International repatriation of bodies is a very costly and for the body of the deceased a burdensome process of hygienic transport in a massive coffin with a zinc liner. Legal provisions do not apply to a transport of an urn with a cremated human remains.
If a person was infected by a dangerous disease at the time of decease, the Self-Governing Region Hygiene Station/the Public Health Office, may determine the manner of handling human remains during repatriation, as well as decide on final disposal by way of cremation, regardless of the will of the person arranging for the such a disposal.
The international repatriation of bodies is partly governed by the Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses which the Czech Republic signed with certain countries. Where the decease occurs in the territory of a State, which is not bound by any international agreement, the consent of a Diplomatic Mission or Consular Office competent to represent the interests of the Czech Republic, is shall be indispensable for the transfer to the territory of the Czech Republic or transfer through its territory. The Czech Republic remains a party to the International Convention on the Transport of Corpses with many countries as signatories.
Laissez-Passer for a Corpse is an essential document for the repatriation. You may find the Laissez-Passer for a Corpse at the website of Ministry of Regional Development. The Accompanying Certificate is a part of the Laissez-Passer for a Corpse.
The Ministry for Regional Development („MRD“) provides general information on the conditions for the repatriation of the corpse on its website in the section Ministry / Undertaking Department by publishing the International Convention on the Transport of Corpses and the Agreement on Transfer of Corpses. On the websites of the MRD you can also find brochures describing the procedure relating to final disposal, e.g. basic information for bereaved persons, funeral and organization thereof (in Czech only).
MRD suggests the following key Government departments:
- The Ministry of Industry and Trade (through Trade Licensing Offices) is in charge of granting a concession to the operator of funeral services that is exclusively entitled to carry out the repatriation of corpses on a regular basis.
- The Ministry of Health (through Self-Governing Region Hygiene Stations) is in charge of issuing the Laissez-Passer for a Corpse in the event of the decease of a foreigner in the Czech Republic whose surviving family applies for repatriation.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (through Consular Offices) is in charge of issuing the Laissez-Passer for a Corpse in case of decease of a Czech citizen abroad whose surviving family applies for repatriation.
- The Ministry of the Interior (through Registrars´ Offices) is in charge of providing information to the State concerned on the decease of the citizen thereof in the Czech Republic.
The MRD does not have any relevant data in respect of the decease and repatriation of corpses available. The frequency of repatriations to the Czech Republic is not centrally registered (the legal order does not distinguish between the repatriation of EU and non-EU nationals). According to our estimate, however, the repatriation of corpses is relatively low compared to the number of deceased foreigners in the Czech Republic; it fluctuates within the scope of tens of applications per year. We estimate a slightly higher number of applications for the repatriation of corpses from the Czech Republic to the home State, but the target States are mainly non-EU countries (Ukraine, Russia).