What to do when a Ukrainian citizen dies in Italy

If a Ukrainian citizen dies within the consular district of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Milan, Rome or Naples, it is important to follow the steps below to arrange for the body to be transported to Ukraine or for a cremation.

1. Arranging funeral services

• It is advisable to contact several funeral directors (agenzie di onoranze funebri) to find out the cost of repatriating the body or of cremation, as prices can vary.

2. Submitting an application to the Consulate General

• The next of kin must send a completed and signed application to the e-mail address of the Consulate General of Ukraine in Milan, Rome or Naples. Sample application forms are available on the consulates’ official websites and should be filled in according to the situation.

Documents to attach to the application

1. A copy of the first page of the applicant’s Ukrainian international passport (or a copy of the first and second pages of the applicant’s Ukrainian internal passport).
2. A copy of the first page of the deceased’s Ukrainian international passport (or a copy of the first and second pages of the deceased’s Ukrainian internal passport).
3. A medical certificate of death or a death certificate.

In accordance with Italian law, on the basis of the documents provided, the Consulate General issues a permit for the cremation or transport of the body (“Nulla Osta”) addressed to the relevant authorities of the Italian Republic. The original of this document is issued to the relatives, to the person who has undertaken to bury the deceased or to hand the body over for cremation, or to a representative of the funeral director. A copy can be sent by e-mail, including by certified e-mail (PEC, posta elettronica certificata).

3. Preparing the documents for transporting the body or the urn of ashes to Ukraine

Before the body or the urn of ashes is transported from Italy to Ukraine, the following documents must be prepared in advance (they are usually prepared by the funeral director chosen by the relatives):

• The death certificate.
• Authorisation from the Italian authorities for the transport or burial of the body (urn). This is issued, among other things, through the so-called Passaporto mortuario (mortuary passport).

The original Ukrainian international passport issued in the name of the deceased must be submitted to the Consulate General of Ukraine in Milan, Rome or Naples, so that the death in Italy can be recorded in it.

IMPORTANT: both documents must bear an apostille (“Apostille”) obtained from the local Prefettura (prefecture). The death certificate and the apostille affixed to it must be translated into Ukrainian by a translator accredited with the local court and certified with the stamp of the “Procura della Repubblica” (Public Prosecutor’s Office). The translation can also be done and certified by a Ukrainian notary.

Without the “APOSTILLE” stamp the documents will not be valid in Ukraine, which complicates repatriation, crossing Ukraine’s state border and customs, as well as the funeral arrangements and inheritance proceedings.

Conclusion

When a Ukrainian citizen dies in Italy, it is important to follow clear procedures so that the documents are properly prepared and the transport of the body or the cremation is arranged. The relatives should contact a funeral director without delay and submit an application to the Consulate General of Ukraine, complying with all the requirements set out in the law.

Correctly preparing all the necessary documents, in particular the death certificates and permits, and legalising them with an apostille are essential for repatriation to go smoothly. Without the proper documents, serious complications can arise that will affect the transport, the burial and inheritance proceedings in Ukraine.

That is why it is important to act quickly and in an organised way, to ensure a dignified farewell for the deceased and to reduce the stress for the relatives at a difficult time.