Issuing authority and document: Bolivia is not among the parties to the 1973 Strasbourg Agreement on the transfer of corpses (Dutch treaty database, 13.10.2026), so the country's own rules and Moldova's requirements apply. According to the British Embassy La Paz bereavement pack (10.12.2021; page updated 16.02.2022), a forensic doctor issues the medical death certificate, the death is registered at the Registro Civil, and the permit to transfer the remains is issued by the Epidemiology Department of the Ministry of Health. In the list of Moldovan missions on mfa.gov.md (13.10.2026) the country appears neither with its own mission nor among the countries served by other missions; we have not confirmed which mission serves it and are clarifying with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Transport: By air, with no land route: La Paz is roughly 11,900 km from Chisinau in a straight line (our own calculation; from Santa Cruz about 11,600 km). The destination list of Chisinau airport (RMO; Wikipedia, 13.10.2026) shows no destination in South or Central America or the Caribbean; we have not checked direct flights in other sources, so the route and connections are set case by case. According to the UK guide, the transfer permit is issued to the airline and the funeral director and must include a basic flight itinerary; the documents are checked at the airport by international health, customs and the anti-narcotics department.
Timing: We confirm the timeline once we have the documents. The UK guide warns that Bolivian procedures are 'extremely bureaucratic' and that repatriation is not always possible straight away; access to information about a death can take many months. The same guide (2021) says local repatriation formalities normally take 8 to 10 days; this is not a promise and we have not checked it is still current.
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

A forensic doctor issues the medical death certificate; the death is then registered at the Registro Civil. For a violent or sudden death an autopsy is mandatory and a certificate of identification of the remains from the judicial police and the prosecutor is needed. The local funeral director gathers the documents.

Moldova also requires a mortuary passport. According to mfa.gov.md, the mortuary passport is issued by Moldovan embassies or consulates, and a foreign death certificate must be legalised by the authorities of the state that issued it (mfa.gov.md/ro/content/deces, 13.10.2026).

Documents needed

For shipping remains the UK guide lists the civil registry death certificate, the doctor's certificate stating the cause of death, an embalming ('formolisation') certificate and a certificate permitting transfer of the remains, plus an air waybill. All authorisation certificates must be legalised by the Ministry of Health and by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bolivia is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention (in force from 07.05.2018; the HCCH table shows no objection, 13.10.2026), as is Moldova. The 2021 guide predates that date, so the order of legalisation and apostille is checked case by case.

Specifics in Bolivia

Remains must be embalmed before repatriation. For transport the funeral director must certify that the coffin is hermetically sealed, with an inner metal casket and an outer wooden container, and contains no drugs, weapons or explosives.

Cremation is widely accepted, and per the guide the family can carry the urn with minimal bureaucracy; if that is not possible, the funeral director prepares the papers. For cremation the guide requires the Ministry of Health permit and a cremation certificate.

Frequently asked questions

Is embalming compulsory in Bolivia?

Yes, per the British Embassy guide (2021): remains must be embalmed before repatriation, with a 'formolisation' certificate from the Ministry of Health or the prosecutor's doctor.

What must the coffin be like?

The UK guide requires a special hermetically sealed coffin with an inner metal casket and an outer wooden container, plus a funeral director's statement that it meets the health rules. Airline requirements are checked separately.

What permit is needed to transfer remains?

A certificate of permission for the repatriation of ashes or remains, issued by the Epidemiology Department of the Ministry of Health to the airline and the funeral director, with a basic flight itinerary (UK guide, 2021).

Is an autopsy compulsory in Bolivia?

For a violent or sudden death, yes, under the Bolivian law described in the guide. For a death in hospital or after an illness lasting more than 24 hours it is not compulsory.

Other countries

Request

If the form does not send, please write to us in a messenger:

WhatsApp Viber Telegram

Repatriation from Bolivia to Moldova