Repatriation from Mongolia to Moldova

Mongolia is very far away, and its local procedure has steps you do not meet everywhere: an autopsy for foreign nationals, a certificate in Mongolian only, a visa that must be cancelled. We take you through them in order.

Issuing authority and document: Mongolia is not a party to the Strasbourg Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses (public list, checked 13.10.2026), so Mongolian rules and the requirements of the Republic of Moldova apply. According to the UK government guidance (published 11.08.2023), the death certificate is issued by the hospital, in Mongolian. The mortuary passport is issued by a Moldovan embassy or consulate; which mission serves Mongolia we check before the documents are submitted.
Transport: From Mongolia the remains or ashes travel to Moldova by air; we do not assume a direct flight to Chișinău (RMO), because we found no source confirming one. The route and the handover point in Moldova are agreed with the family once the documents are ready.
Timing: We confirm the timeline once we have the documents. In Mongolia it depends first of all on the autopsy: the UK guidance says the report can take up to a month, and the body is not released in the meantime; then come embalming, visa cancellation and the flight connection.
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 UK government guidance (published 11.08.2023, written for British families), the death certificate is issued by the hospital, in Mongolian only, and must state the cause of death. If the cause is unclear but the death does not appear violent, the police may issue a certificate giving "sudden death".

The guidance says an autopsy is required whenever a foreign national dies in Mongolia, and it is carried out at the National Institute of Forensic Science. The approval of the next of kin is needed, in person or by proxy; if the relative is abroad, a signed letter of authorisation naming the proxy is used. Since the guidance is written for British families, we confirm the steps for the Moldovan side with the embassy.

Required documents

Usually needed: the Mongolian death certificate with a translation, the embalming certificate (the UK guidance calls it required for repatriating a body), the identity document of the deceased and the documents of the person applying. The deceased's visa must be cancelled with the Mongolian immigration authority, and only then, the guidance says, can the remains be released.

Mongolia is a party to the 1961 Hague Convention (in force since 31.12.2009 according to the HCCH table, checked 13.10.2026), and the Republic of Moldova is not among the states that objected to its accession; Mongolian documents are therefore apostilled by the competent Mongolian authority. We have not verified which authority that is and will confirm it before sending anything.

Specifics of Mongolia

The UK guidance says burial cannot be performed in Mongolia; local cremation is the only local option, while the whole body can be repatriated for burial or cremation in another country. Ashes can be brought home after cremation in Mongolia.

A practical point: if the family chooses to fly the urn, some airlines may issue a certificate allowing ashes to be carried on board, so the airline's conditions are checked in advance. If relatives cannot travel, an authorised person can collect the documents, and we tell you about that early too.

Frequently asked questions

Why is an autopsy mandatory in Mongolia?

According to the UK government guidance (11.08.2023), an autopsy is required whenever a foreign national dies in Mongolia. Its result affects how soon the body is released, so we do not promise a date until we know what is required in your case.

Can the deceased be buried in Mongolia?

The guidance says burial in Mongolia is not possible. The family can choose local cremation or the transport of the body to another country; we explain both options.

Does the Mongolian death certificate need translating?

The certificate is issued in Mongolian only, so a translation will usually be needed for Moldova. Who makes it and how the document is certified we decide once we have seen the document.

Can the ashes be brought to Moldova from Mongolia?

The guidance describes this option (cremation in Mongolia, then repatriation of the ashes) for British families; we confirm the conditions for Moldova with the embassy. The guidance mentions that some airlines may issue a certificate for carrying ashes on board; we find out the exact conditions from the chosen airline before the flight.

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