Repatriation from Japan to Moldova

Japan is far away, and the local procedure has its own rules: the notification of death at the city office, a minimum period before cremation, then the documents for air transport. We help you take it in order.

Issuing authority and document: Japan 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 Japanese rules and the requirements of the Republic of Moldova apply. The death is notified to the city office of the place of death, on the basis of the medical certificate or a police certificate, and the permit for burial or cremation is issued by the head of the municipality. The mortuary passport is issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Tokyo.
Transport: From Japan the transport is by air. The handover point in Moldova and the transport option are agreed together with the family, depending on the departure city, the documents and the flights available.
Timing: We confirm the timeline once we have the documents. It depends on the local city office, the preparation of the body, the embassy and the route; Japanese law also requires a minimum period between death and cremation.
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 death is notified to the city office (in Japan, the "shibō todoke"), with the medical death certificate or, if the death happened outside a hospital or unexpectedly, with a police certificate. On the basis of the notification a certified copy can be obtained, which is needed for repatriation.

Japanese law forbids burial or cremation before a minimum period has passed after death, and the permit is issued by the head of the city or town where the death occurred. According to the Australian Embassy's guidance, Japan has no special laws on exporting remains; the practical requirements come from the airline and from the country of destination.

Required documents

Usually needed: a certified copy of the notification of death, the embalming certificate from the funeral director, a certificate that the coffin meets IATA rules and a certificate that the coffin holds only the remains (the list from the British guidance for Japan). For ashes, the certificate of cremation is needed in addition. Japan is a party to the 1961 Hague Convention (in force since 27 July 1970) and the Republic of Moldova has not objected; Japanese documents are, as a rule, apostilled at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. The translation and the exact list are agreed with the embassy.

Specifics of Japan

In Japan cremation is the norm, and local burial is rare. Japanese cremation leaves larger pieces of bone rather than fine ash; fine ash can be requested separately.

The Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in Tokyo receives visitors by appointment, by e-mail or by phone, so we start contact with it in good time. Japanese law requires a minimum period before cremation and, according to the Australian Embassy's guidance, before embalming, so the body cannot be prepared immediately.

Frequently asked questions

Who issues the permit for cremation or burial in Japan?

The head of the city or town where the death occurred, once the notification of death has been received. Without this permit cremation does not take place.

Is embalming required for transport?

Consular guidance and Japanese funeral directors list the embalming certificate in the usual set of documents for moving a body abroad. If embalming is not possible, the family can choose cremation and the transport of an urn, with the consent of the receiving side. We agree the final list with the embassy.

Can an urn with ashes be brought from Japan to Moldova?

Yes. On leaving Japan the certificate of cremation and a copy of the notification of death are shown; the airline has its own requirements for an urn, which we learn before the flight. The rules for ashes differ from those for a body.

Do we have to go to the Moldovan embassy in Tokyo ourselves?

The embassy works by appointment. We prepare the documents and coordinate the appointment; some steps may need the presence or signature of a relative, and we will tell you exactly which ones.

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