Repatriation from Australia to Moldova
Australia is on the other side of the world from Moldova, and the rules differ from one state to another. We help you through the local registration, the documents for the Moldovan side and the long journey home.
- Issuing authority and document
- Australia is not a party to the Strasbourg Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses (public list, checked 13.10.2026), so Australian rules and the requirements of the Republic of Moldova apply. Deaths are registered by the registry of births, deaths and marriages of the state or territory, usually through the funeral director. The mortuary passport is issued by a Moldovan embassy or consulate.
- Transport
- By air only, with a very long route: we look for the available connections case by case and do not assume a direct flight to Chișinău. The handover point in Moldova we agree with the family.
- Timing
- We confirm the timeline once we have the documents. In Australia it depends on the state or territory where the death occurred, the funeral director and the registry, as well as on the Moldovan mission and the connections available.
- Price
- We will quote the price once we know the details.
Country status under the 1973 Strasbourg Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses: per the Council of Europe list (archived 20.05.2014) and the Netherlands treaty database; checked 11.10.2026.
Procedure
In Australia, deaths are registered at state or territory level, and the funeral director normally registers the death on the family's behalf (official state pages, such as those of Queensland and Victoria, describe this; we have not checked every state). Because the process is run by each state or territory separately, the office and the form depend on where the person died, and we confirm this at the start.
For the Moldovan side, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explains that the mortuary passport for international transport is issued by Moldovan embassies and consulates, and that transport is allowed only under the law of the country where the death occurred. Which Moldovan mission serves Australia we confirm for your case.
Required documents
Usually needed: the Australian death certificate from the state registry, the identity document of the deceased, the documents of the person applying and the funeral director's certificates. Australia has been in the Hague Apostille Convention since 16.03.1995 and the HCCH table shows no objection by Moldova, so the Australian certificate is usually apostilled; the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs adds that a foreign death certificate must be legalised if a Moldovan one is to be issued on it. Which Australian office applies the apostille and whether a translation is required we confirm with you.
Specifics for Australia
Australian rules for exporting remains (biosecurity, any state letters or permits) and the requirements of the receiving country we have not confirmed from an official source. We check them at the start, before booking.
Coffin and embalming requirements we have not confirmed from an official source. We agree them with the funeral director and the airline before booking, and we do not promise a date until they are clear.
Frequently asked questions
Who registers the death in Australia?
The state or territory registry of births, deaths and marriages. In practice the funeral director usually does it for the family, and we check which office applies in your state.
Do the rules differ between Australian states?
Registration and many funeral rules are run by the states and territories, so the office and the form can differ. This is why we start by asking where exactly the death occurred.
Do we need an Australian funeral director?
As a rule, yes: the official Queensland and Victoria pages show that the funeral director usually registers the death on the family's behalf. We coordinate with them so that you deal with one contact.
Will the Australian death certificate be accepted in Moldova?
It is usually apostilled, since both countries are in the Hague Apostille Convention, and translated if required. The final list we confirm with the Moldovan mission before sending anything.