At a glance
- Federal state
- Baden-Württemberg
- Exit document
- multilingual Leichenpass
- Document languages
- German, English, French and Italian
- Serbian consular mission
- Consulate General in Stuttgart
- Routine documents
- without separate handling fee. Fees charged by authorities or other institutions are paid according to their actual invoice.
What does the City of Stuttgart publish about the Leichenpass?
The official Stuttgart portal has a special service for Leichenpass requests. The document is intended for international transfer and contains multilingual sections in German, English, French and Italian. The city page refers to Article 44 of the Funeral Law of Baden-Württemberg as the legal basis. It is a regional rule that cannot be transferred without verification to other federal states.
The application can be initiated through the municipal service, but the document cannot be issued before medical review and civil registration are complete. Identity, recorded place of death, cause of death and destination must match. If a judicial hold applies, the competent authority must grant clearance before collection. The multilingual form assists official review during transit, but does not replace the consular permit required by the destination country.
| Document | Issuer | Role in the Stuttgart procedure |
|---|---|---|
| Medical certificate of death | Attending or examining doctor | Provides the medical basis for the application |
| Multilingual Leichenpass | Competent Stuttgart city service | Records clearance for international transfer |
| Destination-country authorisation | Competent diplomatic or consular mission | Relates the transfer to the final place of burial |
What is the role of the Serbian consulate in Stuttgart?
Serbia's official directory lists a Consulate General in Stuttgart. For burial in Serbia, the competent Serbian mission checks the German originals under its published territorial rules and handles the sprovodnica. It does not issue the German Leichenpass or decide an outstanding German investigation. These consular and municipal functions are connected, but remain legally distinct.
For a destination in BiH, Croatia or Montenegro, a document from that country is required. The Stuttgart Leichenpass remains the common German exit document, while the required destination-country documents differ. The confirmed city of burial must therefore be stated at the outset; the general label "Balkans" is insufficient. Documents cannot be prepared correctly if the final country is not confirmed.
How does Stuttgart differ from Berlin and Munich?
Stuttgart is the southwestern German starting point in Baden-Württemberg. Berlin applies the district civil affairs service, and Munich the city cemetery procedure. In Stuttgart, the request is based on state law and goes through a special city procedure. The local issuer and the method of submission are therefore determined according to the rules of Baden-Württemberg.
Depending on the destination, an overland journey may continue through Austria or Switzerland and other countries towards the region. The TEN-T network links south-western German transport hubs with neighbouring states. Transit countries must agree with the documents for the case; the intended city of burial therefore needs to be settled before the Stuttgart Leichenpass is completed.
What is required to verify the Stuttgart case?
The case details should include the passport of the deceased, the name and address of the institution in Stuttgart, the city and country of burial and the telephone number. Fenjer reviews the case details within 10 minutes. The location directs the municipal service check, while the destination determines the procedure required by the destination country. The family does not have to invent an English name for the Leichenpass.
For a straightforward Stuttgart case, routine documentation can be completed within 24 hours, and arrival at the confirmed address can be organised within 48 hours. An autopsy, an investigation, or a special medical decision may postpone the pickup time. Then it is first checked which authority handles the case, which evidence has not yet been issued and when the deceased can be legally handed over for international transfer.
Why is state law visible in the Stuttgart procedure?
Stuttgart’s service portal expressly refers to the Funeral Act of Baden-Württemberg. The multilingual Leichenpass therefore sits within a state-law framework that cannot be transferred without review to Berlin, Bavaria or North Rhine-Westphalia.
Civil registration, medical certification and the international application are read as separate stages. The form’s several languages do not remove the additional requirements imposed by the destination state.
Process for this case
- Step 1 of 4
Institution in Stuttgart
The complete location of the institution, identity of the deceased and the status of the death report are established.
- Step 2 of 4
Evidence required under state law
Medical evidence and civil-registration records are prepared according to the rules of Baden-Württemberg.
- Step 3 of 4
Multilingual Leichenpass
The city office issues an international document for the specified destination.
- Step 4 of 4
Destination-country permit and handover
The competent authority in the country of burial issues the required permit, and the handover address is confirmed separately.
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.
- Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart – official guidance — Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart · reviewed
- Land Berlin – official guidance — Land Berlin · reviewed
- Landeshauptstadt München – official guidance — Landeshauptstadt München · 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
- European Commission — DG MOVE – official guidance — European Commission — DG MOVE · reviewed
Frequently asked questions
On what legal basis does Stuttgart issue the Leichenpass?
The city portal refers to Article 44 of the Law on Funerals of Baden-Württemberg.
Is the Stuttgart form multilingual?
Yes. The official site lists German content alongside English, French and Italian.
Does the Consulate General of Serbia issue a Leichenpass?
No. The consulate handles the Serbian sprovodnica procedure, while the German document is issued by the competent city office.
Is the Leichenpass from Stuttgart used without a Croatian document?
No. For a funeral in Croatia, the German exit document is linked to the Croatian receiving-country document and proof of destination.
When is the stated 48-hour timeframe for Stuttgart?
The stated 48-hour timeframe applies to the routine case after the completion of the German and destination-country permits.