Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about exhumation
In 30 seconds.
- Exhumation at the family's request is authorized by the college of the mayor and aldermen of the commune (collège échevinal), after consulting the medical inspector (médecin-inspecteur).
- A doctor and a representative of the commune or police are present during the exhumation, and an official report is drawn up.
- To transport an exhumed body to another location, especially abroad, a transport permit is required from the medical inspector of the Health Directorate (Direction de la santé).
- If the person died of an epidemic infectious disease, exhumation is only possible two years after death.
- Our exhumation costs from €500 plus the cost of transport from Luxembourg. We calculate the exact amount for your specific situation.
Oleg Zdendiak, ownerpersonally responsible for every case 5,0 129 reviews on Google
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
The 1913 decree speaks of exhumations "at the request of private individuals." This means the family submits the application. In practice, this is primarily the holder of the grave concession (concessionnaire). The cemetery regulations of the City of Luxembourg remind us that a concession does not grant ownership of the land, only the right of burial. The concession holder, their spouse, children, and parents can be buried in a concession grave, as well as other close relatives with the holder's consent.
If the family is in Ukraine, there is usually no need to travel in person. We prepare the application, and you sign a power of attorney. If the commune asks to confirm the family relationship, certificates translated into French will be needed. We check the exact list of requirements with the commune where the person is buried.
The Law and Permits
The main document is the Grand-Ducal Decree of 14 February 1913 regulating the transport of corpses (arrêté grand-ducal réglant le transport des cadavres), in its consolidated version effective from 22.05.2022. What matters for us in this decree:
- Article 11. Exhumation at the request of the family is authorized by the college of the mayor and aldermen (collège échevinal). Before making a decision, it consults the medical inspector and sets the conditions. A medical professional (homme de l'art) and a member of the college or a police commissioner are appointed to oversee compliance with the conditions. The professional draws up an official report.
- Article 2. A permit to transport a body across the border, as well as to bury an exhumed body in another cemetery, is issued by the medical inspector of the Health Directorate.
- Article 12. This permit is granted only after a certificate from the doctor who attended the exhumation confirms that the coffin has been placed in a proper outer casing, sanitary conditions have been met, and there are no obstacles to transport.
Each commune also has its own cemetery regulations. For example, in the City of Luxembourg (Ville de Luxembourg), the date and time of the exhumation are set by the municipal administration, which also establishes requirements for decency and sanitation. In Wiltz, the regulations additionally require notifying the chief medical inspector of the sanitary inspection about the date.
The texts do not specify how long the commune takes to review the application. We clarify this with the local authority.
When It Is Possible
Time After Burial
The decree does not set a general minimum waiting period for exhumation. Exception: if death was caused by an epidemic or pandemic infectious disease, exhumation and transport are only possible two years after the date of death.
Concession Period
In the City of Luxembourg, concessions are granted for 15 or 30 years with the right of renewal. A grave without a concession can be reused by the commune after five years. Therefore, it is best not to delay the exhumation of a body from a non-concession grave.
Season
We found no seasonal bans in the decree or in the reviewed municipal regulations. The commune sets the date, and the medical inspector may impose specific conditions.
Urn or Coffin
It is simpler with an urn. For transporting ashes, the regulations of the City of Luxembourg do not even require a hearse. We clarify the exact procedure for releasing an urn from a grave or columbarium directly with the commune.
How the Exhumation Takes Place
Cemetery workers do the digging. In the City of Luxembourg, burial work is carried out by municipal gravediggers (fossoyeurs communaux). A doctor and a representative of the commune or police are present. Relatives generally do not take part. Whether you can attend is something we check with the commune.
The regulations of the City of Luxembourg state directly: if the coffin is intact, it is not opened. If it is damaged, the remains are transferred to another coffin or an ossuary box. For transport to Ukraine, we use a hermetically sealed transport coffin with a zinc liner. The current version of the 1913 decree also requires a metal coffin inside a wooden one when the body is transported by rail.
Another option is to cremate the remains after exhumation and transport the urn. We clarify the procedure for cremating exhumed remains on a case-by-case basis. We can calculate the costs for both options.
Documents for Transport to Ukraine
Usually required:
- commune permit for exhumation;
- exhumation report and certificate from the attending doctor;
- transport permit from the medical inspector of the Health Directorate;
- death certificate (acte de décès) from the commune where the person died.
Luxembourg documents require an apostille. It is issued by the legalization office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the application can be submitted via MyGuichet.lu. Then we translate the documents into Ukrainian. Ukraine is represented in Luxembourg by the Embassy of Ukraine in Belgium (concurrently). We coordinate the accompanying border documents with the embassy for each case. See the general list on the documents page.
Reburial in Ukraine
A new burial in Ukraine also requires a permit. It is issued by the executive body of the local council at the place of the new burial. Submit the Ukrainian part in parallel with the Luxembourg one so the cemetery plot is ready and waiting.
How Much Exhumation Costs in Luxembourg
Each commune sets its own exhumation fee in its tariff regulations. Two official examples:
| Commune | Exhumation fee | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Clervaux | €1,500 | Municipal council decision of 15.09.2025 |
| Berdorf | €400 | Tariffs from 01.01.2023 |
The difference is nearly fourfold, so we check your commune's price individually. We did not find a specific exhumation tariff for the City of Luxembourg. Added to the commune fee are: the doctor's work, a new coffin, apostille, translations, and headstone dismantling.
Our exhumation costs from €500 plus the cost of transport (repatriation) from Luxembourg. We calculate the exact amount for your situation. There is no prepayment for transport; payment is made after handover according to the contract.
How Long It Takes
| Stage | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Consultation, checking commune, concession, year of burial | 1–3 days |
| Power of attorney, family documents | 1–2 weeks |
| Commune college decision, medical inspector's opinion | checked with the commune, from several weeks |
| Exhumation, new coffin, transport permit, apostille | 1–2 weeks |
| Transport to Ukraine | a few days |
| Reburial in Ukraine | by arrangement with the cemetery |
Timelines depend on official authorities beyond our control.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the exhumation permit in Luxembourg?
The college of the mayor and aldermen of the commune where the person is buried, following the opinion of the medical inspector. This is stated in Article 11 of the decree of 14 February 1913.
Who authorizes the transport of the body to Ukraine?
The medical inspector of the Health Directorate. They issue the cross-border transport permit, but only after receiving a certificate from the doctor who attended the exhumation.
How many years after burial can an exhumation be done?
The law sets no general waiting period. If the cause of death was an epidemic infectious disease, there is a two-year waiting period from the date of death.
How much does exhumation cost in Luxembourg?
It depends on the commune: in Clervaux the fee is €1,500, in Berdorf it is €400. Our exhumation costs from €500 plus transport to Ukraine.
Will the coffin be opened during exhumation?
In the City of Luxembourg, an intact coffin is not opened. If it is damaged, the remains are transferred to a new coffin.
Do relatives need to travel to Luxembourg?
Usually no, we work by power of attorney. If the commune requires a personal signature, we will let you know in advance.
What to Do Now
- Gather what you have: the name of the commune and cemetery, grave number, concession documents, and death certificate.
- Find out whose name the concession is in and whether anyone else is buried in the grave.
- Call us. We will check your commune's rules, submit the application, and explain every step. For details on body transport, see the body transport from Luxembourg page.
We work 24/7, and are also available on Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
Sources
- Legilux: Arrêté grand-ducal du 14 février 1913 réglant le transport des cadavres, version consolidée applicable au 22/05/2022
- Legilux: Règlement grand-ducal du 6 mai 2022 modifiant l'arrêté grand-ducal du 14 février 1913
- Ville de Luxembourg: Règlement concernant les cimetières (version adaptée 2024), art. 5, 10–14, 34–37
- Commune de Wiltz: Cimetières, règlement d'utilisation (09.06.2016), art. 34–36
- Commune de Clervaux: Règlement-taxe relatif aux cimetières, séance du 15.09.2025
- Commune de Berdorf: Taxes à percevoir conformément au règlement sur les cimetières (RC-2023-01)
- Guichet.lu: Légalisation des actes publics au Luxembourg (apostille)
- Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Belgium and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (concurrently)
We will help you find out who can pay
Leave your number. We will call you back and tell you what to check about payment.