At a glance
- Federal state
- Styria
- Status
- Graz is a statutory city with district-level administrative powers
- Civil-registration procedure
- death report in the city's Standesamt
- International document
- Leichenpass is issued by the Gesundheitsamt of the city of Graz
- Time limit for routine case
- arrival can be organised within 48 hours
What does it mean that Graz is a statutory city?
As a statutory city, Graz performs municipal and district-administration tasks through the Magistrat. The international case therefore does not automatically fall to the Bezirkshauptmannschaft for the surrounding district of Graz-Umgebung. The verified address of the holding institution determines whether the City of Graz or a neighbouring territorial authority is competent.
The Standesamt records the death on the basis of medical documentation. That civil-status record precedes the international step. The city's Gesundheitsamt then checks the supporting documents for the Leichenpass. The two offices coordinate their work, but issue different records and cannot replace each other's checks.
What does the Gesundheitsamt check before issuing?
The official Graz instruction lists the international Leichenpass and the documents accompanying the application. The health service checks the identity, medical certificate, death certificate and destination information. The document is multilingual and is intended for international use, but it does not replace the destination-state permit.
If the death involves a judicial procedure or medical procedure, the authority appointed for that district must complete its decision before departure. Such a case is not shown as a regular deadline. The official release of the deceased is confirmed by the competent authority only when the official hold ceases.
Which document is created in which service?
The table separates the city registry, health and destination layers. The correct list is supplemented only on the basis of the request of the authority appointed for that district.
| Document | Issuing authority | Role in the case |
|---|---|---|
| Medical certificate | doctor or hospital | confirms death for reporting |
| Sterbeurkunde | Standesamt of the City of Graz | gives the registry proof of the event |
| International Leichenpass | Gesundheitsamt of the city of Graz | tracks export from Austria |
| Destination-country permission | competent mission of the destination country | addresses admission at the final destination |
How is the city document connected to the region?
For burial in Serbia, the Serbian sprovodnica is checked alongside the Austrian documents; Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Montenegro apply their own consular conditions. Graz's Leichenpass covers departure from Austria. The family must specify the intended burial municipality, so that the receiving authority and any required evidence of the grave can be identified.
The proximity of Slovenia and Croatia does not cancel the documents. Even when the onward transport continues through a limited number of transit countries, funeral transport remains a separate legal case. Names and dates must be written in the same way in the Austrian death certificate, Leichenpass and destination-country permit.
What to state when making the first call from Graz?
The passport of the deceased, the name and street of the institution, information on whether the death was reported to the Standesamt, the municipality selected for burial and a contact telephone number are required. The address determines whether the case is in the statutory city or Graz-Umgebung. That detail determines the competent authority, although both places are called Graz in everyday speech.
The initial response is given in 10 minutes. No separate handling fee is charged for obtaining routine documents; each public authority sets its own official charges. The stated 48-hour timeframe applies after the Leichenpass and Serbian sprovodnica are complete, and begins only once the deceased has been officially released. Fees charged by authorities or other institutions are paid according to their actual invoice.
Why does the public description not specify one route?
From Styria, you can continue to the region through Slovenia, Croatia or another combination depending on the destination. These are possible transit countries, not a pre-guaranteed route. Administrative documents must correspond to the actual plan.
Verifiable authorities and documents are published that show the family what has been completed. The actual logistic variant is confirmed only when the final address and the official status of the case are known.
Process for this case
- Step 1 of 4
Checking the jurisdiction of Graz or Graz-Umgebung
The address distinguishes the Graz Magistrat from the surrounding district authority.
- Step 2 of 4
Registry
The Standesamt concludes the record based on medical data.
- Step 3 of 4
Leichenpass issued by the health authority
Gesundheitsamt checks the documents for international departure.
- Step 4 of 4
Destination-country permit
The relevant destination-country authority checks entry and the place of final handover.
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.
- Stadt Graz – official guidance — Stadt Graz · reviewed
- Stadt Graz – official guidance — Stadt Graz · reviewed
- oesterreich.gv.at – official guidance — oesterreich.gv.at · reviewed
- Council of Europe – official guidance — Council of Europe · reviewed
- European Commission — DG MOVE – official guidance — European Commission — DG MOVE · 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
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the international Leichenpass in Graz?
Graz's official guidance names the municipal Gesundheitsamt as the service responsible for the international Leichenpass.
Is Graz-Umgebung the same administrative jurisdiction?
No. The surrounding district and the statutory city have different territorial authorities.
What is the role of the Standesamt?
The Standesamt registers the death and issues the civil death certificate. This certificate forms part of the supporting file reviewed by the health service.
Does proximity to Croatia remove the need for an international document?
No. The national border and burial regulations remain relevant regardless of the short geographical connection.
When can arrival from Graz be organised within 48 hours?
When the registry, the city Leichenpass, the destination-country permit and the collection have been completed without a hitch.