Call +380 77 882 77 77Inquire about an urn
In brief (30-second summary).
- The cremation permit is issued by the civil registrar of the municipality where the death occurred.
- In addition to the doctor who confirmed the death, a sworn doctor examines the body. This applies in Flanders and Wallonia.
- In Wallonia, the permit is free of charge and is issued no earlier than 24 hours after the application.
- Brussels states directly: transporting ashes abroad is unrestricted.
- Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800, with no prepayment.
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The main factor here is the wish of the deceased. A person can record their wishes in a last will declaration (laatste wilsbeschikking / dernières volontés) or in a testament and register it with the municipality. Before issuing a permit, the civil registrar checks whether such a document exists.
If no wishes were recorded, relatives arrange the cremation through a funeral home. For certain decisions regarding the ashes, Flanders requires more. To keep the urn at home without the deceased's written wish, a joint written request from the spouse or partner and all first-degree relatives is required.
The rules are the same for Ukrainians. If the family is in Ukraine, you sign a power of attorney and consent for cremation, and we pass them on to the funeral home in Belgium. Usually, there is no need to travel there in person.
Permits and Documents for Cremation
The cremation permit (verlof tot crematie / autorisation de crémation) is issued by the civil registrar (ambtenaar van de burgerlijke stand / officier de l'état civil). Two medical documents are required for this.
Wallonia
- a certificate from the doctor who treated the person or confirmed the death, stating whether the death was natural, violent, suspicious, or if the cause cannot be determined;
- a report from a sworn doctor (médecin assermenté) appointed by the civil registrar.
If the death is violent, suspicious, or the cause is unclear, the case is referred to the public prosecutor (Procureur du Roi). Cremation is permitted only after the prosecutor raises no objections. The permit is free of charge.
Flanders
The Decree on Cemeteries and Funeral Services of 16 January 2004 requires the same: a doctor's certificate and a report from a sworn doctor (beëdigd arts) appointed by the civil registrar. This doctor verifies the cause of death because it is impossible to check it after cremation.
In the Brussels Region, there is one recognized cremation company, Cremabru. In all regions, the funeral home submits the documents.
How Long You Wait for Cremation
In Wallonia, the cremation permit is issued no earlier than 24 hours after the application is submitted. The sworn doctor's report also takes time. If the prosecutor gets involved, the timeframe increases and cannot be predicted.
The waiting time depends on the crematorium and the city. Usually, the urn is ready within one to two weeks after the death. The funeral home coordinates the exact date with the crematorium.
How Much Does Cremation Cost in Belgium
Prices are set by crematoria (which are often inter-municipal) or by cities. An official example is the municipal tariff of the Bruges crematorium from 1 January 2023, including 6% VAT.
| Who | Mon–Fri | Saturday |
|---|---|---|
| Resident of Bruges | €520 | €560 |
| Non-resident of Bruges | €555 | €616 |
Source: Stad Brugge: Tarieven crematies in het crematorium (vanaf 1 januari 2023)
The tariff is subject to indexation, so we verify the current amount for 2026. The funeral home services, coffin, body transport, urn, and documents are paid for separately.
If we organize the cremation through our local partners, we calculate the total cost for your specific situation and show it to you in advance. Transporting the urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800. There is no prepayment: payment is made after the urn is handed over under the contract. Read more about the service on the urn transport page.
Urn for Transport
The urn is usually collected by the funeral home. The final destination of the ashes is specified in advance: in Flanders, the cremation application has a separate section for a location outside a cemetery. For the journey to Ukraine, we recommend a sealed, durable urn that can be scanned by X-ray. Do not remove the crematorium seal or tag with the cremation number.
Airlines often allow an urn in carry-on luggage by prior arrangement. Each carrier has its own rules, so we check this in advance.
How to Take an Urn from Belgium to Ukraine: Documents
A body requires a special mortuary laissez-passer (laissez-passer mortuaire). For ashes, the Brussels Region states directly: transporting ashes abroad is unrestricted. Wallonia also notes that the rules for international body transport do not apply to ashes.
Required documents:
- extract from the death record (uittreksel uit de overlijdensakte / extrait d'acte de décès);
- cremation certificate from the crematorium;
- apostille on the death record. It is issued by the Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs (FOD Buitenlandse Zaken / SPF Affaires étrangères), provided the municipal official's signature is registered;
- translation into Ukrainian;
- if needed, consular registration of death at the Embassy of Ukraine in Belgium.
We explain how to clear customs in the article on customs clearance for an urn. The general list is available on the documents page.
Can You Transport the Urn Yourself
Yes. If the urn has been released to you and the documents are in order, you can travel by car or fly. Issues can arise at airport X-ray screening if the airline has not approved the urn in advance, and at the border if the documents are only in Dutch or French.
If the family is in Ukraine or you do not have the time, leave this to us. We will collect the urn from the crematorium or funeral home and bring it to you.
Cremation vs. Body Transport
| Urn with ashes | Body in a coffin | |
|---|---|---|
| Timeframes | permit, cremation, then transport | no cremation, longer road journey |
| Documents | death record, cremation certificate | laissez-passer mortuaire, hermetically sealed coffin |
| Transport | easy, by car or plane | specialized vehicle |
| Price | from €800 | see the country page |
If the family wishes to bury the person in a coffin, read about body transport from Belgium.
Burial of an Urn in Ukraine
In Ukraine, an urn can be buried in the ground, placed in a columbarium, or interred in a relative's grave. A permit from the cemetery is required, and for interment in an existing grave, the consent of the grave's registered owner is needed. Read more in the article on urn burial.
Timeframes from the First Call to Urn Burial
| Stage | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Phone call, clarifying the region, municipality, and documents | 1 day |
| Power of attorney, consent, examination by a sworn doctor | 1–3 days |
| Civil registrar permit and cremation | from a few days to 2 weeks |
| Death record, apostille, translation | 1–2 weeks |
| Transporting the urn to Ukraine | a few days |
| Burial of the urn | as agreed with the cemetery |
Timeframes depend on the municipality and the crematorium, which are beyond our control.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Ukrainian be cremated in Belgium?
Yes. The conditions are the same as for Belgian citizens: a doctor's certificate, a sworn doctor's report, and a permit from the civil registrar.
Who issues the cremation permit in Belgium?
The civil registrar of the municipality where the death occurred. If there are signs of a violent death, the prosecutor makes the decision first.
How much does cremation cost in Belgium?
It depends on the crematorium. An official tariff example with its source is given above in the section on costs. Our service for transporting the urn to Ukraine costs from €800.
Is a permit required to take ashes out of Belgium?
The Brussels Region states that transporting ashes abroad is unrestricted. You will need the death record, cremation certificate, apostille, and translation.
Do relatives need to travel to Belgium?
Usually not. You sign a power of attorney and consent, and we arrange the rest with our local partners.
Can I take the urn on a plane?
Often yes, in carry-on luggage by prior arrangement with the airline. The urn must be sealed and scannable by X-ray.
What to Do Now
- Write down the person's name, date of death, municipality, and the name of the hospital or funeral home.
- Find out if the person left a written wish regarding their funeral.
- Decide where the urn will be buried in Ukraine.
- Call us. We will arrange the cremation with our partners or collect the ready urn and bring it home.
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