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- Cemeteries in Azerbaijan are maintained and managed by municipalities (bələdiyyə). We start the conversation about exhumation with the municipality and the cemetery administration.
- Cemetery operations are governed by the Rules for Establishing and Managing Cemeteries (Qəbiristanlıqların salınması və idarə olunması Qaydaları), approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 522 of December 4, 2018.
- We check the timelines, required documents, and sanitary conditions for a family-requested exhumation with the municipality for the specific cemetery.
- An apostille on the death certificate is issued by the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan. The state fee for an apostille is 10 manats.
- Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus the cost of transportation from Azerbaijan. We calculate the exact amount for your specific situation.
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Translated from Ukrainian “You were always available, whatever the time…” — Віта Х. “Everything was organised with great dignity, professionally and with attention to every detail.” — Тамара Ю. “Every question was resolved promptly, with respect and attention to detail.” — Olha B. “…your support, compassion, sense of responsibility and professionalism meant a great deal to us.” — Ірина Б. “It all went quickly and professionally…” — Оля К. Who Can Request an Exhumation in Azerbaijan
In practice, a close relative submits the application. Exactly who has the right to request an exhumation and whether written consent from other relatives is required is not stated in the official sources we were able to access. We clarify this with the municipality before submitting the application.
If the family is in Ukraine, traveling to Azerbaijan is usually not necessary. You issue a power of attorney, we prepare the application, and we translate the kinship documents into Azerbaijani. If the municipality requests the personal presence of a relative, we will tell you right away.
Law and Permits
What is confirmed by official documents:
- Municipalities are in charge of cemeteries. Their powers include guarding, maintaining, managing, and relocating cemeteries, as well as organizing funeral services. This is recorded, for example, in the municipal charters published on the state legislation portal e-qanun.az.
- The current Rules for Establishing and Managing Cemeteries were approved by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 522 of December 4, 2018. They have been amended several times, including in 2022 and 2023.
- Every burial is entered into a unified register of burials. The Code of Administrative Offenses (Article 516-1) fines officials who fail to do this, and also penalizes violations of sanitary rules during burials.
What we have not confirmed through an official source: what specific document is used to issue an exhumation permit, who signs it, whether separate approval from the sanitary service is needed, and how long it takes to get a decision. We verify all of this with the municipality and the cemetery before applying. We will not promise timelines in advance.
What We Ask the Municipality
Before gathering documents, we ask the municipality and the cemetery administration specific questions:
- who submits the exhumation application, in what form, and whether a power of attorney from a relative in Ukraine is acceptable;
- whether written consent from other close relatives is required;
- whether the sanitary service must approve the exhumation and if its representative will be present on site;
- whether there is a minimum period after burial or seasonal restrictions;
- how much the cemetery work costs and how to pay for it;
- what document they will issue after the exhumation for the carrier and border control.
How We Identify the Grave
Since burial data is entered into a unified register, we cross-check the name, burial date, and plot number with the cemetery records. This is important if there are several graves on the plot or an old headstone without an inscription. A mistake here is costly, so we do not start work without this verification.
When It Is Allowed
We did not find a minimum period after burial, restricted months, or special conditions for cases of infectious diseases in official sources. We do not claim there are no restrictions: we check this with the local authority.
Another practical point is important. Many families in Azerbaijan follow religious traditions, and exhumation affects the feelings of other relatives and the community. Therefore, it is better to reach an agreement within the family and with the cemetery administration in advance so that the work goes smoothly.
We do not discuss cremation as an option for Azerbaijan until we find out whether it is possible in the specific case.
How the Exhumation Takes Place
We coordinate the date and conditions with the cemetery administration and the municipality. Cemetery staff or funeral service workers carry out the work on site. Whether a sanitary service representative must be present depends on the authority's decision, which we find out in advance. The family does not have to travel there.
For transportation to Ukraine, the body is placed in a new, hermetically sealed transport coffin with a zinc liner. It is sealed on site. We coordinate the carrier's specific requirements for the coffin (for air or road transport) before the day of the work.
We decide with the cemetery administration in advance what to do with the old coffin, fence, and headstone. If the family wants to take the headstone to Ukraine, we calculate its dismantling and transportation separately. After the work is done, the plot is tidied up according to the cemetery's rules. If the family wants a relative to be present at the exhumation, we schedule the date so that this person can arrive in time. If not, we do everything without your presence and keep you updated by phone or messenger.
Documents for Repatriation to Ukraine
The approximate package we prepare:
- a document from the municipality or cemetery permitting the exhumation;
- a death certificate with an apostille from the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan (state fee of 10 manats);
- a certificate of exhumation and the condition of the remains, if issued;
- cross-border transport documents required by the carrier and customs;
- translation of the documents into Ukrainian.
We verify the exact list for the border with the local authority and the Embassy of Ukraine in Azerbaijan before departure. A general list of documents is available 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 location is required. We prepare the plot in Ukraine in parallel with the paperwork in Azerbaijan so that the body does not have to wait. We explain how to get the permit and what the Ukrainian cemetery requires in the article exhumation and reburial in Ukraine.
How Much Exhumation Costs in Azerbaijan
We did not find an official state fee for exhumation. We find out the cost of the cemetery and funeral service work on the spot. The following are paid separately:
- work at the cemetery;
- a new coffin for transportation;
- apostille (10 manats state fee) and translations;
- dismantling the headstone, if the family is taking it.
Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus the cost of transportation (repatriation) from Azerbaijan. We calculate the exact amount for your situation, including local fees. For transportation, we work without advance payment: you pay after hand-over according to the contract.
How Long It Takes
| Stage | Estimated Time |
|---|---|
| Consultation, identifying the city, cemetery, and municipality | 1–3 days |
| Power of attorney, translations, burial plot in Ukraine | 1–3 weeks |
| Decision from the municipality and cemetery | from several weeks, no timeline is set in the sources known to us |
| Exhumation, new coffin, apostille, border documents | 1–2 weeks |
| Transportation to Ukraine | a few days |
| Reburial in Ukraine | as agreed with the cemetery |
Timelines depend on authorities we cannot control. In Azerbaijan, the least predictable stage is getting the exhumation approved.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to carry out an exhumation in Azerbaijan and transport the person to Ukraine?
Yes, it is possible. Cemeteries are managed by municipalities, so the approval process starts with them. We clarify the exact procedure for the specific cemetery.
Who issues the exhumation permit in Azerbaijan?
Cemeteries are under the jurisdiction of municipalities (bələdiyyə), and the rules for them were approved by the Cabinet of Ministers in 2018. We check with the municipality which specific document is used to issue the permit.
How many years must pass after the burial?
We did not find a minimum period in official sources. This does not mean there isn't one, so we verify this with the local authority.
Who puts the apostille on the death certificate?
The Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan. The state fee is 10 manats.
How much does exhumation cost in Azerbaijan?
There is no state tariff, or it is not published. We find out the price of the work at the cemetery. Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus transportation to Ukraine.
Do relatives need to travel to Azerbaijan?
Usually not. We handle the paperwork using a power of attorney. If an authority requests personal presence, we will let you know.
What to Do Now
- Gather what you have: the city, cemetery name, plot number, and death certificate.
- Discuss the decision with your family, especially with older relatives.
- Decide on the burial place in Ukraine.
- Call us. We will find out the procedure in your municipality and prepare the documents. Read more about transporting the body on the body repatriation from Azerbaijan page.
We work 24/7, and are also available on Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
Sources
- Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan amending Resolution No. 522 of 04.12.2018 "Qəbiristanlıqların salınması və idarə olunması Qaydaları" (nk.gov.az)
- Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers amending several resolutions, including No. 522 (Xalq qəzeti, official publication)
- Charter of the Nizami Municipality (Ganja): powers regarding cemeteries and funeral services (e-qanun.az)
- Code of Administrative Offenses of Azerbaijan, Art. 516-1 (e-qanun.az)
- HCCH: Azerbaijan, Competent Authority (Art. 6), apostille, 10 AZN
- Embassy of Ukraine in Azerbaijan
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