Call +380 77 882 77 77Inquire about exhumation
In 30 seconds.
- The rules for exhumation (Enterdigung) are set by the burial law of each federal state. In Vienna, this is the Wiener Leichen- und Bestattungsgesetz; in Lower Austria, the NÖ Bestattungsgesetz 2007.
- In Vienna, if more than six months have passed since the death, exhumation does not require a permit, only a notification to the city administration (Magistrat). If there is no prohibition within three days of submitting the complete document package, the work can proceed.
- In Lower Austria, a permit from the municipality (Gemeinde) is required, and a coffin can only be raised within the first 10 years after burial for important reasons.
- To transport a body abroad, a corpse transit permit (Leichenpass) and a tightly sealed coffin with a leak-proof liner are required.
- Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus the cost of transportation from Austria. We calculate the exact amount for your specific situation.
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The key person here is the holder of the grave rights. In Vienna, this is the right to the burial plot (Grabstellenrecht), a private right of use that is inherited after the holder's death. Vienna law requires that the consent of the cemetery operator (Rechtsträger der Bestattungsanlage) be attached to the exhumation application or notification.
In Lower Austria, the law states directly: the application is submitted by the person who holds the right to use the grave (benützungsberechtigte Person). Close relatives may also submit an application, but only with that person's consent. The application must state where the body or urn will be taken next.
If the family lives in Ukraine, traveling to Austria is usually not necessary. You sign a power of attorney, we prepare the application, and we translate the proof of kinship documents into German. If the cemetery requires the personal signature of the grave rights holder, we will let you know in advance.
Law and Permits
Burials in Austria are regulated by the federal states. Therefore, we first find out in which state and municipality the person is buried. Here are two examples.
Vienna
Wiener Leichen- und Bestattungsgesetz (WLBG), § 18:
- If less than six months have passed since the death, a permit from the city administration (Bewilligung des Magistrats) is required. It will not be granted if there is a specific risk of transmitting a disease to the people working on the exhumation or to others.
- If more than six months have passed, the city administration is notified of the exhumation in writing (Anzeige). The exhumation is permitted if the city administration does not prohibit it within three days of receiving the notification and all documents.
- In both cases, the consent of the cemetery operator must be provided.
- The city administration may set sanitary conditions and appoint a time when a public health officer (Amtsarzt / amtsärztliches Organ) can attend.
Lower Austria
NÖ Bestattungsgesetz 2007, § 19:
- To exhume a body, remains, or an urn, a permit from the municipality (Bewilligung der Gemeinde) is required.
- The minimum resting period (Mindestruhefrist) is 10 years. Before it expires, a body is raised only for important reasons (wichtige Gründe). There is no such restriction for an urn.
- The exhumation of a body before the 10-year period expires may only be carried out by a licensed funeral home.
Other federal states have their own rules. We check with the local authority for your municipality to find out who issues the permit and how long the decision takes. In Lower Austria, the law does not set a time limit for processing the application.
When It Is Permitted
- Vienna: the law does not set a minimum period after burial. The six-month mark only changes the procedure between a permit and a notification.
- Lower Austria: a coffin is raised earlier than 10 years only for important reasons. The strongest argument for a Ukrainian family is that the family lives in Ukraine and wants their loved one to rest at home. This should be supported by documents.
- Moving an urn is simpler. In Lower Austria, the minimum resting period does not apply to it, though a municipal permit is still required.
We found no prohibited months in the laws of Vienna and Lower Austria. Whether a specific cemetery carries out work in winter is something we check with the local authority. If the person died of an infectious disease, the authority may prohibit the exhumation or impose stricter conditions.
How the Exhumation Works
We coordinate the date and conditions with the cemetery and, if necessary, with the city administration. The grave is opened by cemetery workers or funeral home staff. A public health officer may be present if the authority decides so. The family does not need to attend.
The cemetery disposes of the old coffin itself. This is required by Vienna law (§ 31). The body is placed into a new coffin for transport. Vienna law (§ 14) requires a sturdy, tightly sealed coffin with a liner that does not let liquid through. We use a hermetically sealed transport coffin with a zinc liner.
Whether the remains can be cremated after exhumation so that an urn is brought to Ukraine depends on the condition of the remains and the rules of the crematorium. We verify this with the local authority in each individual case.
Documents for Transport to Ukraine
- exhumation permit or confirmation of notification from the city administration or municipality;
- consent of the cemetery operator;
- corpse transit permit (Leichenpass). In Vienna, it is issued by the city administration upon written notification from a licensed funeral home. It states the name, age, place, date, and cause of death, destination, type of coffin, and mode of transport (WLBG, § 16–17);
- death certificate (Sterbeurkunde) with an apostille. The apostille is affixed by the government of the federal state where the document was issued, for example, in Tyrol by the citizenship department of the state government;
- translation of documents into Ukrainian.
Before departure, we coordinate the document package with the Embassy of Ukraine in Austria. The general list can be found on the documents page.
Reburial in Ukraine
For a new burial in Ukraine, a permit from the executive body of the local council at the new burial place is required. In Lower Austria, the application must state where the body will be taken, so we arrange the plot in Ukraine at the same time as the Austrian documents. We explain how to get the permit and what the Ukrainian cemetery requires in our article on exhumation and reburial in Ukraine.
How Much Exhumation Costs in Austria
There is no single standard fee. Each cemetery sets its own prices in its fee schedule. For example: in the city of Wels (Upper Austria), the fee for 2026 is €506 for exhuming a body and €80 for exhuming an urn. In other cities, the amounts are different.
Paid separately:
- cemetery work according to its fee schedule;
- new coffin for transport;
- apostille, translations;
- dismantling of the headstone, if the family is taking it.
Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus the cost of transportation (repatriation) from Austria. We calculate the exact amount for your situation, including local fees. For transportation, we work without advance payment: payment is made after handover according to the contract.
How Long It Takes
| Stage | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Consultation, identifying the state, cemetery, and grave rights holder | 1–3 days |
| Power of attorney, grave holder's consent, translations, plot in Ukraine | 1–3 weeks |
| Municipal permit or city administration notification in Vienna (3 days after full package) | from a few days to several weeks |
| Exhumation, new coffin, Leichenpass | 1–2 weeks |
| Transportation to Ukraine | a few days |
| Reburial in Ukraine | as agreed with the cemetery |
Timelines depend on the authorities and the cemetery, which are beyond our control. Waiting for the work date and the documents usually takes the longest.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to carry out an exhumation in Austria and transport the person to Ukraine?
Yes. You need the consent of the grave rights holder and the cemetery, a permit or notification to the authority under the state law, and a corpse transit permit (Leichenpass) for transport abroad.
Who grants the permit for exhumation in Austria?
It depends on the federal state. In Vienna, the city administration (Magistrat): a permit if less than six months have passed since the death, and a notification if more. In Lower Austria, the permit is granted by the municipality (Gemeinde).
How many years must pass after burial?
In Vienna, there is no minimum period. In Lower Austria, a coffin can only be raised within 10 years of burial for important reasons. This does not apply to urns.
How much does exhumation cost in Austria?
Each cemetery has its own fee schedule. For example, in Wels in 2026, it is €506 for a body and €80 for an urn. Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus transportation to Ukraine.
Can an urn be transported from Austria to Ukraine?
Yes. The procedure for an urn is usually simpler. Which permits you need depends on the federal state: in Lower Austria, for example, a municipal permit is required. The urn is transported in a suitable container.
Do relatives need to travel to Austria?
Usually not. We handle the paperwork by power of attorney and organize the exhumation and transportation ourselves.
What to Do Now
- Gather what you have: the name of the cemetery and city, grave number, grave documents, and death certificate.
- Find out who is registered as the user of the grave. If this person has already passed away, let us know: the right will need to be re-registered.
- Decide on the burial place in Ukraine.
- Call us. We will check the rules of your federal state and cemetery and prepare the documents. For full details on body repatriation, see our page on transporting a body from Austria.
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