Process to Follow in Case of Death (for Indian Citizens in Germany)
- Initial Steps
- Inform the Indian Consulate: Contact the Indian Consulate responsible for your state.
- Talk to Family: Decide if the funeral will be conducted in Germany or if the body/ashes will be sent to India.
- For transport to India, Lufthansa or Air India are preferred options.
- Funeral Arrangements
- Contact a Funeral Service Agency (Bestattungsinstitut):
- Example: Aman Bestattungsinstitut, Frankfurt, Mobile 0173 4131476 or other agency.
- Only a licensed funeral agent can collect the deceased from the hospital.
- Depending on the Cause of Death
- If Death Occurred Due to Illness in Hospital:
- The deceased is kept in the hospital.
- Hospital issues Discharge Report (Entlassungsbrief).
- Police issue clearance to the funeral agent for pickup.
- If Death Occurred Unexpectedly (e.g., accident, suicide, etc.):
- The body is taken by the police and kept in a hospital.
- The court decides whether an autopsy is needed.
- After an autopsy, police issue a clearance to the funeral agent for collection.
- Documentation
- Funeral agent uses hospital/police reports to apply for a Death Certificate (Sterbeurkunde) at the Standesamt (civil registry).
- Processing time depends on the city.
- Submit these documents, along with the original passport of the deceased, to the Indian Consulate, along with a cover letter (if body or ashes are to be taken to India).
- Consulate provides:
- Death Registration Certificate
- No Objection Certificate (NOC)
- Cancelled Passport
- All documents are bilingual (German-English).
- Transport of the Body/Ashes to India
- Funeral agent performs embalming and issues embalming certificate.
- Agent contacts the airline and handles the approval process with:
- Airline agency (Lufthansa, Air India)
- Delhi Airport Authorities (mandatory, even if arriving in another Indian city)
- Important: Only the funeral agent handles communication with airline/airport authorities.
- Upon Arrival in India
- Submit all relevant documents at immigration along with the cancelled passport of the deceased.
- Contact NRI Department in your home state for help with ambulance and logistics.
Important Information for Dependents
Financial & Legal
- If no nominee on bank account, apply for Legal Heir Certificate (Erbschein) via Nachlassburo.
- Apply for dependent pension, if eligible.
- Explore visa options if dependents plan to stay or return to Germany.
Support Services
- TK (Techniker Krankenkasse) may provide support/childcare for mourning spouse.
- Reach out to Indian associations or friends for:
- Emotional and community support
- Initiating fundraisers, if needed (Example: Fundraiser Stalin).
Insurance & Estimated Costs
- Sterbegeldversicherung (Funeral Insurance): Recommended to cover funeral expenses.
- Keep an emergency fund of €7,000–€10,000 easily accessible to spouse/family.
Cost Estimates
Type | Approximate Cost |
Transport of the Body to India | €3,500 (excluding family flight tickets) |
Cremation in Germany + Sending Ashes | €3,000–€4,000 |
Burial in Germany | €7,000–€10,000 |
Source : Google Search