Foreign nationals who have died in Turkey must fulfil certain procedures for funeral transport abroad to the country they belong to. Necessary documents must be obtained from Turkish official offices and funeral approval must be obtained from the consulates of the country they are affiliated with. Firstly, it is necessary to issue a death certificate for the deceased foreign citizen. There are certain issues for the issuance of a death certificate. Where and for what reason the deceased foreign citizen died is an important detail for the institution or authorised person who will issue the death certificate. If the foreign citizen dies in the hospital due to natural causes, the death certificate is issued by the authorised doctor in the hospital and delivered to the person concerned.
If the death occurs at home due to natural causes, a doctor is requested by applying to the municipality. The doctor assigned by the relevant municipality confirms that death has occurred and issues a death certificate. If the death occurs as a result of judicial events, the relevant Public Prosecutor’s Office may issue a death certificate. If a procedure such as autopsy will be performed on the deceased foreign citizen, the death certificate is issued by the Forensic Medicine Institute. The issuance of the death certificate is the primary procedure required for funeral transport abroad.
The death certificate issued for sending a funeral abroad is sent to the population directorate by the Community Health Centre. The death must be notified within a maximum of ten (10) days from the date of death. While the death of a foreign citizen is reported to the population directorate, the original identity card / national identity card / passport of the deceased person is also sent to the population directorate. In case the passport of the deceased foreign citizen cannot be found, the information of the deceased person is requested from the relatives of the deceased person with a written declaration. Apart from the written declaration of the deceased person’s passport information, no other document related to the population registration sample or passport is requested from the relatives of the deceased person.
What are the Procedures Required for Funeral Transport Abroad?
After the death notification made by the Community Health Centre to the population directorate, it is necessary to obtain the MERNIS death certificate and multilingual death certificate (Formula C) to be issued by the population directorate. Although there are differences from country to country, the multilingual death certificate (Formula C) must have apostille approval. Within the scope of funeral transport abroad, the body of the deceased person should be subjected to chemical processes and embalming procedures should be performed to prevent deterioration. The process must be recorded and a report must be issued. In order to carry out the transfer of the deceased foreigner in Turkey, it is obligatory to obtain a road permit from the municipality where the death occurred. The foreigner who died in Turkey is generally preferred by air for sending the funeral abroad. If the funeral is to be sent by sea, the documents to be delivered to the ship management must be submitted to the Directorate of Health of the Borders and Coasts before the funeral is delivered. In the transportation process to be carried out by land, it is obligatory to obtain a road permit from the municipality where the death occurred.
The most commonly used shipping preference for international funeral transport is by air. The reason why airway is preferred forsending a funeral abroad is that it is faster than other options and the funeral can be buried as soon as possible. It is necessary to make a flight reservation by submitting the necessary documents to the airline company for the funeral of the foreign citizen whose funeral will take place abroad.
What are the Documents Required for Sending a Funeral Abroad?
There are important procedures that must be done before the delivery of the funeral to be sent by air. The funeral belonging to the foreign country citizen to be transported abroad must be packed in a way that will not leak and cause bad odour. In order to prevent damage, it should be placed in a sturdy coffin made of metal zinc, wood or lead and covered with a sack or canvas so that it cannot be seen inside. Funerals found as ashes forthe funeral process abroad; It should be in a wooden box, crate and shock-absorbing packaging. It should be in a container that is effective against breakage, protected and with a special lid.
The necessary documents to be submitted for sending a funeral abroad by air are listed below.
- Death certificate
- Accompanying identity information (If available)
- Road permit
- Funeral confirmation from the relevant consulate
If there will be no accompanying person on the flight within the scope of funeral transport abroad, the information of the person who will receive the funeral must be notified to the airline company in advance. In order to send a funeral abroad, the documents must be submitted to the airport customs office where the transport will take place. The customs procedures of the funeral are fulfilled by giving a verbal declaration to the airport customs office where the funeral will be transported.
The documents to be submitted to the customs office at the airport are listed below.
- Verbal declaration form to be issued by the customs officer
- Death certificate
- Formula C certificate (multilingual death certificate)
- Road permit
- Funeral approval certificate from the consulate
Funeral Procedures in Turkey
The activities carried out for funeral transport abroad and the funeral procedures to be carried out in Turkey differ from each other in several aspects. The burial procedures of the deceased person vary depending on where and why the person died. If the deceased person died at home due to natural causes, the ‘Death Certificate’ and ‘Burial Permit Certificate’ are obtained by applying to the municipal medical centre where the death occurred with the original identity card of the deceased person or a copy of the identity register. Following the receipt of the death certificate, the Community Health Centre notifies the Population Directorate within a maximum of 10 days. Together with the burial permit, an application is made to the nearest funeral directorate of the relevant municipality funeral directorate. The grave allocation is made from the available cemetery area by the funeral directorate in question.
If you want to make a selection from the empty places, you can apply to the relevant municipal cemetery directorate and get a grave space after paying the ‘funeral grave space fee’. If there is an empty grave space that you have previously purchased, you can also use the empty grave space you have purchased by presenting the original copy of the ‘Grave Space Utilisation Certificate’ to the Funeral Affairs Chief during the burial. After the grave space allocation procedures are carried out, the body is taken from the morgue and taken to the funeral parlour. The washing, cleaning and shrouding procedures of the deceased foreigner are carried out in the funeral parlour. The burial is made ready. The burial process is carried out with the ceremony of the religion of the deceased foreign citizen. There is also the possibility to perform religious ceremonies for funerals to be sent abroad.
About Cemetery Construction
After 3 months from the date of the burial, an application is made to the relevant Cemetery Regional Directorate to have a grave space built and a ‘Grave Space Construction Licence’ is obtained. After the grave space construction licence is obtained, the certificate of use of the grave space is kept by the Cemetery Regional Directorate to be returned to the person. Grave space construction licence is granted for a period of one month. It is obligatory to complete the construction of the burial place within the specified period. After the construction of the grave space, it is recorded in the cemetery book.
The Cemetery Regional Directorate returns the grave site construction to the grave site utilisation certificate by processing the grave site construction. If the death occurred in the hospital due to natural causes, the death certificate and burial certificate issued by the hospital authority and not by the relevant provincial/district municipality physician are taken. The death certificate of the person who died as a result of a judicial event is obtained after the preliminary examination of the Public Prosecutor’s Office. If the corpse is in the Forensic Medicine Institution, the ‘Burial Licence’ is issued by the relevant institution. All other funeral burial procedures are the same, except for the institutions that issue the death certificate of the person who died at home or in hospital for natural reasons or as a result of a judicial incident. If intercity funeral transport is to be made, it is necessary to obtain a ‘Road Permit Certificate’ from the municipality to which it is connected.
Funeral Procedures for Foreigners Deceased in Turkey
Regulations on the funeral procedures of foreign nationals deceased in Turkey are found in various laws, regulations, directives or communiqués. In this context, the regulations on funeral procedures will be given following the notification of the death event in order of the procedures related to death. In the event of the death of foreigners residing in Turkey, the Turkish official authorities must notify the consulate within the area of duty where the death occurred. In the notification of the death event, no time period has been regulated in international conventions and the death notification must be made immediately. A foreign citizen who dies in Turkey must be notified to the General Directorate of Population and Citizenship Affairs or the provincial/district population directorate within ten (10) days. Notification to the population directorate is an important issue within the scope of funeral transport abroad. The official authorities who will notify the death of the foreigner are; in cities and towns, those who will issue a burial licence (Community Health Centre), in villages, if any, the official physician or health institution officials.
If not, village headmen, supervisors in health institutions such as nursing homes or hospitals, and officers to be authorised by local authorities in natural events. In judicial incidents and accidents, the relevant Public Prosecutor’s Office. Within the scope of the Regulation on the Implementation of the Population Services Law, the death of a foreigner who dies in Turkey is notified to the relevant population directorate together with a death report in triplicate. This notification is also valid for funeral transport abroad. One of the copies of this report is given to the person concerned. The other is placed in the death file of foreigners and the other is sent to the provincial police directorate together with the residence permit, if any. In the Regulation on the Construction of Cemetery Sites and Funeral Transport and Burial Procedures, it is stated that the death should be notified within ten days from the date of death.
Information on Death Certificate
When the death information of the deceased foreign citizen is notified to the population directorate, the original or a copy of the passport/identity card is sent to the population directorate together with the death certificate. In the absence of a passport/identity card, the relatives of the deceased are asked to declare the name, surname and identity/passport number of the deceased in writing. This issue is essential for those who will carry out funeral transport abroad. In the relevant article, it is stated that no other document will be requested from the first degree relatives of the deceased person other than their written declarations. The death certificate in the Regulation on the Construction of Cemetery Sites and Funeral Transport and Burial Procedures is also issued for the death of foreigners. In this context, the death certificate is issued by the health institution if the death occurred in official health institutions or if the funeral of a foreign citizen is brought to the health institution. It is also approved by the authorised supervisor of the relevant institution. If the death occurred in private health institutions, the death certificate issued by the doctor involved in the treatment of the disease that caused death is valid only if approved.
The death certificate is the primary document requested within the scope of international funeral transfer procedures. If the death occurs outside of health institutions, the death certificate is issued by the relevant municipal physician in the place where the funeral is located. In places where there is no municipal physician, the death certificate is issued by the community health centre, or if there is no municipal physician, by the family physician, or in their absence, by the authority to issue the death certificate. The funeral procedures of foreigners who died in Turkey, there are a few differences compared to the funeral procedures of Turkish citizens and can be buried in Turkey or sent to their country of citizenship as a result of funeral transport abroad.
Burial of Deceased Foreigners in Turkey
There are certain rules for the funeral procedures of a foreign citizen who wants to be buried in Turkey. The first thing that needs to be done is to obtain the death certificate received within the scope of the funeral transport abroad, again in the burial process in Turkey. The death certificate is issued by different authorities according to the cause and place of death of the deceased foreigner. If the death of a foreign citizen occurred at home due to natural causes, a physician is requested by applying to the municipality. The death certificate is issued by the physician assigned by the municipality. If the foreign citizen is taken to the Prosecutor’s Office or the Forensic Medicine Institution for autopsy, the death certificate is issued by the competent doctor in the hospital if the citizen died in the hospital due to natural causes. If death occurred as a result of forensic events, the Republic of the place of death is issued a death certificate. The issued death certificate is received from the relevant institution by the relative of the deceased foreign citizen. With the death certificate received, it is necessary to apply to the population directorate and obtain a multilingual death certificate (Formula C).
Formula C is among the documents required for funeral transport abroad. After obtaining the necessary documents, you must submit the documents to the Provincial Governorship where the burial will take place and obtain burial approval. For the death notification of a foreign citizen, the relatives of the deceased person are required to notify the consulates or embassies. In the death notifications to be made to consulates or embassies, it is necessary to present the death certificate of the deceased foreign citizen and, if any, passport or identity card. After the procedures, you can bury the deceased foreign citizen by applying to the cemetery directorate with the relevant documents to which cemetery the burial will be made.
Funeral Procedures Brought from Abroad
As with the transfer of funerals abroad, funerals brought from abroad are also subject to certain procedures and related documents. Bodies brought to our country from abroad are processed in accordance with the provisions of the ‘Agreement on the Transfer of Bodies’ and national legislation. The General Directorate of Health of Turkish Borders and Coastlines determines the countries that are deemed to be risk-free in terms of public health by taking the opinion of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ‘List of Countries without Risk for Funeral Entry’ is given to the local authorities in the international entry areas and the necessary procedures are requested to be carried out within this scope. Bodies transported from other countries are evaluated in terms of public health risk. Bodies brought from countries that are considered to be risk-free in terms of public health by the General Directorate of Health of the Turkish Borders and Coasts, which comply with international funeral transport conditions, are not subjected to any health-related procedures at the entry points to Turkey. These bodies are considered as cargo. Entry procedures to Turkey are carried out by the authorised customs directorate.
The burial procedures of the bodies of persons brought from countries determined as risk-free and deceased due to infectious diseases are evaluated by the authorised health units of the place where the deceased person will be buried. The coffins of such bodies cannot be opened until the authorised health units approve the burial. The entry procedures of the bodies of deceased persons from countries considered to be risky in terms of public health into Turkey are carried out by the health inspection centres of the General Directorate of Health of Turkish Borders and Coasts, which are also located at airports, ports and designated land border gates. Funerals brought from abroad are carried out by the health officers assigned by the General Directorate of Health of Turkish Borders and Coasts in the areas of entry to Turkey where there are no centres. No health procedures are carried out for the bodies that comply with the international transport conditions when they leave Turkey from the entry areas to abroad.
Entry Procedures of Funerals from Risky Countries
If there is a Funeral Transport Certificate at the entrance to Turkey of the bodies coming from risky countries in accordance with the international transport conditions, ‘Entry Permit Certificate for Funerals’ is issued by the health personnel in charge. If the corpse brought from abroad has died due to an infectious disease or if it is stated that it is an infectious disease although it died for another reason, the ‘Entry Permit Certificate for Funerals’ is issued for the corpse. In the said document, it is reported that direct contact with the corpse should not be established and the burial procedures of the corpse should be carried out within the framework of the provisions of the relevant legislation on death from infectious diseases. Bodies brought from risky countries and entered into Turkey are registered in the Turkish Borders and Coasts Health Information System by the authorised health unit. The entry documents of the corpses from risky countries to Turkey are kept under archive by the authorised personnel.
It is necessary to submit the ‘Transit Permit for Funerals’ (Funeral Transport Document) for the entry procedures of funerals coming from risky countries in accordance with international transport conditions. In case there is no Transit Permit Document for Funerals, it should be ensured that the document is obtained in the fastest way by contacting the funeral owners and the consulate to which they are affiliated. In case the mentioned document cannot be obtained, the information of the funeral is recorded in the Borders and Coasts Health Information System. However, ‘Entry Permit Certificate for Funerals’ is not issued. In order to evaluate the entry of the corpse into Turkey, the necessary security units are notified about the situation with an official document. In case there is a Funeral Transport Certificate, but the information on whether an autopsy was performed or not and the cause of death is missing in the document;
If the missing information is included in the documents attached to the ‘Funeral Transport Certificate’, the document is accepted as complete.
If the missing information is not included in the documents attached to the ‘Funeral Transport Certificate’, the relatives of the deceased and the relevant consulate are contacted and asked to complete the missing information.
If the information cannot be obtained, the existing information of the funeral is entered into the system. However, ‘Entry Permit for Funerals’ is not issued. In order to evaluate the entry of the corpse into the country, the relevant security units are notified about the situation with official documents.
Forensic Funeral Procedures Brought from Abroad
Deaths are categorised as death at home due to natural causes, death in hospital due to natural causes or death as a result of forensic events. If the funerals coming from abroad are included in the forensic event, the procedures to be performed are as follows: If there is an autopsy report of the corpses coming from Risk-Free Countries, the entry procedures of the corpse are carried out by the customs directorate. If there is no autopsy report, the relevant customs directorate notifies the security units. Funerals coming to the country from risky countries are notified to the health personnel in charge by the relevant customs directorate. The funeral with an autopsy report is evaluated by the health officer and the ‘Entry Permit Certificate for Funerals’ is issued to the appropriate ones. For the corpses that do not have an autopsy report and are considered to be risk-free in terms of public health, the ‘Entry Permit Certificate for Corpses’ is issued by the authorised health personnel and the security units are notified about the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
My mother/father passed away in Turkey, how will the funeral procedures be carried out?
The first step for foreign nationals who die in Turkey is to issue a death certificate. For this purpose, the hospital or municipality should be contacted and the necessary procedures should be initiated.
How can I transfer the body of my deceased relative to our country?
For the transfer of the body, a transport permit must be obtained through the consulate and a funeral transport company that fulfils certain health and transport conditions must be contracted. In addition, certain documents should be prepared according to the airline companies and transport conditions in Turkey.
How is the inheritance of a foreigner who dies in Turkey divided?
The inheritance left by a foreigner in Turkey is shared according to the provisions of the Turkish Civil Code. For this purpose, a certificate of inheritance must be issued and the inheritance laws of the country of nationality of the person must be taken into consideration. Heirs can initiate the inheritance process by submitting the necessary documents through a lawyer in Turkey.
How can I obtain a death certificate for a deceased family member in Turkey?
In Turkey, the death certificate can be obtained from the hospital or municipality where the person died. For foreign nationals, it is also important to report this document to the consulates.
How can I get the belongings of my deceased relative in Turkey?
Heirs who wish to receive the movable property of a deceased foreigner in Turkey can claim the right to the property with a certificate of inheritance from the Turkish courts. Giving power of attorney to a lawyer in Turkey can facilitate this process.
How to close the bank accounts of a deceased foreign national in Turkey?
In order to make transactions on bank accounts, heirs can apply to the relevant banks together with the certificate of inheritance. For bank transactions in Turkey, it is necessary to appoint a proxy in Turkey.
How is burial in a cemetery in Turkey done?
For burial in Turkey, the local municipality should be contacted and a cemetery request should be made. Religious requirements and special requests are taken into consideration and the burial is organised.
How is an obituary published in Turkey?
An obituary can be published in local newspapers, municipalities or funeral homes. It may also be necessary to publish an advertisement in the country of nationality of the deceased.
How can I get information about the deceased’s workplace, bank account and other assets in Turkey?
The heirs or a lawyer with a power of attorney can obtain information about the person’s assets by applying to the official institutions in Turkey. A certificate of inheritance to be obtained from the court will be a guide in these procedures.
Does the residence permit of the deceased person in Turkey expire?
Yes, the residence permit loses its validity in case of death. This can be cancelled by notifying the competent authorities.
How can I create a death registration and grave site registration in Turkey?
The death record is created by municipalities or population directorates. The grave site record is kept in the cemetery where the burial is made and a document can be provided upon request.
Is a will made before death in Turkey valid?
The will of a person who dies in Turkey is valid if it is drawn up in accordance with the Turkish Civil Code. However, if the will is drawn up according to the rules of the country of nationality of the deceased, its validity in Turkey may be assessed by the courts.
What happens to the social security or pension of a person who dies in Turkey?
Social security or pension benefits may continue or end according to the rules of the person’s country of nationality. The heirs can find out the status of the pension by making the necessary information through the consulates.
Do the debts of the deceased foreigner in Turkey pass to the heirs?
Yes, under Turkish law, the debts of the person can pass to the heirs. Therefore, heirs have the right to accept or reject the inheritance by investigating their debt status.
What are the legal procedures to be performed during funeral procedures?
Legal processes such as issuing the death certificate, obtaining a certificate of inheritance, determining the heirs, and autopsy procedures, if any, should be carried out. Lawyer or consular support is important for the correct progress of these processes.
