What to Do When a Citizen of Germany Dies in Austria: 5-Step Official Checklist

1. 1

   Official Medical Examination (*Totenbeschau*) and Notification of Death in Austria

   Before any repatriation or funeral can take place in Austria, an official post-mortem examination (Totenbeschau) must by law be conducted by an authorised physician and the official Notification of Death (Anzeige des Todes, including the medical death certificate) must be issued [1]:

   • Death in a hospital or nursing home: The medical directorate of the Austrian hospital (Krankenanstalt) arranges the Totenbeschau and completes the Anzeige des Todes directly within the facility [1]. Keep the deceased person's German passport (Reisepass) or national identity card (Personalausweis) ready [1][4].
   • Death at home, in accommodation, or in a public space: Immediately call the ambulance service via the emergency number 144 (or the European emergency number 112) as well as the local municipality (Gemeinde) or city administration (Magistrat) [1]. Depending on the Austrian federal state (Bundesland), the district or municipal public health officer (Sprengel- or Gemeindearzt) - or in Vienna, Municipal Department 15 - Public Health Services of the City of Vienna (Magistratsabteilung 15 - Gesundheitsdienst der Stadt Wien / MA 15) - conducts the Totenbeschau and releases the body for collection by a funeral director [1].
   • Non-natural or unexplained cause of death: In the event of an accident (for example a road traffic or alpine accident), a sudden unexpected death, or suspected third-party involvement, the Austrian police (emergency number 133) must be called immediately [1][4]. The body must not be moved or repatriated until police and forensic medical investigations - or an autopsy ordered by the public prosecutor's office (Staatsanwaltschaft) - have been completed [1].
2. 2

   Checking Insurance, Appointing Funeral Directors in Austria and Germany, and Contacting the German Embassy

   Before commissioning private funeral services, verify whether an existing insurance policy covers coordination and costs [4][5]:

   • Travel health, accident, or repatriation insurance: If the deceased held travel health insurance, automobile club breakdown/repatriation cover (Schutzbrief), or funeral expense insurance (Sterbegeldversicherung) with repatriation cover, notify the insurer's 24-hour emergency assistance centre immediately, as the assistance provider often commissions the transfer directly [5][7].
   • Licensed funeral directors in Austria and Germany: Where no insurer coordinates the transfer, appoint a licensed funeral director (konzessioniertes Bestattungsunternehmen) in Austria working together with a receiving funeral director at the destination in Germany [2][3][4]. Licensed operators in Austria can be found through the statutory professional body, Wirtschaftskammer Österreich - Bundesinnung der Rauchfangkehrer und Bestatter (Austrian Federal Economic Chamber - Federal Guild of Chimney Sweeps and Funeral Directors, within the WKO Association of Personal Service Providers / Funeral Directors) [2]. In Germany, you can locate a qualified funeral director - who will ensure compliance with German state burial laws (Landesbestattungsgesetze) and mandatory cemetery interment (Friedhofszwang) - through the professional association Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter e.V. (Federal Association of German Funeral Directors, telephone +49 211 16008-10, 24-hour emergency line +49 211 16008-86, email [email protected]) [3]. Clarvia provides these directories for orientation only and does not recommend, endorse, or rank individual providers.
   • Consular support from the German Embassy in Vienna: Following the death of a German citizen in Austria, you can contact the diplomatic mission, Deutsche Botschaft Wien (German Embassy Vienna, telephone +43 1 71154 0, email [email protected]; in urgent emergencies outside office hours also reachable via the on-call service of the German Federal Foreign Office, Auswärtiges Amt, at +49 30 5000 0) [4][5]. Any valid German passports or identity cards belonging to the deceased are presented to the Embassy or the German passport authority for cancellation [4].
3. 3

   Registration at the Austrian Civil Registry (ZPR / CIEC Form C) and Recognition in Germany

   • Austrian Civil Status Authority (Personenstandsbehörde / Central Civil Status Register - ZPR): The death must be reported no later than the next working day to the Civil Registry Office (Standesamt / Personenstandsbehörde) at the Austrian place of death (for example in Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, or Innsbruck); in practice, this is handled by the Austrian hospital or the appointed funeral director [1]. Recording the death in the Central Civil Status Register (Zentrales Personenstandsregister - ZPR) - as detailed on the official Austrian government portal oesterreich.gv.at - requires the medical Anzeige des Todes, the deceased's German passport or identity card, birth certificate, and, where applicable, marriage certificate or proof of dissolution of marriage [1].
   • Multilingual CIEC Form C and direct recognition in Germany: Request several Austrian death certificates (Sterbeurkunden) as well as international multilingual extracts on CIEC Form C (Formblatt C) under the 1976 Vienna Convention from the Austrian Standesamt [1]. Because Austrian certificates are issued in German and both the 1976 Vienna CIEC Convention and EU Regulation 2016/1191 apply, the Austrian death certificate and Form C are recognised directly without an apostille by all authorities, courts, pension funds, and banks in Germany [1][5].
   • Optional subsequent registration at a German Civil Registry (Nachbeurkundung): Whereas a death occurring inside Germany must be reported to the local German Standesamt no later than the third following working day under Section 28 of the German Civil Status Act (§ 28 Personenstandsgesetz - PStG) [6], a death in Austria is not automatically reported to the German civil registry. However, close relatives may optionally apply under Section 36 PStG for subsequent registration (Nachbeurkundung) at the German Standesamt of the deceased's last German residence (or at Standesamt I in Berlin) if they wish to obtain a domestic German death certificate [5][6].
4. 4

   Choosing Between International Repatriation to Germany and Local Burial or Cremation in Austria

   • Coffin repatriation from Austria to Germany (Leichenpass): For cross-border transport of the body to Germany, the competent Austrian district administrative authority (Bezirksverwaltungsbehörde - the Bezirkshauptmannschaft or, in statutory cities such as Vienna, Graz, or Salzburg, the Magistrat) issues an Austrian corpse transit permit (österreichischer Leichenpass) upon application by the Austrian funeral director [1][4][7]. For this purpose, the deceased is placed in a hermetically sealed transport coffin (soldered zinc liner or metal insert in accordance with the 1937 International Berlin Agreement) [4][5]. Accompanied by the Austrian Leichenpass and death certificate, the funeral director transports the coffin directly to the destination in Germany [4][5]. General information on cross-border deaths and repatriations is also published by the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten - BMEIA, Citizens' Service Desk +43 1 90115 3775, 24-hour emergency number +43 1 90115 4411) [7].
   • Cremation and urn transfer to Germany (observing Friedhofszwang): If cremation takes place in Austria, note that Germany enforces a statutory mandatory cemetery requirement (Friedhofszwang) that also applies to funerary urns [3][4]. As the Deutsche Botschaft Wien explicitly advises, private transport or home keeping of an urn is not permitted in Germany [4]. Consequently, the Austrian crematorium or funeral director will dispatch the urn directly to the receiving German cemetery or funeral director only after receiving a written urn requisition / acceptance certificate (Urnenanforderung / Übernahmebescheinigung) from the receiving cemetery or funeral provider in Germany [3][4].
   • Local burial or cremation in Austria: If the family wishes the funeral to take place in Austria, the Austrian funeral director arranges burial or cremation in accordance with the funeral laws (Landes-Bestattungsgesetz) of the respective Austrian federal state [1][2].
5. 5

   Pensions, Social Insurance, Taxes, and Estate Administration in Germany and Austria

   Using the Austrian death certificates (or CIEC Form C), initiate survivor benefit and probate steps in both countries:

   • Pensions, health insurance, and Probate Court in Germany: If the deceased received a German statutory pension, report the death immediately to the pension payment service (Renten Service der Deutschen Post, telephone +49 221 569 2777), where surviving spouses or registered civil partners can apply within 30 days of the date of death for the three-month transition pension advance (Sterbevierteljahr, equal to three full monthly pension payments) [8][9]. Submit applications for widow's, widower's, or orphan's pensions (Witwen-, Witwer- oder Waisenrente) to the German statutory pension authority (Deutsche Rentenversicherung, toll-free service number 0800 1000 4800 or +49 30 865 0 from abroad) [8]. Also notify the German statutory health insurance fund (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung - GKV) and the tax office (Finanzamt). If the deceased had their last habitual residence in Germany, the German Probate Court at the Local District Court (Nachlassgericht beim Amtsgericht) has jurisdiction over the entire estate under the EU Succession Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 650/2012), issuing a German certificate of inheritance (Erbschein) or a European Certificate of Succession (Europäisches Nachlasszeugnis) for assets in Austria (the statutory deadline to renounce an inheritance in Germany is 6 weeks, or 6 months where there is a cross-border connection) [10]. Officially deposited wills are located through the Zentrales Testamentsregister (Central Register of Wills of the Federal Chamber of Notaries, telephone 0800 35 50 100, email [email protected]) [10].
   • Pension entitlements and automatic probate proceedings (Verlassenschaftsverfahren) in Austria: If the deceased accrued insurance or pension periods in Austria (for instance with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund, Österreichische Gesundheitskasse - ÖGK, or the pension insurance scheme), survivors should check entitlements to Austrian widow's, widower's, or orphan's pensions (Witwen-, Witwer- oder Waisenpension) or a one-off lump-sum settlement (Abfindung) with the Austrian Pension Insurance Institution (Pensionsversicherungsanstalt - PVA; retroactive to the day after death if claimed within 6 months) [11]. Furthermore, the Austrian Standesamt automatically forwards every death certificate to the local Austrian District Court (Bezirksgericht), which initiates official probate proceedings (Verlassenschaftsverfahren) ex officio through the competent Austrian civil-law notary acting as Court Commissioner (Gerichtskommissär), organised under the Österreichische Notariatskammer (Austrian Chamber of Civil-Law Notaries) [1][12]. Where the deceased had their habitual residence or held assets in Austria, the Gerichtskommissär conducts the initial estate inventory (Todesfallaufnahme) or coordinates international jurisdiction with the German Nachlassgericht under the EU Succession Regulation [12].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   Death in Austria – Notification of Death, Post-Mortem Examination (Totenbeschau), and Death Certificate (ZPR) — oesterreich.gv.at (Bundeskanzleramt Österreich)
2. [2]
   Federal Guild of Chimney Sweeps and Funeral Directors (Association of Personal Service Providers) — Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (WKO)
3. [3]
   Contact and Immediate Bereavement Support – Federal Association of German Funeral Directors (Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter e.V.) — Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter e.V.
4. [4]
   Deaths of German Citizens in Austria – Guidance from the German Embassy Vienna — Deutsche Botschaft Wien (Auswärtiges Amt)
5. [5]
   Death Abroad and Repatriation to Germany — Auswärtiges Amt
6. [6]
   German Civil Status Act (Personenstandsgesetz - PStG) § 28: Reporting a Death to the Civil Registry — Bundesministerium der Justiz (Gesetze im Internet)
7. [7]
   Death Abroad and Repatriation – Consular Information and Citizens' Service Desk (BMEIA) — oesterreich.gv.at / Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten (BMEIA)
8. [8]
   Survivor Pensions – Widow's, Widower's, and Orphan's Pensions — Deutsche Rentenversicherung
9. [9]
   Deutsche Post Pension Service – Reporting a Death and Applying for the Three-Month Transition Quarter (Sterbevierteljahr) — Deutsche Post AG - Renten Service
10. [10]
    Central Register of Wills (Zentrales Testamentsregister - ZTR) of the Federal Chamber of Notaries — Bund.de Verwaltung Online
11. [11]
    Survivor Pensions – Widow's and Widower's Pension (Witwen- und Witwerpension) — Pensionsversicherungsanstalt (PVA)
12. [12]
    Probate Proceedings in Austria (Verlassenschaftsverfahren) – Procedure, Initial Death Inventory by the Court Commissioner, and Transfer of Estate — oesterreich.gv.at (Bundesministerium für Justiz)