Issuing authority and document: Kuwait is not among the 24 states listed for the Strasbourg Agreement (1973) in the Dutch treaty database, consulted on 13.10.2026, so Kuwaiti rules apply. According to the British guide (updated 21.10.2024), the death is registered at the nearest Central Registry, the repatriation certificate is issued by the Preventive Medicine Unit at Al-Sabah Hospital, and the permit is given by the police. The mission list on mfa.gov.md places Kuwait under the Moldovan embassies in Doha and in Ankara.
Transport: From Kuwait the transport is by air, in a sealed container with the airway bill and the Preventive Medicine letter attached to the outside. The list of flights from Chisinau that we consulted (Wikipedia, destinations table, consulted 13.10.2026) shows no direct flights to Kuwait; the route with a connection and the airline that carries remains we confirm separately.
Timing: Kuwaiti government offices are closed on Fridays, Saturdays and public holidays, with no emergency service (British guide, 2024). If a post-mortem is needed, the final report can take weeks, and burial is not permitted after sunset. We confirm the timeline once we have the documents.
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

According to the British guide, the death is registered at the nearest Central Registry for Births and Deaths; some areas have local offices (Hawalli, Fahaheel). The police issue the repatriation permit, and the prosecutor's office may give permission to release the body. If a post-mortem is needed, it is done by the General Department of Criminal Evidence.

The day before shipment the body is moved to the Al-Sabah Hospital mortuary. The Preventive Medicine Unit then issues the repatriation certificate and the transfer authorisation, and the cargo airline, the airport police and the health office must be informed of the shipment. The guide says the employer or sponsor, or the insurer, usually appoints a local agent.

Required documents

Usually: the death notification, the original death certificate attested by the Kuwaiti Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the repatriation certificate, the transfer authorisation, the airway bill and copies of the passport and civil ID. The British guide asks for an English translation; for Moldova we agree the translation requirements with the mission. Kuwait is not in the Hague Apostille Convention table (HCCH, 13.10.2026) nor in the Moldovan foreign ministry's list of recognised documents (02.02.2017), so consular legalisation is likely.

Specifics

The British guide states that embalming and cremation are not available in Kuwait, as they go against Islamic custom and law. The body travels in a sealed container resembling a coffin, which the legal representative buys from a coffin maker and which is delivered to the mortuary; the deceased's name is written in Arabic and English. The guide notes that a final post-mortem report takes about 3 to 4 weeks, so we promise no deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

Can the body be embalmed or cremated in Kuwait?

No. The British guide (2024) says neither is available, as they go against Islamic custom and law.

What does the body travel in?

In a sealed container resembling a coffin, with the airway bill and the Preventive Medicine letter attached; its size and weight are given to the airline.

Which Moldovan mission serves Kuwait?

The list on mfa.gov.md (13.10.2026) shows Kuwait under both the embassy in Doha and the embassy in Ankara. Which one issues the mortuary passport in your case we confirm at the start.

What happens to organs retained after the post-mortem?

According to the British guide, the body can be released before the reports are completed but without the retained organs; if these are not claimed within 3 months of the post-mortem, they are buried in Kuwait. That is why we deal with the papers from the first days.

Other countries

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Repatriation from Kuwait to Moldova