At a glance
- Canton
- Basel-Stadt where death occurred within the canton
- Mandatory attachment
- original record of the coffin and sealing
- Contents of the record
- identity, death, health information, destination, content and closure
- Swiss framework
- Leichenpass is issued by the cantonal authority
- Initial response
- within 10 minutes after the submitted location
Why does Basel require evidence of coffining and sealing?
Basel-Stadt’s 2025 guidance requires the original Einsargungs- und Versiegelungsprotokoll, a record of coffining and sealing, before issuing a Leichenpass. The forms are sent to the Bestattungsbüro in advance; the funeral director presents the original protocol when collecting the pass.
The cantonal burial law describes the record’s contents: the deceased’s identity, place and date of death, information about infectious disease, destination, coffin contents and confirmation of closure. Zurich’s city ordinance, by contrast, regulates local transport and cemetery administration more broadly. The original coffin and sealing record therefore has a distinct evidential role in Basel.
| Document | Responsible authority | Role in the Basel file |
|---|---|---|
| Coffining and sealing record | Funeral director under the cantonal rules | Original presented when the Leichenpass is collected |
| Leichenpass | Competent cantonal authority | Records authorisation for departure from Basel-Stadt |
| Receiving-country document | Mission of the actual destination country | Confirms the stated destination and recipient |
When does the Canton of Basel-Stadt have responsibility?
Section 24 concerns deaths within the Canton of Basel-Stadt, not just the city. It also permits a pass for someone last resident in that canton who died elsewhere in Switzerland, provided the specified Basel requirements for the coffining protocol are met. That exception does not establish a general procedure for deaths abroad.
The full hospital, care-home or mortuary address helps identify the relevant canton; the authority does not choose that address. If death occurred outside Basel-Stadt, establish whether the statutory residence exception applies or another canton has responsibility. Federal guidance assigns Leichenpass issuance to cantonal offices, while the cantonal rules identify the applicable records and responsible service.
Which Serbian consular mission is relevant for Basel?
Serbia’s official directory identifies its embassy in Bern and consulate in Zurich, with no consulate listed in Basel. Bern’s sprovodnica instructions direct the application according to the deceased’s last residence. Being held in a Basel hospital does not itself select the Serbian mission. Establish that residence before sending originals, keeping the cantonal Leichenpass procedure separate from the Serbian consular allocation.
For a funeral in BiH, Croatia or Montenegro, the relevant destination’s requirements are added to the Swiss file. Basel’s Leichenpass and sealing evidence concern departure, not selection of the family’s burial place. Once the intended cemetery and recipient are identified, the destination authority examines the necessary supporting records. The same endpoint should appear in the cantonal paper and the receiving country’s documentation.
What to send for a case from Basel?
A Basel enquiry starts with the holding facility: give its full address and identify the municipality. Keep the passport available so the identity can be compared with the medical notification. Then name the intended burial location abroad and a relative who can be contacted. This establishes the appropriate cantonal file before the coffin certificate and remaining papers are reviewed. Fenjer responds within 10 minutes.
In a routine case, the documentation is planned within 24 hours, and arrival at the confirmed address within 48 hours. If the original record, health information or decision of a public body is missing, the cantonal case cannot be concluded. The family then receives information on which original needs to be supplemented before the Leichenpass is issued.
Why is Basel-Stadt more than a place name?
Basel-Stadt has its own cantonal requirements for registration and the Leichenpass. The institution’s address identifies whether Basel-Stadt or another canton is responsible.
This distinction matters to relatives and foreign funeral directors: a form used in another canton cannot replace the Basel review. Issuer, sealing evidence and destination must remain traceable within the same official file.
Process for this case
- Step 1 of 4
Verification of cantonal jurisdiction
The death location and any applicable last-residence exception establish whether Basel-Stadt handles the case.
- Step 2 of 4
Registry and medical documents
Identity and the circumstances of death are established in the civil and medical records before the international application.
- Step 3 of 4
Coffin and sealing record
The original confirms the content, construction and sealing for movement across national borders.
- Step 4 of 4
Leichenpass and sprovodnica
The cantonal exit document is linked to the country and the burial address.
Sources and review date
The official sources listed below were reviewed for the statements on this page. Responsibilities and forms can change, so the current version published by the relevant authority remains decisive.
- Kanton Basel-Stadt – official guidance — Kanton Basel-Stadt · reviewed
- Kanton Basel-Stadt – official guidance — Kanton Basel-Stadt · reviewed
- Stadt Zürich – official guidance — Stadt Zürich · reviewed
- Bundesamt für Gesundheit – official guidance — Bundesamt für Gesundheit · reviewed
- Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova Republike Srbije – official guidance — Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova Republike Srbije · reviewed
- Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova Republike Srbije – official guidance — Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova Republike Srbije · reviewed
- Ministarstvo vanjskih poslova Bosne i Hercegovine – official guidance — Ministarstvo vanjskih poslova Bosne i Hercegovine · reviewed
- Ministarstvo vanjskih i europskih poslova – official guidance — Ministarstvo vanjskih i europskih poslova · reviewed
- Vlada Crne Gore – official guidance — Vlada Crne Gore · reviewed
- Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova Republike Srbije – official guidance — Ministarstvo spoljnih poslova Republike Srbije · reviewed
Frequently asked questions
Which special attachment does Basel-Stadt require for the Leichenpass?
The original record of the coffin and sealing is requested, according to the cantonal instructions from 2025.
What does the Basel coffin and sealing record contain?
The cantonal law states the identity, place and date of death, health information, destination, contents of the coffin and closure.
Do Basel-Stadt and Basel-Landschaft share one cantonal jurisdiction?
They are not. The entire facility address must show which canton the location where the death occurred belongs to before applying the specific instruction.
How is Serbian consular competence identified for a Basel case?
The official registry lists the embassy in Bern and the consulate in Zurich; the competent office for Basel is checked by consular area.
Can a copy of the Coffin and sealing record replace the original?
No. After the forms have been sent in advance, the funeral director must present the original protocol when collecting the Leichenpass.