How to Repatriate a Body from Denmark

Bringing a deceased person's remains out of Denmark requires a specialised transit permit, strict coffin specifications, and coordination with authorities who operate almost entirely in Danish. The process is manageable if you understand the sequence — but getting the steps out of order can delay repatriation by days or weeks.

The Ligpas: Denmark's Mortuary Passport

International transport of a body from Denmark requires a laissez-passer for a corpse, known as a ligpas. This document is issued exclusively by the Danish Patient Safety Authority (Styrelsen for Patientsikkerhed) through its regional Supervision and Guidance offices:

• East (TR Øst) in Copenhagen — covers eastern Denmark
• West (TR Vest) in Randers or Kolding — covers western Denmark

The ligpas is free of charge. If all documentation is submitted before 12:00 PM (noon), same-day issuance is possible. After noon, expect next-business-day processing.

Documents Required for the Ligpas

You must submit physical, original documents — not scans or copies:

1. Doctor's death certificate (Page 2) in a sealed envelope
2. Parish's approved burial/cremation request (printed copy of the approved digital or paper form)
3. Soldering certificate confirming the zinc coffin interior has been hermetically sealed
4. Embalming certificate from the licensed embalmer

The sequence matters: the parish cannot approve the burial request until the physician registers the death in CPR. The Patient Safety Authority will refuse to issue the ligpas until the parish approval is in hand.

Coffin and Embalming Requirements

For air transport outside the Nordic countries:

• The body must be embalmed by a licensed embalmer
• The coffin must contain a hermetically soldered zinc interior lining
• The outer coffin must meet airline cargo dimension requirements

For transport within the Nordic countries (Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden):

• An airtight coffin is required
• Zinc lining is optional unless the specific airline demands it
• Embalming may not be required for road or sea transport, though individual carriers may have their own rules

Airlines require human remains to be booked through a registered IATA cargo agent — you cannot book coffin transport directly with a commercial airline as regular luggage or freight.

Transporting Cremation Ashes

The rules for ashes are simpler than for a body:

• No ligpas required for transporting ashes internationally
• Ashes can typically be carried as hand luggage on flights, though airline policies vary
• You will need the Personattest (Person Certificate) and cremation documentation

Scattering ashes in Denmark has specific rules: scattering over open sea (åbent hav) is permitted if the deceased left a signed written declaration of this wish. Scattering in lakes, rivers, or harbours is strictly prohibited. Dividing ashes between countries requires explicit permission from the local Bishop/Diocese (Stift).

The 8-Day Problem

Denmark requires burial or cremation within 8 days of the death, including the day of death. Repatriation counts as neither — you need to either:

• Complete the repatriation within the 8-day window, or
• Request a formal timeline extension (udsættelse) from the parish priest, demonstrating legitimate practical obstacles like embassy processing delays or flight availability

Most repatriations require the extension. The parish priest generally grants these when the reason is genuine logistical constraint rather than indecision.

What a Funeral Director Handles

An experienced Danish funeral director (bedemand) — especially one who handles international cases — will manage most of the logistics: arranging embalming, sourcing the zinc coffin, coordinating with the IATA cargo agent, and physically delivering documents to the Patient Safety Authority. Finding an English-speaking funeral director who handles international repatriation is the single most important decision you'll make.

The Denmark Expat Death Guide includes a repatriation document checklist, the exact submission sequence for the ligpas, and guidance on choosing between repatriation and local burial or cremation.

See more Denmark guides →