If you wish to arrange the safe repatriation of ashes either to, or from the UK, here’s our guide to help make that final journey. Ashes can be transported in two ways: as cargo or accompanied by someone. Choosing an option will depend on many personal circumstances.
If you need advice, our repatriation team can advise families and provide practical support in getting their loved one safely home.
Cargo options can be expensive and may be the preferred option for families who are not able to collect their loved one’s ashes. Certification is completed before travel by the funeral director or repatriation team responsible for onward travel.
On arrival to their final destination, ashes cargo can either be collected at the airport or delivered to a family home.
Accompanying ashes in person as hand luggage is increasingly common. If you are responsible for transporting the ashes of a loved one from country to country, we’ve summarised some of the regulations to be aware of.
Certification required for repatriation of ashes abroad
- Ashes, or cremated remains, need to be accompanied with a Certificate of Cremation. This is provided by the crematorium and will need to be presented at all passport and boarding checks for any ferry, train and airline travel across borders
- In some countries, a Death Certificate is also required, and the name must match that on the Certificate of Cremation
- Authorisation to Transport or Freedom from Infection certificates are country-specific so may be required depending on the country of destination
- Customs declaration is a final consideration for some countries so worth checking in advance to ensure you are prepared
Additional advice
- Official documents may need to be translated to the language of their starting point and destination to avoid delays
- For routes involving more than one country or travel provider, check with each airline and country to ensure all local regulations are considered
- It’s acceptable for ashes to be carried as hand luggage but it’s worth clarifying this in advance with all travel providers as rules may be different and regulations can change concerning security or other circumstances
Travelling with Urns, Tubes and Caskets
Caskets, scatter tubes and urns are used to transport ashes. Families can choose between transporting ashes as cargo or accompanying them as hand luggage on the trip home.
In choosing the right receptacle for travel, we recommend:
- Choosing something that can be carried, stored and moved regularly
- Ensuring your choice is suitable for x-ray checks
- Weight is also a consideration so opt for something light enough to be lifted, or robust enough to sit securely on the ground, and be safe from elements such as water, extreme heat or cold
- Consider an appropriate bag as well to limit any disturbance through travel and movement and that you may have to remove it more than once for checks during the journey
Repatriation Specialists
Our team of professional repatriation specialists is here to support families making these choices. We can advise, guide and organise bringing loved ones safely home and giving families at home peace of mind that their loved one is cared for throughout.
