Repatriation from the Netherlands to Moldova
If a loved one has died in the Netherlands, we help bring them home to the Republic of Moldova, with the documents and the journey arranged for you.
- Issuing authority and document
- The Netherlands and Moldova are both parties to the Strasbourg Agreement. The laissez-passer (lijkenpas) is issued by the mayor of the municipality where the death occurred.
- Transport
- By air or by road. The mode of transport and the handover point in Moldova are agreed with the family case by case, depending on the city, the documents and the route.
- Timing
- We confirm the timeline once we have the documents. It depends on the local authorities, the Moldovan consulate where it is involved, and the transport available.
- Price
- Body (repatriation of remains): from 2 200 €
Ashes (urn): from 800 €
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
Both the Netherlands 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 the Netherlands. Under the agreement, the country of destination may not ask for other documents beyond the laissez-passer and the usual transport documents.
The laissez-passer (lijkenpas) is issued by the mayor (burgemeester) of the municipality where the death occurred. After a death that was not from natural causes, permission from the public prosecutor is usually needed first.
Required documents
Usually needed: the Dutch death certificate, the passport of the deceased, the documents of the applicant and the certificates of the funeral service. We confirm the list for your case.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the lijkenpas?
The mayor (burgemeester) of the municipality where the death occurred.
What is needed for ashes from the Netherlands?
According to the Dutch authorities, no special documents are required for ashes, but a translation of the death and cremation certificates is recommended. We confirm what the Moldovan side needs.
How long does repatriation from the Netherlands take?
We confirm the timeline once we have the documents.
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