At a glance
- Outward document
- passersedel
- Issuer
- Skatteverket
- Form language
- Swedish with English or French
- Routine document collection
- No separate handling fee. Fees charged by authorities or other institutions are paid according to their actual invoice.
- Timeframe for a straightforward case
- arrival at the address within 48 hours
What is a passersedel under Swedish regulations?
The Swedish Burial Ordinance stipulates that the deceased can be taken out of the country when Skatteverket issues a passersedel. The original must accompany the deceased during transport. The document is not only confirmation that the death has been reported: it is issued only when there is a basis for a burial or cremation certificate and when the special conditions for international transport are met.
The form is issued in Swedish and English or in Swedish and French. There is an exception for transport to the Nordic countries, but it does not apply to Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia or Montenegro. After departure, the person who organised the transfer records that fact on a copy and returns it to Skatteverket within the prescribed period. This completes the administrative record after the deceased has left Sweden.
What conditions does Sweden set for the coffin?
The regulation requires the coffin to be impermeable to moisture and to contain absorbent material. It specifies an outer wooden coffin with an inner layer of zinc or another degradable material, or a suitably coated construction. For air transport, the rules also address pressure equalisation or resistance to pressure changes. The funeral company confirms compliance with these technical requirements before the passersedel is issued.
If the cause of death is an infectious disease, the Swedish regulation provides for a shroud soaked in an antiseptic solution. This is not a matter for the family or carrier to assess independently; it depends on medical evidence and public-health rules. The coffin is not merely equipment or an aesthetic choice. Its construction forms part of the evidence on which Skatteverket decides whether to issue the passersedel.
The regulation additionally stipulates that there must be nothing in the coffin except the deceased and personal items intended for joint burial or cremation. This information is included in the funeral company's confirmation. There are special exemptions for the Nordic countries, but they do not apply to the destinations covered by this site.
When is the road route and when the air route considered?
Sweden is the far northern starting point. The overland route connects to Denmark and Germany or uses a sea connection before continuing through Central Europe. TEN-T includes roads, ports and short sea lines, so it is not correct to reduce each case to a single road route. The choice depends on the city of departure, the country of burial, available documents and how the coffin meets the rules of the specific transport.
Air transport may be considered when the available connection and reception at the destination shortens the overall organisation or when the land part is impractical. However, the flight introduces carrier rules, airport cargo acceptance and specific freight requirements. That's why air transport is not automatically the better choice. The final transport mode is determined only when the assembled case papers, freight conditions and the institution that takes over the deceased are known.
How does the passersedel relate to the destination-country permit?
The passersedel permits removal of the deceased from Sweden. When the funeral is in Serbia, a Serbian sprovodnica is also required. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia lists among the originals the deceased's passport, death certificate, medical report, exit document from the legal system at the place of death and information on the named cemetery destination. The bilingual Swedish form helps international readability, but does not abolish the destination procedure.
Bosnia and Herzegovina connects the request with the burial area; Croatia requires supporting evidence about the deceased, the transporter and the named cemetery destination; Montenegro binds the permit to burial or transit. Because of these differences, the destination-country permit must not be selected by nationality alone. The intended place of handover and burial is decisive because the requirements of that country must be met.
Which departure points in Sweden are covered?
Repatriation from Sweden is available from Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. Their locations affect how each case is organised: Malmö is closest to connections through Denmark, Gothenburg is on Sweden’s west coast, and Stockholm is on the east coast. Wherever the death occurs, Skatteverket administers the national passersedel procedure alongside the relevant local records.
For an initial assessment, provide the deceased’s passport, the name of the institution in Sweden, the city of burial and a contact telephone number. We respond within 10 minutes. In a straightforward case, routine documents are planned for completion within 24 hours and arrival at the confirmed address within 48 hours. This timeframe applies only when the medical documentation is complete and Skatteverket can issue a passersedel.
Process for this case
- Step 1 of 5
Swedish Medical Record
The death and the cause of death are recorded before Skatteverket decides whether to issue the outward document.
- Step 2 of 5
Coffin certificate
It is proven that the construction and content correspond to the Swedish regulation.
- Step 3 of 5
Swedish passersedel
Skatteverket issues a multilingual document accompanying the deceased.
- Step 4 of 5
Destination-country permit
The country of burial checks the entry requirements based on the Swedish originals.
- Step 5 of 5
Road or combined transport
The mode of transport is coordinated with the assembled case papers and the confirmed receiving 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.
- Sveriges riksdag – official guidance — Sveriges riksdag · 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
Who issues the passersedel in Sweden?
The Swedish Burial Ordinance expressly designates Skatteverket as the authority that issues the document for removal of the deceased.
Does the passersedel have to travel with the deceased?
Yes. The regulation says that the document accompanies the deceased during international transport and that a certified copy is returned to Skatteverket after departure.
In which languages is the Swedish document issued?
For destinations outside the Nordic exception, the form is in Swedish and English or in Swedish and French.
Are there any special requirements for air repatriation from Sweden?
Yes. The ordinance requires pressure equalisation or the corresponding resistance of the coffin when using an aircraft.
Does the Swedish passersedel replace Serbia’s sprovodnica?
No. The passersedel concerns departure from Sweden. Serbia’s sprovodnica is the separate consular document for entry when burial is to take place in Serbia, under the Serbian mission’s published requirements.
Which document is returned to Skatteverket after departure?
A copy of the passersedel confirming that the deceased has been taken out of Sweden is returned to the authority within the period prescribed by the ordinance.
What can move the deadline from Sweden?
An incomplete medical record, investigation, public-health measure or unmet coffin requirement delays issue of the passersedel and the start of the international journey.