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- Main rules: the Law on Cemeteries and Funeral Services (Legea nr. 102/2014) and the technical and sanitary norms approved by Government Decision 741/2016 (HG nr. 741/2016).
- 7 years after death, the bones can be moved at any time of the year with the approval of the cemetery owner.
- Under 7 years, exhumation (deshumare) is possible no earlier than one year after burial, only from November 1 to March 31, and with a sanitary permit from the Public Health Directorate (DSP).
- To take the remains abroad, the DSP issues a mortuary passport (paşaport pentru transport cadavru uman).
- Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus the cost of transportation (repatriation) from Romania. We calculate the exact amount based on your 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 Romania, a cemetery plot is usually granted under a concession (concesiune), and the holder of this right is recorded in the cemetery register. For example, the cemetery regulations of the Municipality of Timișoara require that the person responsible for the burial and the concession holder of the plot for the new burial be present during the exhumation. Supervision is carried out by the cemetery owner.
Therefore, the application is usually submitted by a close relative who organized the funeral or the holder of the right to the grave. If there are several such people, it is better to agree in advance.
If the family is in Ukraine, we act under a power of attorney. However, regulations require the presence of the family or their representative during the exhumation. Therefore, our representative will be on site with a power of attorney. We check in advance whether the specific cemetery accepts such a power of attorney and in what form.
Law and permits
What applies in Romania:
- Law 102/2014 on cemeteries, human crematoria, and funeral services (Legea nr. 102/2014). The technical and sanitary norms directly refer to its Article 9 regarding exhumation.
- Technical and sanitary norms regarding funeral services, burial, transportation, and exhumation (Normele tehnice şi sanitare, HG nr. 741/2016).
What the norms say (Article 29 in its 2016 wording):
- exhumation within 7 years of burial can be carried out after one year from burial, only from November 1 to March 31;
- this requires a sanitary permit (aviz sanitar) from the Public Health Directorate of the county or Bucharest (Direcţia de Sănătate Publică, DSP);
- there must be only one purpose: reburial in another location.
The Timișoara regulations add: after 7 years from death, bones can be exhumed at any time of the year without a DSP permit, but only with the approval of the cemetery owner.
How to apply
First, we contact the cemetery administration: this may be a municipality, a church, or a religious community. If less than 7 years have passed since the burial, we submit an application to the DSP of the county where the cemetery is located. The sanitary permit form (Annex 6 to the norms) lists both the old cemetery and the new one. Therefore, the burial place in Ukraine must be known in advance.
How long to wait
The norms do not set a processing time. The DSP permit has a validity period "from... to...", so the work must be carried out within this timeframe. If it is April and less than 7 years have passed, the exhumation will not be carried out until November.
When it is allowed
- Less than a year from burial: exhumation at the family's request is not carried out. The only exception is by decision of a prosecutor or a court.
- From one year to 7 years: only from November 1 to March 31 and with a DSP permit.
- After 7 years: at any time with the approval of the cemetery owner.
Infectious diseases. If a person died of an infection caused by a highly pathogenic agent, the norms prohibit exhumation earlier than 7 years after death.
Urn. We did not find separate rules for urns in the norms. We clarify the procedure for releasing an urn from a niche or grave directly with the cemetery.
How the exhumation is carried out
The exhumation is carried out by the cemetery administration or its operator. The family or their representative and a representative of the cemetery must be present. Everything is done according to sanitary rules, and the operation is recorded in the cemetery register.
The DSP sanitary permit form states: for transportation to another cemetery, the coffin is placed in a wooden box lined with sheet metal or tarred cardboard, and it is not opened during the work.
For transportation to Ukraine, we use a hermetically sealed transport coffin with a zinc liner. After 7 years, usually only bones are moved, requiring a smaller box.
Cremation after exhumation in Romania is possible where a crematorium is available. We check whether a specific crematorium will agree to this.
Documents for repatriation to Ukraine
- Approval of the cemetery owner for exhumation.
- Sanitary permit from the DSP (aviz sanitar), if less than 7 years have passed.
- Mortuary passport (paşaport pentru transport cadavru uman). It is issued by the DSP of the county where the exhumation took place, based on the death certificate and the embalming certificate (Article 32 of the norms). We check with the DSP how this applies to bones after 7 years.
- Death certificate with an apostille. In Romania, any prefecture (Instituţia Prefectului) places an apostille on civil status documents free of charge.
- Translation into Ukrainian and documents for the cemetery in Ukraine.
International transportation follows international conventions (Article 33 of the norms). We verify the list of documents for entry into Ukraine with the Embassy of Ukraine in Romania. Learn more on the documents page.
Reburial in Ukraine
In Ukraine, a new burial requires a cemetery plot and a decision from the local municipality. We explained how to arrange this in the article exhumation and reburial in Ukraine. We help with the plot and the funeral in your city.
How much it costs
There is no single tariff. The exhumation fee is approved by the cemetery owner: in municipal cemeteries, this is a decision of the local council. The apostille at the prefecture is free of charge. We check the fee for the DSP permit with the county directorate.
What is included in the expenses:
- exhumation and cemetery work;
- coffin or box for transportation;
- translations;
- transportation to Ukraine and the funeral.
Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus the cost of transportation (repatriation) from Romania. We calculate the exact amount for your situation, including local fees. For transportation, we work without prepayment: payment is made after handover under the contract.
How long it takes
| Stage | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Consultation, clarifying the cemetery, date of death, and burial | 1–3 days |
| Power of attorney, family documents, plot in Ukraine | 1–3 weeks |
| Cemetery approval, DSP permit (if under 7 years) | several weeks |
| Waiting for the November 1 – March 31 season (if under 7 years) | up to several months |
| Exhumation, coffin, mortuary passport, apostille | 1–2 weeks |
| Transportation to Ukraine | 1–3 days |
| Reburial in Ukraine | by arrangement with the cemetery |
Timelines depend on the authorities and the season, which are beyond our control.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to carry out an exhumation in Romania and transport the person to Ukraine?
Yes. After 7 years from the date of death, the approval of the cemetery owner is sufficient. Before that, a DSP permit is required, and the work is carried out only from November 1 to March 31.
Who issues the permit for exhumation in Romania?
The cemetery owner (municipality, church, or community) approves the work. If less than 7 years have passed, a sanitary permit from the county Public Health Directorate (DSP) is also required.
How many years must pass after the burial?
At least one year, and then only during the cold season with a DSP permit. After 7 years, there are no seasonal restrictions.
How much does exhumation cost in Romania?
The fee is set by each cemetery. Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus transportation to Ukraine. We will give you the exact amount after speaking with you.
Is it possible to transport an urn from Romania?
Yes. We clarify the procedure for releasing the urn with the cemetery, and we prepare the documents for transportation.
Do relatives need to travel to Romania?
Usually not. A family representative must be present during the exhumation, and this can be our staff member acting under a power of attorney.
What to do now
- Find what you have: the name of the cemetery and city, plot number, concession document, death certificate.
- Count how much time has passed since the death. This determines whether a DSP permit and waiting for the cold season are needed.
- Choose a burial place in Ukraine or ask us for help.
- Call us. We will check the cemetery rules and prepare the documents. Read more about transportation on the repatriation of remains from Romania page.
We are available 24/7, including on Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
Sources
- Normele tehnice şi sanitare, HG nr. 741/2016, art. 20, 29, 30, 32, 33, anexele 6, 7 (DSP Timiș)
- Primăria Municipiului Timișoara: Regulament de serviciu cimitire, pct. 5.5–5.6
- Legea nr. 102/2014 privind cimitirele, crematoriile umane şi serviciile funerare (legislatie.just.ro)
- Instituția Prefectului București: Apostilă
- Embassy of Ukraine in Romania
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