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

1. 1

   Medical Examination of Death and Medical Death Certificate (Totenschein) in Germany

   Before any transfer or funeral arrangements can proceed, the death must be medically certified in Germany through an external post-mortem examination (ärztliche Leichenschau), and an official medical death certificate (Todesbescheinigung / Totenschein, consisting of a confidential and a non-confidential part) must be issued [1][2]:

   • Death in a hospital, nursing home, or hospice: The attending or on-duty physician at the facility performs the post-mortem examination directly on site, issues the Todesbescheinigung, and arranges initial care in the facility's mortuary cooling room [1][2]. Keep the deceased person's Austrian passport (Reisepass) or national identity card (Personalausweis) ready.
   • Death at home, in a hotel, or in a public place: In the event of a natural death in a private residence, immediately contact the family doctor's practice or, outside regular office hours, the on-call medical service (ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst) at the nationwide number 116 117 (or in acute emergencies or in a public space, emergency medical services via the emergency number 112) [2]. A funeral director may only collect the deceased person once the medical death certificate has been issued.
   • Unexplained or non-natural cause of death: If the physician records an unexplained or non-natural manner of death (for example, following a traffic or workplace accident or a sudden death), the police (emergency number 110 or 112) and the public prosecutor's office (Staatsanwaltschaft) are notified automatically [2]. Neither cremation nor repatriation to Austria may take place until written clearance (Freigabe) has been granted by the German public prosecutor's office [2][6].
2. 2

   Check Insurance Coverage and Contact Funeral Directors in Germany and Austria and the Austrian Mission

   Before commissioning private services, verify whether an existing insurance policy or funeral plan covers the repatriation costs [4][6]:

   • Travel, repatriation, or pre-need funeral insurance: If your family member held travel health insurance, an automobile club breakdown/protection policy (Schutzbrief), or an Austrian funeral provision policy (Bestattungsvorsorge, such as with the Wiener Verein), contact their 24-hour assistance center immediately, as the insurer usually commissions the repatriation provider directly [6].
   • Licensed funeral directors in Germany and Austria: Where no insurance coordination applies, appoint a funeral director in Germany (Bestattungsunternehmen, operating in compliance with the German state burial laws - Landesbestattungsgesetze - and mandatory cemetery interment rules - Friedhofszwang) that coordinates with a licensed receiving funeral provider in Austria [2][3][6]. In Germany, you can find qualified funeral directors through the national professional association (Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter e.V., telephone +49 211 16008-10, 24-hour emergency line +49 211 16008-86, email [email protected]) [2]. In Austria, licensed funeral directors are represented by the statutory professional body (Wirtschaftskammer Österreich - Bundesinnung der Rauchfangkehrer und Bestatter, within the WKO Association of Personal Service Providers / Funeral Directors) [3]. Clarvia provides these directories for orientation only and does not recommend, endorse, or rank individual providers.
   • Contacting the Austrian Embassy or Consulate in Germany: For consular questions regarding the death of an Austrian citizen in Germany (within the consular districts of the Austrian Embassy in Berlin, the Consulate General in Munich, and the honorary consulates), support is provided by the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten - BMEIA, Citizens' Service +43 1 90115 3775, 24-hour emergency number +43 1 90115 4411) [5][6]. Diplomatic and consular missions advise on procedural steps and notify next of kin upon receiving official reports, but they do not cover funeral or repatriation expenses [6].
3. 3

   Registration at the German Civil Registry Office (CIEC Form C) and Recording in Austria (ZPR)

   • German civil registry office at the place of death (3-working-day deadline under § 28 PStG): Under Section 28 of the German Civil Status Act (§ 28 Personenstandsgesetz - PStG), the death must be reported to the civil registry office (Standesamt) at the place of death in Germany (for example, in Munich, Berlin, Frankfurt am Main, or Passau) no later than the third working day following the death [1]. When a death occurs in a hospital or nursing home, the institution submits the written notification; otherwise, the appointed funeral director normally files the declaration upon presentation of the medical death certificate, the deceased person's Austrian passport/ID card or proof of citizenship (Staatsbürgerschaftsnachweis), and their birth and, where applicable, marriage certificate [1][2].
   • Death certificate and multilingual CIEC Form C: Request several German death certificates (Sterbeurkunde) from the German Standesamt as well as multilingual extracts on Form C (Formblatt C) under the 1976 Vienna CIEC Convention [1][4]. Because German civil status certificates are issued in German and both the 1976 Vienna CIEC Convention and EU Regulation 2016/1191 apply between Germany and Austria, the German death certificate (as well as CIEC Form C) is recognized directly in Austria without an apostille or legalization [4][6].
   • Subsequent recording in the Austrian Central Civil Status Register (ZPR): When an Austrian citizen dies in Germany, the death must also be reported - by presenting the German death certificate or CIEC Form C - to an Austrian civil status authority (any municipal civil registry office or registry association, Standesamt or Standesamtsverband, in Austria, such as at the last Austrian place of residence in Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg, or Innsbruck) so that it is recorded in the Central Civil Status Register (Zentrales Personenstandsregister - ZPR), as explained on the official Austrian government portal (oesterreich.gv.at) [4][6]. Recording the death in the ZPR triggers automatic notification of the Austrian district court (Bezirksgericht) and social insurance institutions [4].
4. 4

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

   • Coffin repatriation from Germany to Austria (Leichenpass): For the cross-border transport of mortal remains from Germany to Austria, the competent German local authority at the place of death (public order office Ordnungsamt, health authority Gesundheitsamt, or Standesamt) issues an international mortuary passport (Leichenpass under the 1937 International Berlin Agreement) upon application by the funeral director, once the body has been placed in a hermetically soldered zinc-lined coffin or sealed transport coffin in accordance with regulations [2][6][7]. Conversely, for transfers out of Austria or specific official onward transports within Austria, an Austrian mortuary passport (österreichischer Leichenpass) issued by the district administrative authority (Bezirksverwaltungsbehörde) or municipal administration (Magistrat) applies [4][6]. General guidance on cross-border repatriations is published by both the Austrian Foreign Ministry (Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten - BMEIA) and the German Federal Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) [5][6][7].
   • Cremation and urn transfer to Austria: If cremation takes place at a German crematorium (which requires a mandatory second post-mortem examination by an official medical officer in Germany), the sealed urn may be transferred together with the death certificate and cremation certificate (Einäscherungsbescheinigung) to the receiving Austrian funeral director or Austrian cemetery administration [2][6]. (By contrast, if an urn is to be interred within Germany, the German crematorium requires prior written confirmation of acceptance - Übernahmebescheinigung - from the receiving German cemetery due to Germany's mandatory cemetery interment law, Friedhofszwang [2].)
   • Local burial or cremation in Germany: If the family prefers a burial or cremation in Germany, the German funeral director arranges the interment in accordance with the statutory time limits set by the applicable German state burial law (Landesbestattungsgesetz) [2].
5. 5

   Survivor Pensions, Probate Proceedings, and Estate Administration in Austria and Germany

   Once the death certificate has been issued and the death is recorded in the Austrian ZPR, social security and succession procedures must be completed in both countries:

   • Survivor pensions and automatic probate proceedings (Verlassenschaftsverfahren) in Austria: Recording the death in the ZPR notifies bodies such as the Austrian Health Insurance Fund (Österreichische Gesundheitskasse - ÖGK); however, surviving dependents must submit a separate application for a widow's, widower's, or orphan's pension (Witwen-, Witwer- oder Waisenpension) or a lump-sum survivor benefit (Abfindung) to the competent Austrian pension insurance institution (Pensionsversicherungsanstalt - PVA, or alternatively SVS or BVAEB) - ideally within six months of the date of death so that the pension is paid retroactively from the day after death [8]. At the same time, following the ZPR entry, the Austrian district court (Bezirksgericht) automatically initiates probate proceedings (Verlassenschaftsverfahren) and appoints the locally competent notary as court commissioner (Gerichtskommissär, organized under the Chamber of Civil-Law Notaries, Österreichische Notariatskammer) to conduct the official death record intake (Todesfallaufnahme), search for wills, and issue the decree of distribution (Einantwortung) [4][9].
   • Pensions, health insurance, and probate court in Germany: If the deceased person also held German pension entitlements or received a German statutory pension, notify the pension payment service immediately (Renten Service der Deutschen Post, telephone +49 221 569 2777), where surviving spouses or registered partners can apply within 30 days of the date of death for the three-month transition pension advance (Sterbevierteljahr) [10][11]. Applications for a German widow's, widower's, or orphan's pension (Witwen-, Witwer- oder Waisenrente) are filed with the German statutory pension insurance body (Deutsche Rentenversicherung, toll-free service number 0800 1000 4800 within Germany or +49 30 865 0 from abroad) [10]. Also notify any German statutory health insurance fund (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung - GKV). If the deceased person's last habitual residence was in Germany or estate assets are located there, the German probate court at the local district court (Nachlassgericht beim Amtsgericht) is responsible for issuing a German certificate of inheritance (Erbschein) or European Certificate of Succession; wills in official custody in Germany are located automatically through the register maintained by the Federal Chamber of Notaries (Zentrales Testamentsregister, telephone 0800 35 50 100, email [email protected]) [12].

Official Authorities & Verified Contacts

Official Sources Checked by Clarvia

1. [1]
   German Civil Status Act (Personenstandsgesetz - PStG) § 28 Reporting a Death to the Civil Registry Office — Bundesministerium der Justiz (Gesetze im Internet)
2. [2]
   Contact and Immediate Bereavement Assistance - Federal Association of German Funeral Directors (Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter e.V.) — Bundesverband Deutscher Bestatter e.V.
3. [3]
   Federal Guild of Chimney Sweeps and Funeral Directors (Association of Personal Service Providers - WKO) — Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (WKO)
4. [4]
   Death - Reporting a Death, Central Civil Status Register (ZPR), and Death Certificate — oesterreich.gv.at (Bundeskanzleramt Österreich)
5. [5]
   Citizens' Service and Emergency Duty of the Foreign Ministry (BMEIA) for Emergencies Abroad — oesterreich.gv.at / Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten (BMEIA)
6. [6]
   Death Abroad and Repatriation to Austria — oesterreich.gv.at (Bundesministerium für europäische und internationale Angelegenheiten)
7. [7]
   Death Abroad and Repatriation - Information for Relatives — Auswärtiges Amt
8. [8]
   Survivor Pensions - Widow's and Widower's Pension — Pensionsversicherungsanstalt (PVA)
9. [9]
   Austrian Probate Proceedings (Verlassenschaftsverfahren) - Procedure, Death Record Intake by the Court Commissioner, and Estate Distribution — oesterreich.gv.at (Bundesministerium für Justiz)
10. [10]
    Survivor Pensions - Widow's Pension, Widower's Pension, and Orphan's Pension — Deutsche Rentenversicherung
11. [11]
    Renten Service der Deutschen Post - Reporting a Death and Applying for the Three-Month Transition Period (Sterbevierteljahr) — Deutsche Post AG - Renten Service
12. [12]
    Central Register of Wills (Zentrales Testamentsregister - ZTR) of the Federal Chamber of Notaries — Bund.de Verwaltung Online