements. By turning to professionals, you will save time, reduce stress, and be able to focus more on your grief and a dignified farewell to your loved one.