The transport of bodies in Italy is regulated by Presidential Decree 285/90, Mortuary Police Regulation, Chapter IV. However, if we talk about the repatriation of bodies, the regulation is bound to the international convention of Berlin 10 February 1937.
La Badia Funeral Services carries out every type of funeral transport, for every destination, taking care of requesting all the necessary permits and authorizations, in order to carry out the service with competence and seriousness, in Italy and abroad!
La Badia is a funeral company founded in 1984 in Camaiore, Italy. Strengthened of over 30 years of experience, we can count on a family tradition that has been handed down from father to son, providing the bereaved with a unique service suited to the family's requests.
Our work is based on three key points:
Discretion: our entire staff works with respect for privacy, well aware of the difficulties faced in the moment of a loss
Professionalism: quality and professionalism are the pillars on which our funeral services have been based for over half a century
Punctuality: we work to ensure that all activities are carried out within established times and always according to customer needs.
For many years we have been known in both the urban and extra-urban cemetery sector, where we operate with our employees providing all the necessary services. We carry out funeral transport to the funeral home both from homes and from private or public structures. We are authorized to transport bodies that die for different reasons in other countries than Italy. Discreetly and very quickly we take care of all the related bureaucratic procedures, including the authorization necessary for the transport of the body from the place of death to the final destination.
Our staff and funeral vehicles allow us to perform a professional and discreet service throughout Italy!
For further information contact us by calling +39 0584 984737 or +39 347 0863614
How do you repatriate a body from abroad?
Previously we mentioned the Berlin international convention of 10 February 1937. What is written about this convention, who adheres to it and who does not? The Berlin Convention establishes a series of rules aimed at avoiding inevitable inconveniences caused by the transport of remains from one country to another. This is because the procedures for the dead may change depending on the country but with this regulation repatriations in the countries that adhere to it are facilitated. In doing so, the signatory countries undertake to allow the entry or transit passage, on their respective territories, of the corpses of people who died on the territory of one of the other countries.
Which are the signatory countries?
At an international level, the repatriation of deceased citizens of the undersigned countries:
Italy, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Holland, France, Swiss, Portugal, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkiye, Egypt, Democratic Republic of Congo, Chile, Mexico.
They are regulated by the Berlin Convention of 1937!
What does this agreement include?
It provides that, for the transportation of corpses through these states, the deceased must be in possession of a special passport, better known as a mortuary passport. The passport contains information such as the person's details, date, place and cause of death. In Italy the body responsible for issuing the mortuary passport is the Prefecture. In addition to this, the agreement establishes general rules for respecting hygiene during transport.
General rules
For example: the obligation to transport the corpse in a hermetically sealed metal case, with some technical characteristics to be respected such as the centimeters of thickness, the presence of a wooden coffin and, if death occurs following a contagious disease, the corpse must be wrapped in a sheet soaked in an antiseptic solution. In addition to this, the Convention also regulates the modes of transport by sea, road and air.
What if the death occurs outside a country that has not signed the convention?
Obviously it is also possible to manage returns home from those countries that have not signed the Berlin Convention. In these cases it is necessary to contact the consulate of the country where the death occurred or the Italian Embassy to obtain the transfer of the body or his ashes to Italy. It is therefore necessary to have a mortuary passport issued by the consular authority upon presentation of a series of documents: Certificate of death, the local health authority certifying that the hygiene and safety requirements have been observed which ensures that the absence of infectious diseases and of an endemic nature, Authorization from the Italian municipality where the burial will take place, Document to prove the citizenship of the deceased.
However, as regards extradition, therefore transport from Italy to foreign countries that are not members, the Prefecture will follow the procedure indicating the various phases and the documents to be produced.
Who takes care of the documentation?
Document management is not easy and it is best to rely on experts in the funeral services sector. This is great advice because few people know that an error in paperwork is considered a criminal offence. If mistakes are made, in addition to having to suffer an international criminal case (very expensive), the deadline for repatriating the body would be postponed. The necessary documents are the authorization from the consulate or embassy, the transport permit from the state in which the death occurred and documents translated into English or the requested language. In addition to these, there must be health documentation certifying compliance with the pre-established rules for transporting the body abroad.
How is the body repatriated?
Repatriation can be achieved by: air transport, ship or with a funeral vehicle, if the distances are acceptable. Depending on the type of transport, return times may vary. Given that times may vary depending on the country and the cause of death, in general repatriation times are estimated at approximately 4 - 10 working days.
La Badia Funeral Services is able to operate with professionalism and discretion, providing a transport service throughout Italy and abroad.
We carry out processing services at the Municipality, ASL, Prefecture, Prosecutor's Office, Airports (shipping and customs clearance of bodies), at hospitals and homes with qualified mortician staff for funerals and departures from Milan to outside the city.
We hope we have been clear and simple in explaining the international body transport service.
For further information contact us by calling +39 0584 984737 or +39 347 0863614