Repatriation from Greece to Moldova

Procedure

Both Greece and the Republic of Moldova are parties to the Strasbourg Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses (1973). The body therefore travels with a mortuary passport (laissez-passer) issued in Greece. Under the agreement, the country of destination may not ask for other documents beyond the laissez-passer and the usual transport documents.

According to Greece's declaration under the agreement, the laissez-passer is issued by the health directorates and departments of the regional authorities. We confirm the responsible office for your region at the start.

The Greek alphabet and the islands

The official language of Greece is Greek, and local documents, including the death certificate, are written in the Greek alphabet. Under the Strasbourg Agreement the laissez-passer is completed in Greek and in one of the official languages of the Council of Europe, English or French. We check that the name in the Greek documents is spelled the same way as in the passport of the deceased, so that the papers do not contradict each other.

Greece has more than 200 inhabited islands. If the death occurred on one of them, the route and the place where the transport starts are set once we know the island and the locality, and the documents are obtained from the authority competent for that place.

Greece is a party to the Apostille Convention (in force from 18.05.1985), and the Republic of Moldova since 16.03.2007. If a document needs an apostille, we obtain it and prepare the translation.

According to Greece's declaration, the laissez-passer is issued by the health directorates of the prefectures. With the family we choose the means of transport, plane or car, and the place of handover in Moldova, depending on the locality, the documents and the route. We set the timing once we have received the documents.