Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Vietnam to Austria
For families bringing someone home to Austria. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Quick answer
Repatriation from Vietnam to Austria: what to expect
Vietnamese nationals in Austria include an established diaspora community in Vienna, with roots going back to Vietnamese workers who came to Austria in the 1980s and subsequent waves of refugees and economic migrants. Vienna's Vietnamese community is among the most settled in Central Europe. Austria and Vietnam have bilateral diplomatic and trade ties. Vietnamese documentation requires certified German translation for the Austrian Standesamt (civil registry). The Austrian Embassy in Hanoi handles consular matters. (Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, BMEIA, 2025.)
- Key document: giay chung tu (death certificate) (in Vietnamese)
- Documentation takes 7-14 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Death must be registered with the local civil registry (nha nuoc) promptly.
- Austria Embassy in Hanoi can advise on documentation. They cannot fund repatriation.
Step by step
Timeline: Vietnam to Austria
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Contact the embassy or consulate of the person's own country (citizens of Austria: +43 1 90115 3775).
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Giay chung tu (death certificate) obtained.
Death must be registered with the local civil registry (nha nuoc). Unexpected or accident deaths may delay this step.
Local funeral director and registry
Austria Embassy in Hanoi 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 7-14 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo to Austria
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Austria funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
The process
What happens after a death in Vietnam
Call 113 for police or 115 for ambulance. A licensed physician must certify the death. Unexpected deaths trigger police notification. Death registered with the local civil registry (nha nuoc). The giay chung tu is issued in Vietnamese only.
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Vietnam to Austria
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Vietnam to Austria takes 3-5 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 14-21 days. Complex cases can take 6-12 weeks or longer.
Death must be registered with the local civil registry (nha nuoc) promptly. Unexpected or accident deaths may add time before the body can be released.
The core documents are: giay chung tu (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 Austria Embassy in Hanoi can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Austria Embassy in Hanoi as soon as possible after the death.
Unexpected or accident deaths may trigger a post-mortem examination. This adds time: the body cannot be released until the authorities authorise it.
The Austrian Bestattung takes custody at Vienna International (VIE) cargo terminal. A Leichenbegleitschein must accompany the remains. The local Standesamt registers the death. The Bezirksverwaltungsbehoerde may need to approve burial or cremation. Austria is an EU and Hague Apostille Convention member. All non-German-language documents require certified German translation.
Cremation in Vietnam is available in major cities including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. You will need the local death certificate, cremation certificate, and relevant export documentation. Your repatriation specialist can advise on the current position.
In Austria
When the body arrives in Austria
The Austrian Bestattung (funeral director) takes custody at Vienna International (VIE) cargo terminal. A Leichenbegleitschein (body transport certificate) must accompany the remains. The local Standesamt (registry office) registers the death. The Bezirksverwaltungsbehoerde (district authority) may need to approve burial or cremation. Austria is an EU and Hague Apostille Convention member. (Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs, BMEIA, 2025.)
Consular support
Austrian Embassy in Hanoi can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to Austria. Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (BMEIA) emergency line: +43 1 90115 3775 (24 hours). The Austrian Embassy cannot pay for or arrange repatriation.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in Vietnam, please do not face this alone. Send us the details and we will explain what happens next and prepare a quote for bringing them home to Austria.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from official government and embassy guidance and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Sources: Official guidance on a death in Vietnam (gov.uk) · Vietnam repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions