Call +380 77 882 77 77Inquire about exhumation
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- The rules are set by the canton, while the municipality (Gemeinde) sets the details in its cemetery regulations.
- The grave rest period (Ruhefrist, Grabesruhe) in the cantons of Zurich, Schwyz, and Graubünden for earth burials is 20 years.
- Exhumation is allowed only as an exception. In Zurich, the municipality grants the permit for extraordinary reasons; in Schwyz, the district medical officer; in Graubünden, the cantonal authority.
- To transport a body abroad, a corpse transit permit (Leichenpass) is required. In Zurich, it is issued by the district medical officer.
- Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus the cost of transport (repatriation) from Switzerland. 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 the canton of Graubünden, the regulation states directly: an exception can be granted upon a justified request from relatives (Angehörige) or the municipality. In other cantons, the application is also usually submitted by the next of kin or the person who holds the right to decide on the burial. If the grave is leased (Privatgrab, Mietgrab), we check with the municipality whether separate consent from the leaseholder is required.
If there are several close relatives in the family, it is best to get written consent from all of them before applying. The word "exception" is key here: a family dispute makes a refusal more likely.
If the family is in Ukraine, traveling to Switzerland is usually not necessary. We submit the application using a power of attorney. Documents proving kinship are translated into German, French, or Italian, depending on the canton. We confirm the exact list of documents with the municipality.
Law and permits
There is no unified federal law on exhumation. Here are examples from three cantons.
Canton of Zurich
Burial Ordinance (Bestattungsverordnung, BesV, 818.61):
- § 15: the rest period is 20 years, though the municipality may set a longer one;
- § 36: buried bodies may not be disinterred, but the municipality may allow an exception if there are extraordinary reasons (aussergewöhnliche Gründe);
- § 37: the municipality may allow the transfer of an urn to another cemetery for valid reasons (achtenswerte Gründe);
- § 11: the corpse transit permit (Leichenpass) is issued by district medical officers (Bezirksärztinnen und Bezirksärzte);
- § 45: the municipality may bill the family for the exhumation costs.
Canton of Schwyz
Burial and Cemetery Ordinance (575.111):
- § 19: the rest period is 20 years for an earth burial and 10 years for an urn; the municipality, with the approval of the district medical officer, may shorten it in individual cases;
- § 20: a permit from the district medical officer (Bezirksarzt) is required for exhumation.
Canton of Graubünden
Burial Ordinance (508.100):
- Art. 4: the rest period is at least 20 years;
- Art. 5: exhumation before the end of the rest period is prohibited, but the competent authority may grant an exception upon a justified request from relatives;
- Art. 6–7: an official medical officer (Amtsarzt) is involved before the exhumation, and the body may be transported only with their permission;
- Art. 8: the Leichenpass is issued by official medical officers.
How to apply
We write an application to the municipality where the cemetery is located, or to the authority designated by the canton. We explain the reasons and specify the exact destination for the body. For Ukrainians, the strongest arguments are the deceased's wish to rest at home, the fact that the family lives in Ukraine, and that there is no one in Switzerland to care for the grave.
How long it takes
The ordinances do not set a processing time limit. Expect several weeks, or longer if a medical officer's approval is needed.
When it is allowed
- In Zurich, the ban on disinterring the buried is stated without reference to the rest period: a municipal permit is always required, and only for extraordinary reasons.
- In Schwyz, any exhumation requires a permit from the district medical officer.
- In Graubünden, the ban applies until the end of the rest period (at least 20 years), with an exception possible before that.
We found no seasonal bans in these ordinances. There are no separate rules for infectious diseases either, as sanitary conditions are determined by the medical officer who approves the work.
Urns. In Zurich, the municipality allows the transfer of an urn for valid reasons, which is a lower threshold than for a body. In Schwyz, the rest period for an urn is 10 years. Transporting an urn to Ukraine is usually the simplest option.
How the exhumation is carried out
The work is carried out by the cemetery or its contractor. In Graubünden, an official medical officer must be involved before the exhumation to provide sanitary instructions. Transporting an exhumed body there is allowed only with their permission and according to their instructions.
For transport to Ukraine, we place the body into a new coffin. We use a hermetically sealed transport coffin with a zinc liner.
Cremation after exhumation is also possible, in which case an urn is brought to Ukraine. We check in advance whether a specific crematorium will agree to this.
Documents for repatriation to Ukraine
- Exhumation permit from the municipality or cantonal authority.
- Approval from a medical officer, if required by the canton.
- Corpse transit permit (Leichenpass). In Zurich, this is issued by district medical officers; in Graubünden, by official medical officers. For other cantons, we verify locally.
- Death certificate with an apostille. The apostille is issued by the cantonal authority of the canton where the document was issued, or by the Federal Chancellery for federal documents. In Zurich, this is the State Chancellery (Staatskanzlei), and the fee is 30 francs.
- Translation into Ukrainian and documents for the cemetery in Ukraine.
For an urn: in Zurich, the funeral office prepares the accompanying documents to send the urn abroad. We verify the list of documents required for entry into Ukraine with the Embassy of Ukraine in Switzerland. Read more on our 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 our article on exhumation and reburial in Ukraine. We help arrange the plot and the funeral in your city.
How much it costs
There is no standard fee. The price of exhumation is set by the municipality in its regulations. The canton of Zurich explicitly allows the municipality to bill these costs to the family. An apostille in Zurich costs 30 francs.
What is included in the costs:
- exhumation at the cemetery;
- a new coffin for transport;
- apostille and translations;
- transport to Ukraine and the funeral.
Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus the cost of transport (repatriation) from Switzerland. We calculate the exact amount for your situation, including local fees. For transport, we work without prepayment: payment is made after handover according to the contract.
How long the process takes
| Stage | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Consultation, identifying the canton, municipality, and cemetery | 1–3 days |
| Power of attorney, family documents, justification, plot in Ukraine | 1–3 weeks |
| Application review by the municipality or canton | several weeks |
| Medical officer's approval, exhumation, coffin, Leichenpass | 1–3 weeks |
| Apostille | 1–2 weeks |
| Transport to Ukraine | a few days |
| Reburial in Ukraine | as agreed with the cemetery |
Timelines depend on authorities beyond our control. The least predictable stage is the decision on granting an exception.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to exhume a body in Switzerland and transport it to Ukraine?
Yes, but only as an exception for compelling reasons. The decision is made by the municipality or cantonal authority, often with the approval of a medical officer.
Who grants the exhumation permit in Switzerland?
It depends on the canton. In Zurich, the municipality; in Schwyz, the district medical officer; in Graubünden, the competent cantonal authority with the involvement of an official medical officer.
How many years must pass after the burial?
The rest period in Zurich, Schwyz, and Graubünden is 20 years for an earth burial. However, an exhumation permit is required in any case, and it is hardest to obtain before the rest period ends.
How much does exhumation cost in Switzerland?
The fee is set by the municipality. Our exhumation service costs from €500 plus transport to Ukraine. We will give you the exact amount after speaking with you.
Can an urn be transported from Switzerland?
Yes. In Zurich, the municipality allows the transfer of an urn for valid reasons, which is simpler than for a body.
Do relatives need to travel to Switzerland?
Usually not. We submit the application using a power of attorney and prepare the documents ourselves.
What to do now
- Gather what you have: the name of the cemetery, municipality, and canton, the grave number, the grave lease agreement, and the death certificate.
- Calculate how much time has passed since the burial.
- Write down why the family wants to rebury the person in Ukraine, especially if the deceased spoke about this themselves.
- Call us. We will check the cantonal and municipal rules and prepare the application. For details on transport, see our page on body repatriation from Switzerland.
We are available 24/7, including on Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
Sources
- Kanton Zürich: Bestattungsverordnung (BesV) 818.61, §§ 11, 15, 36, 37, 45 (zhlex)
- Kanton Schwyz: Verordnung über das Bestattungs- und Friedhofwesen 575.111, §§ 19, 20 (sz.ch)
- Kanton Graubünden: Verordnung über das Bestattungswesen 508.100, Art. 4–8 (lexfind)
- Stadt Zürich: Reglement über das Bestattungswesen und die Friedhöfe (RBF), Art. 13, 15
- Kanton Zürich: Überbeglaubigungen & Apostillen (30 Franken)
- Bundeskanzlei: Legalisationen (kantonale Behörden und Bundeskanzlei)
- Embassy of Ukraine in Switzerland
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