The following is necessary if you want the deceased repatriated
Other Relatives Attending the Funeral
What is the Deadline for the Funeral?

Decease of a Relative

In case a relative is deceased, his/her relatives will receive a notice of decease from the doctor having examined the deceased. Having received the notice, the family must address a funeral service and order a funeral in the Czech Republic or order that the deceased be transported from the Czech Republic. The following text explains all the official procedures related to this situation.

The following is necessary to order a funeral:

• Identity card (passport) of the deceased
• If you want the funeral service to obtain the death certificate for you, you must also supply the birth certificate or the marriage certificate of the deceased
• Clothing for the deceased

The funeral house can provide the following services:

• funeral service in a ceremonial hall
• cremation of the deceased
• transport of the deceased from the place of death all over the Czech Republic and abroad
• burial, including religious burials
• arrangements necessary for the issue of the death certificate
• placement of the urn in an urn garden
• diffusion or dispersal of the ashes at Gardens of Rest
• procurement of all the necessities related to death – flowers, funeral notices etc.

Note: The selection of a funeral house is at your sole discretion. You may also select a funeral house if your relative died in a hospital and was taken away by another funeral house. The quality of the services and the pricing may vary substantially!

 

The following is necessary if you want the deceased repatriated

You must address the funeral house and the Registry Office competent in the area where your relative has died. In order to register the deceased, you need:

1. the passport of the deceased
2. a certificate (record in the parent’s passport) in case of death of a minor without a passport
3. marriage certificate (if the deceased was married) and the birth certificate (or passport) of the husband or wife of the deceased

The registrar will register the deceased with the Register of the Deceased and address the Embassy of your home state (the Embassy will contact the relatives in your home state). The Registry will issue a death certificate in Czech. In order to validate the death certificate in you home state, you must verify the certificate at a regional government office or an office with extended powers (Section 28 of Act no. 301/2000 Coll., on Registries, Name and Surname) and have the death certificate officially translated.

The funeral house will provide for:

• a coffin with zinc capsule in compliance with the international rules for the transit of the deceased
• transit of the deceased by road (the price for 1 km amounts to CZK 16)
• transit of the deceased by air (the price depends on the destination)
• the procurement of all documents and permits
• embalmment of the body, if required or necessary
• religious ceremonies and rituals on the premises of the crematorium before the transit

An alternative to the transit of the deceased in a coffin is, if required by the surviving relatives – the cremation of the deceased in the Czech Republic and transit of the urn to a foreign address notified to the funeral house.

Who pays all the costs incurred in relation to the funeral or the transit of the coffin or urn?

All the costs incurred in relation to the funeral are borne by the surviving relatives (the family). If you have concluded a policy with a Czech or a foreign insurer, address the insurer and find out whether you are not entitled to some insurance benefits! Your eligibility to benefits depends on the insurance coverage under the policy.

Other Relatives Attending the Funeral

If the citizens of your home state need a visa to enter the Czech Republic and if you want the funeral (burial or placement of the urn) to take place in the Czech Republic, other relatives or close friends of the deceased who want to attend the funeral must apply for a visa for up to 90 days.

What is the Deadline for the Funeral?

Under the law, the deceased must be buried within 96 hours (i.e. four days). The deadline may be extended in case of transit of the deceased abroad or if you are unable to settle all the issues related to the funeral. However, you must pay for the hygienic capsule (CZK 450; the body may rest in the capsule for 14 days) or a zinc capsule (CZK 4,000; the body may rest in the capsule for one month). Zinc capsule must be always purchased if you want to transport the deceased abroad by road or by air.

 

Note:

Persons having arranged for a funeral of a permanent resident in the Czech Republic at the time of death or having arranged the funeral in the Czech Republic are entitled to funeral benefits (social security allowance).

The title to funeral benefit arises on the day of burial and the benefit amounts to CZK 5,000.

You must apply for the funeral benefit in writing (i.e. to fill in the blank form) at the social security department of the local municipal office.