Issuing authority and document: Iran is not listed among the parties to the Strasbourg Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses (1973), in the public list we consulted on 13.10.2026, so Iranian rules and the requirements of the Republic of Moldova apply. According to the UK government guidance (published 19.12.2024), the death is registered with the local authorities, who issue the death certificate; the body is released with the permission of the Prosecutor's Office, and for the export permit the documents are presented to the local police. The mortuary passport is issued by a Moldovan embassy or consulate; the list of missions on mfa.gov.md (consulted 13.10.2026) shows that the embassy in Baku is also accredited to Iran, but the list is undated, so we confirm this before submission.
Transport: Tehran is about 2,250 km from Chișinău in a straight line (our own calculation from the capitals' coordinates). The UK guide requires a booked flight and an escort who goes with the coffin to airport customs, where it is sealed. The secondary list of Chișinău airport destinations shows no scheduled flights to Iran, so we do not assume a direct flight; the route is set after the documents and the airline's conditions.
Timing: We confirm the timeline once we have the documents. The UK guidance says repatriation cannot take place without the death certificate and that, if the cause of death is pending, the certificate may read "under investigation" and test results can take up to 3 months. For Moldova there are also the translation, the certification, the embassy and the flight.
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

The UK guidance (19.12.2024) says deaths outside hospital are referred to the police, who arrange an examination, and the body is released with the permission of the Prosecutor's Office. Bodies from anywhere in the country are taken to the Legal Medicine Organization (LMO) in Tehran, where documents are checked to decide whether an autopsy is needed; provincial hospitals usually provide only short-term cold storage.

An autopsy is mainly performed when the circumstances are suspicious, and it can be ordered without the family's consent. The final report is requested from the Prosecutor's Office. If the deceased held a resident visa, the employer or sponsor must cancel it with the Immigration Police.

Required documents

The UK guidance mentions the death certificate, the police report, the passport, an embalming certificate and a permit to transfer the remains. The Farsi death certificate needs an official translation and certification by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be used abroad. We confirm the list for Moldova with the embassy, since the source is written for British families.

Iran does not appear in the table of the 1961 Hague Convention (HCCH, checked 13.10.2026), so an apostille cannot be assumed. How Moldova accepts Iranian documents, in what order they are certified and where they are submitted we clarify with the embassy before sending anything.

Specifics of Iran

According to the guidance, embalming and preparation for repatriation are done only at the main government mortuary in Tehran, and airlines usually require it. It also notes that under Islamic law burial should take place as soon as possible after death; in a repatriation the local timing and the family's may not match.

The guidance says there are no cremation facilities in Iran. So an urn can come from Iran only if the cremation took place in another country; the option described is transport of the body. For those who held a resident visa, the guidance asks for it to be cancelled with the Immigration Police, and it is also presented at the airport.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the body pass through Tehran if the death occurred in another city?

According to the UK guidance, bodies from all over the country are taken to the central legal medicine mortuary in Tehran, and embalming for repatriation is done only there. We find the exact place and contacts from the documents and the embassy.

What does "under investigation" mean on a death certificate?

The guidance says that if the cause of death is not yet established, the certificate may carry this entry and test results can take up to 3 months. Without the certificate repatriation cannot go ahead; which entry Moldova accepts we confirm with the embassy.

Can cremation be done in Iran?

No. The UK guidance says there are no cremation facilities in Iran. The options left are transport of the body or a local burial, and the family chooses.

Does someone from the family have to travel to Iran?

According to the guidance, a relative or representative accompanies the coffin at airport customs for document checks and sealing. If you cannot travel, we discuss who can be the representative and what power of attorney is needed.

Other countries

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Repatriation from Iran to Moldova