If someone dies in Germany
EU country with strict, well-organised burial regulations.
Reporting the death
A doctor issues the Totenschein; the death is registered at the Standesamt (registry office), generally within about 3 days.
The local death certificate
Sterbeurkunde from the Standesamt; EU multilingual form available.
Bringing them home
Through a funeral home (Bestattungsunternehmen); within-EU transport is routine.
A local funeral
Burial and cremation available, but ashes normally must be interred in a cemetery (Friedhofszwang) — you usually cannot keep or scatter them freely.
The embassy or consulate
Consulate advises on repatriation and home registration.
True almost anywhere
- Check the travel/health insurance first — repatriation is expensive and is often covered.
- The death is registered where it happens; the local authority issues the death certificate.
- To use that certificate back home you usually need an official translation and an apostille/legalisation.
- The embassy or consulate can advise and liaise, but cannot pay funeral or repatriation costs.
- You generally choose between repatriating the body or ashes home, or a local burial/cremation.