Call +380 77 882 77 77Find out the cost of repatriation from China
In brief in 30 seconds.
- The death certificate is issued by a hospital or a police forensic medical examiner; to transport the body out of the country, the police also issue a separate death certificate for a foreign national.
- Ukrainian diplomatic missions in China: the Embassy in Beijing and the Consulates General in Shanghai and Guangzhou; each has an emergency hotline for the death of citizens.
- China has recognized the apostille since November 7, 2023, so legalization at the embassy is not required.
- The family usually does not need to fly to China: the process can be handled by power of attorney.
- The body is transported home only embalmed and in a hermetically sealed coffin; transit takes from 72 hours.
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If the death occurred in a hospital, the hospital prepares the document and notifies the police. If it happened at home, in a hotel, or on the street, the police and a forensic medical examiner attend the scene. The police notify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, which then informs the consulate of the country of citizenship.
The family should immediately do three things:
- call the emergency hotline of the Embassy or Consulate General of Ukraine (numbers below);
- find the deceased's insurance policy and the contract with their employer or university;
- decide who in the family will be the main point of contact and handle the case.
We work with partners in China, so we can take over communication with the hospital, police, and funeral home within the first 24 hours.
What documents China issues
Death certificate
If the death is from natural causes, the certificate is issued by a hospital at the county level or above. If the death is unnatural (accident, violence), the certificate is issued by a police forensic medical examiner.
Death certificate for a foreign national
So that the body can be transported abroad, the family or an authorized organization reports the death to the Exit and Entry Administration of the police and obtains a death certificate for a foreign national (外国人死亡证). This is how the Shanghai municipal government describes the procedure; in other cities the process is similar, though we verify the exact details locally.
Documents for repatriation
Before transport, the body is embalmed, and an organization licensed for the international transport of human remains issues an embalming certificate (防腐证明) and acoffining certificate (入殓证明). The body is declared to customs, and after a quarantine inspection, a sanitary and quarantine control certificate is issued. There is no longer a separate export permit. Read more about this on the page repatriation of remains from China.
Consulate of Ukraine in China
Ukraine has three diplomatic missions in China:
| Mission | City | Role in case of death |
|---|---|---|
| Embassy of Ukraine | Beijing | registers the death, certifies documents for the border |
| Consulate General | Shanghai | the same, emergency hotline for the death of citizens |
| Consulate General | Guangzhou | the same for its consular district |
The consul registers the death of a citizen of Ukraine and issues a Ukrainian death certificate; the first copy is issued without a consular fee. For the Ukrainian border, the consulate certifies a statement confirming there are no unauthorized items inside the body or coffin. Learn more: consulate assistance when a death occurs abroad.
Apostille and translation
Since November 7, 2023, China has been a party to the Apostille Convention. Ukraine raised no objections, so a Chinese death document is certified with an apostille from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC and translated into Ukrainian. Consular legalization, which was required previously, is no longer needed.
If the family cannot travel
Most steps can be handled from Ukraine. Relatives execute a power of attorney before a notary in Ukraine, have it apostilled, and have it translated into Chinese. We check right away whether a relative's personal signature is required at any specific institution. Read more: if the family cannot travel.
Body or urn
The family chooses whether to transport the body or arrange cremation in China and bring home the urn. We organize both options, including transport to Ukraine. About cremation: cremation in China and transporting the urn.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the death certificate for a Ukrainian in China?
A hospital at the county level or above if the death is natural, or a police forensic medical examiner if it is unnatural. To transport the body out of the country, the police also issue a death certificate for a foreign national.
Who should I call if someone died in China?
Call the emergency hotline of the Embassy of Ukraine in Beijing or the Consulate General in Shanghai; the numbers are listed on the "China" page of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. And call us: +380 77 882 77 77, available 24/7.
Do Chinese documents need consular legalization?
No. Since November 7, 2023, an apostille and a translation into Ukrainian are sufficient.
Can the family handle the process from Ukraine?
Yes, using a power of attorney with an apostille and a Chinese translation. We collect the documents together with our partners in China.
How long does it take to transport a body from China?
From 72 hours. Waiting for documents takes the longest, so we submit applications in parallel.
What to do now
- Call us or the consulate's emergency hotline.
- Send a photo of the deceased's passport and insurance policy (if available) via messenger.
- Tell us the city in China and the city in Ukraine. The price is fixed in the contract.
Call +380 77 882 77 77Find out the cost of repatriation from China
Sources
- Shanghai Municipal Government: Handling post-death affairs for foreign nationals in Shanghai, 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine: "China" page (embassy, consulates general, hotlines)
- HCCH: Apostille Convention status table
- HCCH: Declarations and reservations regarding China
- AQSIQ Order No. 189 (2017), now enforced by the General Administration of Customs of the PRC, Articles 6, 7, 20
- Frontier Health and Quarantine Law of the PRC, 2024 revision, Article 21
- Customs Code of Ukraine, Article 365
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