Issue of permission for removal of a body / laissez-passer for a corpse

General information

When removing a body (within a federal state, to another federal state or abroad), you should contact the relevant authority to obtain more detailed information.

A body may only be removed by an authorised undertaker.

To transfer a body abroad, a multilingual laissez-passer for the corpse must be issued. What documents, if any, are required for the transfer abroad will depend on the rules of the country of destination.

Information on bringing a body home from abroad can also be found on the ‘Deaths/burial abroad’ page at oesterreich.gv.at.

Requirements

• The inspection of the body has taken place.
• The registry office has registered the death (Registering a death).
• The body has been released for a funeral (‘Death certificate’).

Competent authority

For removal within a federal state:

• the municipality office^{German text}
• in chartered urban districts: the municipal executive^{German text}

For removal from one federal state to another:

• the district administrative authority of the place of death:
  • the district authorityt^{German text}
  • in chartered urban districts: the municipal executive^{German text}

For transfer abroad:

• the district administrative authority or the local mayor:
  • in Lower Austria: the mayor
  • in all other provinces: the district authority
  • in chartered urban districts: the municipal executive^{German text}

Procedure

Depending on the federal state^{German text}, you must either apply for permission for the removal or notify the relevant authority of the removal. For transfer abroad you must apply for a laissez-passer for the corpse at the relevant authority.

You can apply for permission or notify the authority in person, or you can ask the undertaker to do it.

Required documents

Certificate accompanying the body (issued at the inspection of the body)

Costs and fees

The costs may vary from one federal state to another. Please contact the relevant authority or the undertaker.

Further information

Further links

Austrian undertakers’ website (→ bestatter.at)^{German text}