For the transfer of human remains to Serbia, it is necessary to obtain a relevant document of the Republic of Serbia called a docket. A request for the issuance of this document should be submitted to the diplomatic mission or the consulate general of the Republic of Serbia in the jurisdiction of the last place of residence of the decedent.

For the issuance of a docket, original copies of the following documents are required:

1. Passport of the deceased person.
2. Request by a family member of the deceased person or a funeral service authorized for the transport of human remains stating, beside other things, the venue of the funeral and the transport route to the funeral venue.
3. Death Certificate issued by the relevant authority of the receiving state.
4. Medical report on the cause of death.
5. A docket or a permit to transport the mortal remains from abroad, issued by the relevant authority of the receiving state (e.g. "Leichenpass" in Germany and Austria).
6. A letter stating that a grave site is procured in the Republic of Serbia, if the deceased is a foreign national.
7. In case death is caused by the plague or small pox, docket is issued following the approval of the Serbian Health Ministry. The approval is obtained through the diplomatic or consular mission of the Republic of Serbia.

If funeral is to take place in a third country and the remains are transported via Serbian territory, it is necessary to have a transit docket. In order to be able to issue a transit docket, all the above documents should be submitted, along with a docket of the state of burial.
A docket is also required in order to transport an urn. In this case all the above documents including cremation certificate, are submitted.

AUTHORIZATION, AUTHENTICATION OF SIGNATURE AND PHOTOCOPIES

The diplomatic or consular missions of the R. of Serbia, inter alia, draw up authorizations, authenticate signatures, photocopies, translations, etc. The scope and form of authorizations are defined under the Law on General Administrative Procedure. Authentication of signatures is effected on each statement which does not incite racial or religious intolerance, does not offend the state, authorities and government bodies and their representatives. Contracts on sale-purchase of immovable property are an exception in matters of authentication of signatures by the diplomatic or consular missions as they are authenticated only by the court. The inheritor’s statement is one of the most frequent types of statements drawn up and authenticated in the diplomatic or consular missions.

TRANSFER OF SENTENCED PERSONS

According to the criminal legislation of the R. of Serbia, there exists a possibility for our nationals sentenced to prison terms abroad to continue to serve their prison term in Serbia if the matter has been regulated by an international treaty with the country in which they serve their term or on the basis of mutuality. When persons having permanent residence in the territory of the R. of Serbia are involved, or persons born in the territory of the R. of Serbia, the transfer thereof, for the purpose of serving the prison sentence in the Republic of Serbia, may take place in respect of countries with which an international treaty has been concluded but also on the basis of mutuality.

Conditions:

1. The sentenced person must be a national of the R. of Serbia;
2. The sentence must have been pronounced abroad and must be effective and enforceable;
3. The remaining part of the penalty which the sentenced person should serve must be at least six months (in accordance with the Convention) counting from the date when the application for transfer was received, or indefinitely;
4. The sentenced person must submit an application to that effect or give his/her consent;
5. The criminal offence for which the person has been setenced abroad must be deemed to be a criminal offence also in the R. of Serbia;
6. The two countries must reach agreement regarding the transfer of sentenced persons.