Cost & fixed price
What does a repatriation cost?
What does it cost to repatriate a deceased abroad or to Germany? We explain every item, tell you honestly who pays – and give you a fixed written price before you decide.
- 5.0 ★ on Google
- Free quote
- Every item listed
- No surcharges
- Collection and transport in Germany✓
- Preparation, coffin or urn✓
- Registry office, corpse pass, apostille✓
- Consulate and translations✓
- Air freight or repatriation vehicle✓
- Handover at destination✓
Urn from €850 · coffin by quote
Fixed priceCost calculator
What will your repatriation cost?
Two clicks are enough – you immediately see a realistic price range. We give you the binding fixed price after a short call.
Calculate more precisely (optional)
Honest · transparent · in writing
Three ways – three price levels
Google reviews
Families trust us
Reviews for Ritual Service 24 for repatriations to various countries.
View our Google profile →„The company made an incredibly difficult process so straightforward and stress-free. […] We highly recommend them to anyone looking for a compassionate company that is truly easy to deal with when you need it most.“„Herr Rudolf hat uns bei unserem Anliegen hervorragend unterstützen können – sowohl in Sachen Menschlichkeit und Empathie als auch mit seiner Kompetenz …“„Мне в этой ситуации очень помог Рудольф. Он чрезвычайно компетентный и эмпатичный человек […] Благодаря ему, мне удалось собрать все нужные документы […] и успешно доставить тело моей двоюродной сестры в Казахстан.“„Top Leistung von Anfang bis Ende. Überführung aus Dortmund nach Dzezkagzgan“Fixed-price request
Three questions to your price
Tell us where the deceased is and where they should go. We check everything and send you a fixed written price with every item – usually the same day.
- Free and without obligation
- Every item listed separately
- Advice in English, German, Russian and Ukrainian
Cost items
What the price is made of
These items can apply to a repatriation. Your quote only contains what you really need.
One fixed price. Every item.
You see in black and white what the repatriation costs – and that is what it stays.
- Every item listed separately
- Authority and consular fees included
- No surcharges
- 01
Collection
from hospital, care home or funeral home – anywhere in Germany
- 02
Preparation
and embalming if the destination requires it
- 03
Coffin or urn
zinc-lined coffin for the flight or shipping urn
- 04
Registry office & corpse pass
death certificate and official permits
- 05
Apostille & translation
depending on the destination, certified
- 06
Consulate
certificates of the destination's mission
- 07
Transport
air freight by weight or repatriation vehicle by kilometre
- 08
Handover
at the airport or up to the cemetery or local funeral home
Coffin or urn
What makes the price difference
An urn is simpler in every respect – whether it is right for your family and faith is your decision alone. We advise on both.
| Coffin | Urn | |
|---|---|---|
| Transport weight | ||
| Documents and permits | ||
| Preparation (care, coffin) | ||
| Freight cost | ||
| Time until departure |
low high
Transparency
What the fixed price includes – and what it doesn't
Included in the fixed price
- All services from collection to the agreed handover
- Formalities, corpse pass and consulate
- Fees for certificates, apostille and translations, as listed in the quote
- Freight or repatriation vehicle
- One fixed contact, available 24/7
Not included – available on request
- Grave, cemetery and burial fees at the destination
- Funeral service, flowers and headstone
- Flight tickets for relatives
- Services requested after the quote – always with your consent
Who pays?
Who covers the cost of a repatriation
In principle the heirs pay. But often someone contributes – check these options.
- principle
Heirs
Under § 1968 BGB the heirs bear the funeral costs – including the repatriation.
- often
Travel insurance
After a death abroad, many travel and foreign health insurances include the repatriation.
- depends on contract
Funeral insurance or plan
A funeral insurance or pre-need plan covers the costs fully or partly.
- workplace accident
Employers' liability insurance
After a fatal workplace or commuting accident, the statutory accident insurance may cover repatriation costs.
- rarely
Social welfare office
Under § 74 SGB XII it only covers the necessary costs of a burial – usually not a repatriation abroad.
- no
Health insurance
Statutory health insurers have not paid a death benefit since 2004.
Checklist
How to avoid unnecessary costs
These points save money and stress. We go through them with you in the first call.
Have your costs checkedLegal basis: § 1968 BGB
- 01
Call early
The sooner the repatriation is planned, the less waiting costs arise, for example for refrigeration.
- 02
Check insurances
Travel, foreign health or funeral insurance often contributes. Keep the policy at hand.
- 03
Consider an urn
An urn transfer costs only a fraction – if it is an option for your family.
- 04
Fixed price in writing
No order without a complete cost breakdown – so there are no surprises.
- 05
Complete documents
Missing documents delay the flight. We tell you exactly what is needed.
- 06
One provider
One provider for the whole way saves duplicate trips and duplicate fees.
Process
How you get your fixed price
Call or enquiry
Tell us where the deceased is, where they should go and whether coffin or urn. It takes a few minutes.
Check
We check documents, the destination's requirements and the flight or road route.
Written quote
You receive a fixed price with every item – usually the same day.
Order
We only start once you agree. The price stays fixed, even if our effort increases.
Legal framework
Who has to bear the costs?
German law (§ 1968 BGB): the heirs bear the funeral costs. If nobody can pay, the social welfare office covers the necessary costs under § 74 SGB XII – a repatriation abroad is usually not included.
So check early whether an insurance pays. We help you compile the documents for insurers or employers.
Sources: German Civil Code § 1968 – funeral costs (German) · Social Code XII § 74 – funeral costs (German) · European Consumer Centre Germany – burial abroad (German)
Price examples
What you can expect
An urn transfer starts from €850. A repatriation in a coffin costs considerably more – mainly because of the zinc-lined coffin, preparation and air freight by weight.
The cost calculator shows guide values for a coffin: depending on destination and route, for example from €2,000 to Poland or from €5,500 to Russia. Only the fixed written price is binding – free and without obligation.
Request fixed price- Coffin or urnThe biggest difference in price.
- Destination and routeBy road within Europe or air freight worldwide.
- Collection in GermanyDistance to hospital, funeral home and airport.
- DocumentsApostille, translations and consular fees per country.
- Services at destinationHandover at the airport or up to the cemetery.
Terms
Briefly explained
- Corpse pass
- Official document permitting the transport of a deceased in a coffin across borders. Issued by the competent German authority.
- Zinc-lined coffin
- Coffin with an airtight soldered zinc liner. Required for air freight and by many destinations.
- Embalming
- Preserving care of the deceased. Some countries and airlines require it for longer transports.
- Apostille
- Certification of a German document for use abroad, e.g. the death certificate.
- Air waybill
- The airline's freight document with which a coffin or urn travels as cargo.
- Fixed price
- Total price agreed in writing with every item – without surcharges.
By phone & in person – available 24/7
Your contact
Nobody should have to guess about money at a time like this. With us you know the price before we start.
Rudolf Nordheimer · Ritual Service 24
Rudolf Nordheimer prepares your quote personally and explains every item. You have one fixed contact throughout the repatriation.
- Advice in English, German, Russian or Ukrainian
- Every item listed separately
- Prices in writing beforehand, no surcharges
FAQ
Questions about the cost of a repatriation
Your question is not listed? Call us or message us on WhatsApp.
What does a repatriation abroad cost?
It depends mainly on whether the deceased travels in a coffin or as an urn, and on the destination. An urn transfer starts from €850. For a coffin, guide values range from about €2,000 (Poland) to €17,000 (West and East Africa) depending on the destination; to Russia from €5,500. We give you the binding fixed price after a short call.
Why is a coffin so much more expensive than an urn?
A coffin requires preparation, a zinc-lined coffin, additional documents and air freight by weight. An urn is light, needs fewer documents and can often even travel in hand luggage.
Who pays for the repatriation?
In principle the heirs (§ 1968 BGB). Often an insurance contributes – for example travel or foreign health insurance after a death abroad, a funeral insurance or, after a workplace accident, the employers' liability insurance.
Does German health insurance pay?
No. Statutory health insurers have not paid a death benefit since 2004. Do check private insurances and contracts of the deceased.
Does the social welfare office pay?
Under § 74 SGB XII the social welfare office only covers the necessary costs of a burial if the person liable cannot reasonably pay. A repatriation abroad is usually not included.
Are there hidden costs?
No. Our quote lists every item, including authority and consular fees. The fixed price applies – without surcharges.
When do I have to pay?
Payment terms are in your written quote. Tell us if an insurance pays – we are happy to coordinate.
Does the quote cost anything?
No. Advice and the written quote are free and without obligation.
Are you a funeral home?
We quote repatriations for funeral homes – with fixed terms and, if you wish, under your name towards the family.
Your fixed price – today
Call us or message us on WhatsApp. We tell you the cost before you decide.