Arranging burial in Israel involves decisions about location, documentation, transport and costs. If you are planning ahead, you can make many of those decisions calmly. If a loved one has died overseas, the same checklist helps you identify who needs to act and what must be confirmed first.

This is a practical preparation list for families abroad and in Israel. Requirements vary by country, residency status and circumstances, so confirm the current paperwork with the local funeral director, Israeli consulate and receiving burial society. For a fuller explanation of the overseas process, see our step-by-step guide to arranging burial in Israel from overseas.

At a glance: the burial in Israel checklist

• Record the person’s wishes and identify the family decision-maker.
• Choose an Israeli cemetery and confirm the exact burial arrangement.
• Ask the receiving burial society to confirm it can accept the burial.
• For a death abroad, appoint a local funeral director experienced in international transfers.
• Confirm the documents and permits required by the country of departure and the Israeli mission.
• Obtain an itemised written quote covering both sides of the journey.
• Coordinate arrival, the Israeli burial permit, the chevra kadisha and the funeral date.
• Keep copies of the plot confirmation, receipts and contact details together.

1. Write down the wishes and the main contacts

Start with the person’s preferred cemetery or city, any existing plot purchase, and the names of relatives and rabbinic advisers who should be consulted. Identify one family member who can approve arrangements and keep everyone informed. If a plot has already been bought, find the purchase agreement, deed or cemetery confirmation and the exact plot or section reference.

For advance planning, also record where these documents are kept and who has access to them. Clear instructions can save the family valuable time later. If no plot has been selected, review the site’s overview of burial plots in Israel before comparing locations.

2. Choose the cemetery and confirm availability

Location matters for family visits, proximity to relatives, accessibility and cost. Families considering Jerusalem can compare the options in our Jerusalem burial guide, including Har HaMenuchot and Har HaZeitim. Beit Shemesh may be another option.

Before paying, request written confirmation of the cemetery, section, type of burial, exact plot identification where available, price, what is included, and when formal documentation will be issued. Ask whether adjacent plots are available if that is important to the family. Availability and quotations should always be checked at the time of enquiry.

3. Confirm who will receive and coordinate the burial in Israel

For an overseas transfer, the receiving Israeli burial society or its coordinator should confirm that it is prepared to receive the deceased. Establish who is responsible for airport release, transport within Israel, the burial permit, preparation by the chevra kadisha and communication with the family. Ask for a named contact and an after-hours number.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs lists confirmation from an Israeli burial company that it will receive the deceased among the documents for a transfer permit. The exact requirements depend on the circumstances and timing, so check the current government instructions with the relevant Israeli mission.

4. If the death occurs abroad, speak to a local funeral director promptly

Choose a funeral director who can handle international transportation and coordinate with the airline and Israeli contacts. Ask what the local authority requires before the deceased may leave the country, how the deceased will be prepared for the journey, and what paperwork the airline needs. If your family has particular halachic requirements, discuss them with your rabbi and funeral director at the outset.

A family arranging a transfer from the United States can also read our U.S. to Israel transfer guide. Procedures in other countries can differ.

5. Make a document checklist for the specific case

The Israeli government lists documents for its application to transfer a deceased person to Israel, including an official death certificate, a medical certificate stating the cause of death, confirmation from an Israeli burial company, packaging documentation and permission from the local authorities to take the deceased out of the country. Additional requirements depend on whether the transfer occurs soon after death or follows an earlier burial. Authentication and translation may be needed. Ask the Israeli mission and funeral director for the precise current list before submitting anything.

The burial itself also requires an Israeli burial permit. The Ministry of Health explains the burial-permit process. Have the coordinator confirm who will obtain it for your circumstances. Do not assume that a foreign death certificate alone is sufficient.

6. Request a complete written cost breakdown

Ask for separate figures for the burial plot, funeral director abroad, preparation and transport, airline cargo, Israeli airport release, local transport, burial services and any later monument. Find out which payments are due immediately, which are optional, and whether quoted prices include taxes or fees. Our burial cost guide explains why totals differ by location and circumstances.

Eligibility for publicly funded burial services should be checked rather than assumed. Israel’s National Insurance Institute distinguishes between people who die in Israel and Israeli residents who die abroad; a resident who dies abroad may need a residency certificate for the receiving burial company. Confirm coverage directly with the National Insurance Institute and request written confirmation of any charges that remain.

7. Coordinate travel and the funeral date

Once the documentation, receiving burial society and transport are in place, the coordinators can confirm the flight, anticipated arrival, airport release and transfer to the cemetery. Ask when the family will receive the confirmed funeral time and who will update them if a flight or document is delayed. Relatives travelling to Israel should check their own passports, flights and accommodation separately.

It is sensible to avoid announcing an exact burial time until the coordinators have confirmed the required permissions and arrival arrangements.

8. Keep a final record for the family

Place the cemetery and plot details, written quote, payment receipts, permits, burial confirmation and the relevant contact numbers in one folder. Give a copy to the person responsible for family communication. For advance purchases, tell the people who will eventually make arrangements where to find the documents.

Planning ahead or arranging a burial now?

If you are planning ahead, begin with cemetery choice, written pricing and plot documentation. If a loved one has already died, contact the local funeral director and the Israeli receiving coordinator first, then confirm the paperwork for that particular country and case. Contact Land of Israel Burials for help understanding current cemetery options and coordinating the next steps.

Frequently asked questions

Can a family arrange burial in Israel while living overseas?

Yes. The family can coordinate with a funeral director in the country of departure and a receiving burial society in Israel. The required permissions and costs depend on the person’s circumstances and country of departure.

What should be confirmed before buying a plot?

Ask for the cemetery and section, plot identification where available, type of burial, total price, inclusions, payment terms and the documentation you will receive. Keep the confirmation with the family’s important papers.

Who confirms the paperwork for an overseas transfer?

The local funeral director, relevant Israeli diplomatic mission and receiving burial society should confirm the requirements for the specific case. Government requirements may change and can differ after an earlier burial.