FAQs

Sometimes, people’s last wishes also involve the method of their own burial.  If burial at sea is opted for, this is also done under the supervision of the Port Health Services – Environmental Health Directorate.

Following embalmment and the usual process, the deceased is placed in a coffin, but the body is secured to a heavy iron bar to add weight.  Large holes are drilled in the coffin so that water fills the coffin quickly.

The burial is done in a spot as indicated by the Armed Forces of Malta. The family or undertaker must also make arrangements for the vessel.

Upon arrival at the burial spot, the correct bearings are taken, and extra weights are added to the coffin so that it sinks more rapidly.

The EHOs will take evidence of the burial and bearings of exact location.

The following documents must be presented:

  • Certificate of Death
  • Certificate of Identity
  • Certificate of Embalmment
  • Burial Permit issued by the Burials Regulatory Unit / Coroner Clearance Form
  • Document certifying that the human remains may be safely transported without any danger or risk to public health.  This is issued by the Health Authority concerned.
  • Request for the repatriation of human remains from Malta also issued by the Health Authority

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A fee of €64 is charged as per L.N. 148 of 1998 (MT​) amending L.N. 118 of 1975 (MT​) as amended by Act No. XIII 2015 (MT) Implementing Budget Measures.

  1. Contact your Embassy, High Commission, or Consulate as they may help you in this moment of grief. A list of foreign missions in Malta can be found herewhilst a list of foreign Consular representations in Malta can be found here.  If you need assistance to find your Embassy kindly contact Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs on 2124 2191 or by email on [email protected] or visit the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs website.
  2. A Funeral Director will help you in the involved procedures as they will normally cover all related paperwork and facilitate the repatriation.
  3. Check the Insurance Cover. If the deceased was insured, please do check what is covered and what is not covered.
  4. At the mortuary, the cadaver is normally left exposed until sealed in a coffin in the presence of the Port Health Services – Health Inspectorate Services.

 

  1. The body is placed either in a soldered inner coffin of lead/zinc or in an approved repatriation foil wrapping.  Confirm beforehand, whether relatives want to view the corpse at a later stage so that ideally a glass window is to be provided in the inner lining instead of reopening the coffin completely.  In case of death by infectious disease, or when the remains are in an advanced state of putrefaction, the corpse is normally placed inside a body bag and hence a glass window is not possible.

 

  1. The soldered lead or zinc coffin or an authorised repatriation foil wrapping is in turn packed in a wooden coffin. The lid of the wooden coffin is screwed to the bottom and the screws are also sealed with a tamper proof sealing sticker.

 

  1. The wooden coffin is again packed by a canvas or tarpaulin so that the contents is not apparent.  According to local practice, all original documents are sealed in an envelope and handed over to the funeral director who must ensure that these reach the to the Flight Captain (if transportation is by air) or the Master (if transportation is by sea).  A set of copies of the original documents is affixed to the outer covering of the packaging.
  2. The following documents must accompany the remains:
  • Certificate of Death
  • Certificate of Identity
  • Certificate of Embalmment
  • Burial Permit issued by the Burials Regulatory Unit, and,
  • Document certifying that the human remains may be safely transported without any danger or risk to Public health.  This is issued by the Port Health Services – Health Inspectorate Services.
  1. The applicable fees that are charged by Port Health Services – Health Inspectorate Services are a fee of €64  as per N. 148 of 1998(MT​) amending  L.N. 118 of 1975 (MT) as amended by Act No. XIII 2015 (MT) Implementing Budget Measures for human remains that are repatriated during office hours. Repatriation of human remains outside normal working hours is possible, but extra charges may apply. These fees only cover the supervision of the corpse being placed in coffin.
  1. Contact Malta’s Embassy.  A list of Maltese Diplomatic Representations Overseas can be found here whilst  for Consular representation are found here.
  2. Contact a Funeral Director as they will normally cover all related paperwork and facilitate the repatriation.
  3. Check the Insurance Cover. If the deceased was insured, please do check what is covered and what is not covered.
  4. The remains must be sealed in a zinc lined coffin or an approved repatriation foil wrapping by the Environmental Health Directorate.  The zinc may also contain a transparent window for viewing at a later stage.  Opening of coffins to expose the body is normally not allowed in Malta.  The zinc lined coffin is placed in a wooden coffin that is normally sealed and encased with an outer case or canvas.
    Different countries have different systems, but all have in common the protection of public health in case of further decomposition during transit.  In case of death by infectious disease, or when the remains are in an advanced state of putrefaction, the corpse may also be placed inside a body bag.
  5. Do not place any personal belongings with the cadaver, as these may not be allowed to be removed by the Port Health Services – Health Inspectorate.
  6. The following documents must accompany the remains:
    • Certificate of Death
    • Certificate of Identity
    • Certificate of Embalmment
    • Burial Permit / Coroner Clearance Form
    • ​Document certifying that the human remains may be safely transported without any danger or risk to Public health.
  7. ​The applicable fees that are charged by Port Health Services – Health Inspectorate Services, Malta are a fee of €64  as per L.N. 148 of 1998 (MT) amending  L.N. 118 of 1975 (MT) as amended by Act No. XIII 2015 (MT​) Implementing Budget Measures for human remains that are repatriated during office hours. Repatriation of human remains outside normal working hours is possible, but extra charges apply. These fees only cover the supervision only.

REPATRIATION OF EXHUMED HUMAN REMAINS TO/FROM/VIA MALTA:

  • How can I repatriate a corpse which was buried in a grave in Malta?

Sometimes, human remains are exhumed (i.e. removed from grave) and then transported to/from Malta.  In that case, this is carried out under the supervision of Port Health Services – Health Inspectorate.

  1. Irrespective of whether the body was buried in a private or public grave in Malta, two years must elapse from burial date for the remains to be exhumed.  In any case, family or the undertaker need to contact the Burials Regulatory Unit for such exhumation and fees apply.
  2. The exhumed remains must be contained in a soldered inner coffin of lead/ zinc or approved repatriation material by the Environmental Health Directorate, which in its turn must be packed in a wooden case/coffin. The latter is again packed, by a canvas or tarpaulin so that the contents is not apparent.
  3. The following documents must accompany the remains:
    Certificate of Death
    • Burial Permit issued by the Burials Regulatory Unit,
    • Document certifying that the exhumed human remains may be safely transported without any danger or risk to Public health. This is issued by the Port Health Services – Health Inspectorate.

Note: According to local practice, all original documents are sealed in an envelope and handed over to the Flight Captain (if transportation is by air) or the Master (if transportation is by sea).  A set of copies of the original documents is affixed to the outer covering of the packaging.

A fee of €64  as per L.N. 148 of 1998 (MT) amending  L.N. 118 of 1975 (MT) as amended by Act No. XIII 2015 (MT​) Implementing Budget Measures for human remains that are repatriated during office hours. Repatriation of human remains outside normal working hours is possible, but extra charges apply. These fees only cover the supervision only.