Rules regarding death and repatriation of a body to another Member State

In particular, with regard to Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Portugal, Romania, Czechia, Slovakia, Turkey, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chile and Mexico, the relevant internal procedures must be followed. These require, in particular, that the ‘laisser-passer’ should be drawn up in accordance with the model approved by the relevant Convention.

For other countries, a permit must be requested for extradition (i.e. a mortuary ‘laissez-passer’ – passaporto mortuario) from the civil registration office in the municipality of death or of the municipality where the remains were found, or in which the human remains or aforementioned ashes were located, by submitting the relevant application, accompanied by the following documentation:

•  Extract from the death certificate
• Clearance for entry, issued by the consular authority in Italy of the foreign state to which the body, ashes or human remains are being transported, with legalisation, if required.
• Local health authority certificate certifying that the provisions laid down in Article 30 and 32 of Presidential Decree 285/90 – Mortuary authority regulation – and, in the event of death due to infectious and contagious diseases, also the provisions of Articles 18 and 25 of the same Presidential Decree (provisions on transport and treatment), have been observed.
• In the event of a violent death, the clearance of the judicial authority is required for burial and transportation abroad of the body.
• Any documents prescribed by the Ministry of Health for particular situations.

The manager or head of the municipality service will issue the stamped authorisation and inform the prefect of the province containing the Italian border crossing point that will be passed on the journey abroad. The passaporto mortuario is drawn up in Italian, with the costs of legalisation and translation into the official language of the destination country to be borne by the persons concerned.