Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Germany to Belgium
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What happens after a death in Germany
Call 112 for emergency services. Death is certified by a physician and registered with the local Standesamt (civil registry). The Sterbeurkunde is issued in German. Police and the Staatsanwaltschaft (public prosecutor) take jurisdiction for violent or unexplained deaths. Germany is an EU member and Hague Apostille Convention member.
Key facts
Repatriation from Germany to Belgium: what to expect
Germany and Belgium share a border and maintain a close bilateral relationship as fellow EU and Eurozone members. Belgium has a German-speaking community in the Eupen-Malmedy area (eastern Belgium), which has historical and cultural connections to Germany. Cross-border movement between Germany and Belgium is common. The Belgian Embassy in Berlin is fully operational. When a person with Belgian family connections dies in Germany, the death is registered with the local Standesamt (civil registry). The Sterbeurkunde is issued in German, which is an official language of Belgium, and may simplify documentation in the German-speaking community. Both countries are Hague Apostille Convention members. (FCDO Travel Advice: Belgium, 2025; SPF Justice, Belgium, 2025.)
- Key document: Sterbeurkunde (death certificate) (in German)
- Documentation takes 3-5 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- British Embassy or High Commission in Berlin registers the death and advises. They cannot fund repatriation.
- Death must be registered with the local Standesamt (civil registry) promptly.
- Belgium Embassy in Berlin can advise on documentation. They cannot fund repatriation.
Step by step
Timeline: Germany to Belgium
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Call +44 (0)20 7008 5000 (FCDO) or 112 for local emergency services.
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Sterbeurkunde (death certificate) obtained.
Death must be registered with the local Standesamt (civil registry). Violent or unexplained deaths (Staatsanwaltschaft) may delay this step.
Local funeral director and registry
Belgium Embassy in Berlin notified
Simultaneous with Step 1. Embassy provides a list of local funeral directors.
Family or repatriation specialist
Embalming and preparation.
After body released by authorities.
Licensed local funeral director
All export documentation and permits obtained.
Allow 3-5 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo to Belgium
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Belgium funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Germany to Belgium
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Germany to Belgium takes 2-4 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 10-14 days. Complex cases can take 4-8 weeks or longer.
Death must be registered with the local Standesamt (civil registry) promptly. Violent or unexplained deaths (Staatsanwaltschaft) may add time before the body can be released.
The core documents are: Sterbeurkunde (death certificate) with certified translation where required, embalming certificate, export permit, freedom from infection certificate, and passport of the deceased. Your repatriation coordinator handles obtaining these on your behalf.
The Belgium Embassy in Berlin can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Belgium Embassy in Berlin as soon as possible after the death.
Violent or unexplained deaths (Staatsanwaltschaft) may trigger a post-mortem examination. This adds time: the body cannot be released until the authorities authorise it.
The Belgian funeral director takes custody at Brussels Airport (BRU) cargo terminal. The commune (gemeentehuis) registers the death via the Registre National des Personnes Physiques. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified translation into the relevant Belgian language (French, Dutch, or German). The Parquet is notified for medico-legal cases. Belgium joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1975. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required. The receiving funeral director coordinates with the local commune.
Cremation in Germany is widely available. You will need the local death certificate, cremation certificate, and relevant export documentation. Your repatriation specialist can advise on the current position.
In Belgium
When the body arrives in Belgium
The Belgian funeral director takes custody at Brussels Airport (BRU) cargo terminal. Death registration in Belgium is handled by the commune (gemeentehuis) in the municipality where the death is registered, via the Registre National des Personnes Physiques (National Register). Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and, where not in French, Dutch, or German, accompanied by a certified translation into the language of the relevant Belgian region. The Parquet (public prosecutor's office) is notified for medico-legal cases. Belgium joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1975; apostille certificates from member states are accepted. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for all air imports. (SPF Justice, Belgium, 2025; Commune administration, Belgium, 2025; FCDO Travel Advice: Belgium, 2025.)
Consular support
The Belgian Embassy or Consulate in Berlin can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to Belgium. Belgium joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1975. The Embassy cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the relevant commune administration for civil registration queries.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
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If your loved one has passed away in Germany, please do not face this alone. Our team will guide you through every step of bringing them home.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) guidance, official embassy contacts, and professional repatriation experience. Updated June 2026.
Sources: FCDO gov.uk · Germany repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions