Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about exhumation
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- The permit for exhumation to move remains to another cemetery is issued by the municipality (belediye) after a medical report from a municipal doctor. In a village, the permit is given by the local headman's office (muhtarlık) after a report from a healthcare worker.
- If the person died of cholera, plague, smallpox, or epidemic typhus, exhumation for relocation is prohibited for one year.
- Cremation after exhumation is not carried out in Turkey. You will have to transport a coffin.
- For departure, you need a road transit permit (cenaze yol izin belgesi) and a border crossing permit (cenazeler için geçiş izin belgesi), as well as a special hermetically sealed coffin.
- Our exhumation service starts at €500, plus transport from Turkey. No prepayment for transportation.
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Turkish laws do not provide a specific list of eligible applicants. In practice, the deceased's relatives submit the application to the municipality. The municipality may ask for proof of kinship and the death certificate. We check the exact requirements with the specific local authority.
If it is a family grave (aile mezarlığı), other relatives may also be buried there. In that case, it is best for the whole family to reach an agreement in advance.
If the Family Lives in Ukraine
You do not have to travel to Turkey. You issue a power of attorney, we pass the documents to our partners in Turkey, and they submit the application and communicate with the municipality and the cemetery. Documents from Ukraine are translated into Turkish. We verify whether the power of attorney requires notarization and an apostille before submitting the paperwork.
Law and Permits
The legal basis: the Public Health Law (Umumi Hıfzıssıhha Kanunu, No. 1593) and the Regulation on the Construction of Cemeteries and Funeral Transport and Burial Procedures (Mezarlık Yerlerinin İnşaası ile Cenaze Nakil ve Defin İşlemleri Hakkında Yönetmelik, Resmî Gazete 19.01.2010, No. 27467).
Article 227 of the law states: before the complete decomposition of the body, a grave may only be opened with a permit from the municipality, and a medical report must be obtained from healthcare professionals. Article 41 of the regulation clarifies:
- from a city cemetery, remains are removed for transfer to another cemetery with a permit from the municipality, following a positive report from a municipal doctor (belediye tabibi), or if there is none, a state doctor (hükümet tabibi);
- from a village cemetery, the permit is issued by the village headman's office (muhtarlık) following a report from a healthcare worker appointed by the district authorities.
It is illegal to open a grave without a permit. Article 300 of the law penalizes this with imprisonment from six months to one year.
The law does not set a deadline for reviewing the application. We do not promise specific timeframes until we check the cemetery and the documents.
When Exhumation Is Possible in Turkey
The law does not set a general minimum period after burial before an exhumation can take place. Article 223 of the law, which mentions 5 years, applies to something else: another person cannot be buried in the same grave before this period expires.
However, there are bans related to infections:
- those who died of cholera, plague, smallpox, or epidemic typhus (lekeli humma) cannot be removed from the grave for relocation until one year has passed (Article 41 of the regulation);
- those who died of cholera, plague, smallpox, anthrax, leprosy, or glanders cannot be transported to another city or abroad within one year after death (Article 36 of the regulation).
We found no seasonal bans in the law. We check locally to see if the specific municipality has its own restrictions.
How the Exhumation Takes Place
The exhumation is carried out by cemetery staff on the day approved by the municipality, in the presence of the medical professionals who issued the report. The cemetery decides whether the family is allowed to be present.
The remains are placed into a coffin for international transport. The requirements for it are detailed (Article 28 of the regulation):
- hermetically sealed, with absorbent material on the bottom;
- an outer wooden coffin at least 20 mm thick;
- an inner coffin made of lead or another hermetically sealed material that decomposes over time, soldered shut;
- the lid fastened with screws spaced no more than 20 cm apart, reinforced with metal straps on the outside.
We use a hermetically sealed metal transport coffin that meets these requirements.
Cremation is not an option in Turkey. Article 225 of the law explicitly forbids removing buried remains from a grave for cremation. Therefore, bringing back an urn instead of a coffin is not possible here.
Documents for Transport to Ukraine
Turkish Documents
According to Articles 32 and 34 of the regulation, international transport requires:
- a road transit permit (cenaze yol izin belgesi, Annex Ek-3). It is issued by the municipality's health department and confirms that the coffin is hermetically sealed;
- a border crossing permit for the body (cenazeler için geçiş izin belgesi, Annex Ek-1). It is completed by the Ministry of Health authorities;
- the documents are handed over to the border health service (Hudut ve Sahiller Sağlık Genel Müdürlüğü) at the departure airport or port.
Article 228 of the law also requires a copy of the death record and a doctor's confirmation that the transport poses no public health risk.
If the destination country is not party to international agreements on the transfer of corpses, the family must also submit the documents required by that country (Article 35). We check what applies to Ukraine for each specific case.
Consulate of Ukraine
Ukrainian consular offices in Turkey can advise on which documents are needed to bring the remains into Ukraine. We provide a complete list of documents to each family individually.
Apostille and Translation
Both Turkey and Ukraine are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. Apostilles on Turkish documents are placed by authorized Turkish authorities, which vary depending on the document type. We arrange the translations.
Reburial in Ukraine
Ukraine requires its own permit. Reburial is authorized by the executive committee of the local council at the new burial place. We arrange this permit together with the family.
It is best to arrange the cemetery plot in Ukraine in advance. To see how we transport the coffin, read our page on body repatriation from Turkey.
How Much It Costs
Cemetery service prices are set by the municipalities. In Istanbul, for example, grave relocation (nakl-i kabir) is listed as a separate item in the metropolitan municipality (İBB) fee schedule each year. We check the exact amount for the current year in the municipality's tariff schedule for your case.
Cemetery labor, medical reports, transport permits, translation, apostille, the transport coffin, and the transportation itself are paid separately.
Our price: exhumation starts at €500 plus the cost of transportation (repatriation) from Turkey. We calculate the exact amount based on your situation. There is no prepayment for transportation: payment is made upon handover according to the contract.
How Long It Takes: From the First Call to the Funeral
| Stage | Estimated Time |
|---|---|
| Consultation, power of attorney, documents | 1–2 weeks |
| Cemetery plot certificate in Ukraine | 1–2 weeks (in parallel) |
| Doctor's report and municipality permit | from several weeks |
| Exhumation | per cemetery schedule |
| Yol izin belgesi, geçiş izin belgesi | several days |
| Transport to Ukraine | 1–3 days |
| Local council permit and burial | 1–3 weeks |
These timeframes are estimates. Most of it depends on the municipality and the cemetery. At every stage, we will give you an honest update on where things stand.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the exhumation permit in Turkey?
The municipality (belediye), following a positive report from a municipal doctor. For a village cemetery, the permit is issued by the village headman's office (muhtarlık).
Can we cremate the remains and bring back an urn?
No. Turkish law forbids removing buried remains from a grave for cremation. You will have to transport a coffin.
How soon after burial can an exhumation be done?
The law does not set a general waiting period. For those who died of cholera, plague, smallpox, or epidemic typhus, exhumation for relocation is prohibited for one year.
Do we need to travel to Turkey?
No. A power of attorney is enough. Our local partners submit the documents on site.
What happens if a grave is opened without a permit?
The law provides for six months to one year in prison. That is why we only proceed with a written permit from the municipality.
How much does exhumation cost in Turkey?
Each municipality sets its own prices. We check the tariff for your specific cemetery. Our service starts at €500 plus transportation.
What to Do Now
- Call us and tell us where the person is buried: city, cemetery, and year of burial.
- Find the death certificate and the burial plot document, if you have them.
- Decide who in the family will be the applicant and issue a power of attorney.
- 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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