Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about exhumation
The short version, in 30 seconds.
- Exhumation is governed by the Public Health (Reburial) Regulations of 1941. The permit is issued by a government physician of the Ministry of Health (משרד הבריאות).
- If the death was from natural causes and one year has passed, a permit to take the remains out of Israel can be granted. Doing so before one year is also possible, but comes with additional conditions.
- The application must be approved by the cemetery in Ukraine where the new burial will take place.
- Exhumation is carried out in the presence of a Ministry official. The body is placed in a lead-lined coffin, and the doctor seals it.
- Our exhumation service starts from €500 plus transport from Israel. No prepayment for transport.
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The 1941 regulations do not specify who exactly must submit the application. In practice, the family does this through a funeral service or a representative. We recommend collecting written consents from the closest relatives: spouse, children, and parents. This reduces the chance of a dispute or refusal.
The cemetery is managed by a burial service: a burial society (חברה קדישא, Chevra Kadisha), a local council, or a kibbutz. The grave will not be opened without them, so their consent is also required. We check directly with the specific cemetery to see what documents they require.
If the Family Lives in Ukraine
You do not have to travel to Israel. You arrange a power of attorney and the consents, and we pass them on to our partners in Israel. They submit the application and make arrangements with the cemetery. Ukrainian documents for Israeli authorities are translated into Hebrew. We check before submission whether notarization of the translation is required.
Law and Permits
The main legal document is the Public Health (Reburial) Regulations of 1941 (תקנות בריאות העם (קבורה-מחדש), 1941). They were issued under the Public Health Ordinance of 1940 (פקודת בריאות העם).
Regulation 3 prohibits removing a body from a grave and reburying it without a prior written permit from a government physician (רופא ממשלתי). Here, a government physician means a doctor from the Ministry of Health.
The application is submitted in writing to the Director of the Medical Service (מנהל). Under Regulation 4, the application must:
- state where the person is currently buried and where they are to be reburied;
- include confirmation from the burial authority (רשות הקבורה) of the new location. For us, this is the cemetery in Ukraine;
- include a medical certificate of the cause of death stating the deceased's name, age, citizenship, and occupation.
The Ministry may refuse for medical or other reasons (Regulation 5). The regulations do not say how long the decision takes. We check this with the District Health Office (לשכת הבריאות) responsible for the cemetery.
Regulation 3 states that the permit itself is issued free of charge. At the same time, Regulation 10 refers to the Public Health (Fees) Regulations of 1989. We will clarify whether a fee applies in your case and how much it is.
When It Is Allowed
The waiting period depends on the cause of death:
- death from natural causes and one year has passed since the date of death: a permit to take the body out of Israel or to rebury it within Israel can be granted (Regulation 5(2));
- less than a year has passed: the Director may grant written permission and set conditions. For example, consent from a cleric of the deceased's religion, approval from the Israel Police, and sanitary requirements (Regulation 5(5));
- death from plague, cholera, or yellow fever: the people carrying out the exhumation must spend 5 days in quarantine (Regulation 5(4)).
There are no prohibited seasons in the regulations. The cemetery may have its own restrictions on working days and hours. We check the schedule with the cemetery.
Urn or coffin. The 1941 regulations speak of a body (גופה). If your relative was buried as ashes, we check the procedure separately.
How Exhumation Works
Regulation 6 describes this quite precisely:
- the exhumation takes place in the presence of a Ministry of Health official;
- before transport, the body is placed in a hardwood coffin lined with lead, fastened with iron nails, and tightly closed;
- disinfectants are placed around the body and inside the coffin;
- the government physician inspects the body before closing, seals the coffin, and issues a certificate confirming that the requirements have been met.
For the journey to Ukraine, we prepare an airtight metal transport coffin that meets these requirements. Whether relatives can be present is decided by the cemetery and the Ministry official. We clarify this in advance.
Cremation After Exhumation
We found no regulations regarding the cremation of exhumed remains in Israel. Therefore, we plan for transport in a coffin, and we check any other option separately.
Documents for Transport to Ukraine
- exhumation permit from the government physician;
- doctor's certificate confirming the coffin was prepared and sealed according to the rules;
- Israeli death certificate;
- confirmation of the burial plot in Ukraine.
Israel and Ukraine are parties to the Hague Convention, so Israeli documents require an apostille. In Israel, apostilles are issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and registrars of the Magistrates' Courts (בית משפט שלום), depending on the document. We check which authority will apostille your documents. We handle the translation into Ukrainian.
The Embassy of Ukraine in Israel is located in Tel Aviv. Its consular section can advise which certificates are needed to bring the remains into the country. We provide a complete list of documents to every family.
Reburial in Ukraine
A permit is also required in Ukraine. Reburial is authorized by the executive committee of the local council at the new burial location. We handle this part together with the family.
The Israeli application requires confirmation from the cemetery of the new burial. So start with this: make arrangements with the cemetery in Ukraine and get a certificate. Upon arrival, we take the coffin to the cemetery or a morgue, as agreed. Read about transport on the repatriation of a body from Israel page.
How Much It Costs
We found no official state tariffs for exhumation. The costs consist of:
- the Ministry of Health fee, if charged;
- work by the cemetery or burial society;
- the lead-lined coffin and disinfection;
- apostille, translations, and transport.
We request cemetery prices specifically for your case.
Our price: exhumation starts from €500 plus the cost of transport (repatriation) from Israel. We calculate the exact amount for your situation. No prepayment for transport: payment is made after handover according to the contract.
How Long It Takes: From the Call to the Funeral
| Stage | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Consultation, family consents, power of attorney | 1–3 weeks |
| Confirmation from the cemetery in Ukraine | 1–2 weeks |
| Application and permit from the Ministry of Health | several weeks |
| Scheduling with the cemetery and exhumation | per cemetery schedule |
| Apostille, export documents | 1–2 weeks |
| Transport to Ukraine | a few days |
| Executive committee permit and burial | 1–3 weeks |
If less than a year has passed since the death, the timeframe may be longer. Everything depends on the Ministry and the cemetery. We will keep you updated on the progress at every stage.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to exhume a body in Israel and transport it to Ukraine?
Yes. The 1941 regulations directly provide for a permit to take remains out of Israel. The decision rests with the Ministry of Health, and there is no guarantee.
How much time must pass after the burial?
If the death was from natural causes, a permit can be granted one year after the date of death. Earlier is also possible, but subject to conditions set by the Ministry.
Who issues the exhumation permit in Israel?
A government physician of the Ministry of Health. The consent of the cemetery where the person is buried is also required.
What kind of coffin is needed for transport?
According to the rules: made of hardwood, lined with lead, and tightly closed. A Ministry doctor seals it and issues a certificate.
Do we need to travel to Israel?
No. A power of attorney and consents from relatives are enough. Our partners submit the application.
How much does exhumation cost in Israel?
There are no official tariffs; the price depends on the cemetery. Our work starts from €500 plus transport.
What to Do Now
- Call us and tell us where the person is buried: city, cemetery, and date of death.
- Find the death certificate and the medical certificate of the cause of death.
- Agree within the family on who will submit the application, and collect written consents.
- Arrange a plot with the cemetery in Ukraine. We will take care of the rest.
Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about exhumation
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