Documents for repatriation to Moldova
The documents usually needed to bring a loved one home to the Republic of Moldova. The exact list depends on the country of death and the consulate, and we confirm it for each case.
| Document | Issued by | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Death certificate | The civil registry in the country of death | As a rule, the original with an apostille. The death is registered in the country where it occurred. |
| Mortuary passport (laissez-passer) | The local authority in a country party to the Strasbourg Agreement, or an embassy or consulate of the Republic of Moldova | Accompanies the body on the journey. The Strasbourg Agreement does not cover ashes. |
| Passport of the deceased | The Republic of Moldova or the country of citizenship | As a rule, the original Moldovan passport. If the person held another citizenship, we check what is needed. |
| Funeral service certificates | The funeral service in the country of departure | Usually embalming, sealing of the coffin and the absence of infectious disease, depending on the country. |
| Permit to remove the body | The local authority in the country of death (town hall, prefecture, health service or coroner) | The authority depends on the country. In countries party to the Strasbourg Agreement, this is usually the laissez-passer itself. |
| Cremation certificate (for ashes) | The crematorium in the country of death | Needed with the death certificate when bringing home ashes. |
| Application, proof of kinship or power of attorney | A relative or the funeral service; a power of attorney — a notary or a Moldovan consulate | With a copy of the applicant's identity document. If someone other than a relative applies, a power of attorney is needed. |
Apostille, translation and registration in Moldova
Moldova has applied the Hague Apostille Convention since 16.03.2007, so documents from other member countries are confirmed with an apostille before translation. Documents from Romania are valid in Moldova without legalisation under the 1996 bilateral treaty.
Documents are translated into Romanian, the state language of Moldova. The foreign death record can be transcribed at an embassy or consulate of the Republic of Moldova, or later in Moldova through the Public Services Agency (ASP). According to the Public Services Agency (ASP, 2024), the transcription must be declared within 6 months of returning to Moldova or receiving the document.
On arrival in Moldova
As a rule, Moldovan customs asks for the original mortuary passport or death certificate and the transport documents when the coffin or urn arrives. We make sure they travel with it.