Source: ИИСДА: Издаване на разрешение за пренасяне на покойници/тленни останки/урна извън страната, 2026
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- Cremation is regulated by Ordinance No. 2 of 21.04.2011 on health requirements for cemetery parks and burial (Наредба № 2 за здравните изисквания към гробищни паркове).
- Cremation requires a death record (акт за смърт) and a cremation permit (разрешение за кремация) issued by a doctor.
- Cremation takes place no earlier than 24 hours and no later than 8 days after death, with the body kept in a refrigerated unit the entire time.
- Taking the urn abroad requires a permit from the director of the Regional Health Inspectorate (РЗИ). The fee is €10.23, and the processing time is 24 hours.
- Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800, with no prepayment.
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Ordinance No. 2 does not list which relatives have the right to decide on cremation. It only states that the place and ceremony for the urn are chosen by the deceased's close ones (близките на починалия). In practice, the documents are submitted to the crematorium by a relative or by a funeral agency acting under a power of attorney. We verify on the spot which exact application form and signatures a specific crematorium requires.
Tip: if there are several close relatives in the family, agree among yourselves before applying. This makes handling the paperwork easier.
Citizenship is not an obstacle here: the rules are the same. If the family is in Ukraine, there is usually no need to travel. You sign a power of attorney, and we work with the local agency and the crematorium.
Permits and Documents for Cremation in Bulgaria
- Death record (акт за смърт). It is drawn up by the municipality (община) based on the medical notice of death (съобщение за смърт).
- Cremation permit (разрешение за кремация) following the template in Annex No. 1 to the Ordinance. It is issued by the doctor or paramedic who pronounced the death, or by the doctor who performed the autopsy. In the permit, the doctor confirms there are no signs of violent death and that a forensic medical examination is not required.
- Identity documents of the deceased and the applicant.
Cremation is only possible in purpose-built crematoriums (Art. 2). If the death was violent or an investigation is required, the doctor will not sign this permit, and cremation will have to wait for a decision from the authorities.
How Long Is the Wait for Cremation
The timeframes here are strict. Cremation takes place no earlier than 24 hours and no later than 8 days after death, and the body is kept in a refrigerated unit the entire time (Art. 20, para. 2).
This means eight days is the maximum limit, not a rough guideline. Within this time, it is necessary to obtain the death record, the doctor's permit, and the power of attorney from the family, and make arrangements with the crematorium. Weekends and public holidays are included in these eight days. That is why it is important to call us right away.
After cremation, the urn is handed over to the family or placed at the cemetery. If the urn is not collected within 30 days, the ashes are buried in an urn grave on the cemetery grounds (Art. 20, para. 6). For a family in Ukraine, this is an important deadline.
How Much Cremation Costs in Bulgaria
There is no single state tariff for cremation: the price is set by the crematorium, and funeral agency services are paid separately. We did not find an official price list in municipal sources that could be cited as an example. Therefore, we provide the exact amount after checking with the crematorium for your specific situation.
Known official fees:
- RZI permit to take the urn abroad: €10.23;
- apostille and translations according to the tariffs of the respective institutions.
Source: ИИСДА: Издаване на разрешение за пренасяне на покойници/тленни останки/урна извън страната, 2026
If we arrange the cremation through our local partners, we calculate the cremation cost for your specific case. If the urn is already ready, we collect it. Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800. No prepayment: payment is made after the urn is handed over under the contract. Details are on the urn transport page.
Urn for Transport
The ashes are placed in a special vessel, an urn (Art. 20). For transport, the Ordinance requires a suitable container whose contents are clearly identified (Art. 24, para. 3). This means the deceased's details must be on the urn or in the accompanying documents.
For travel, a durable metal or plastic urn is best. If you are flying, the urn is usually taken in carry-on luggage by prior arrangement with the airline, and it is X-rayed at security. Each airline sets its own rules, so check before buying a ticket.
How to Take an Urn with Ashes from Bulgaria to Ukraine
Taking a deceased person abroad is authorized by the director of the Regional Health Inspectorate (РЗИ) (Art. 24). The official service card explicitly calls this a permit to transport deceased persons, mortal remains, or an urn outside the country.
The application to the RZI must include:
- a copy of the medical notice of death and a copy of the death record or an extract from it;
- a copy of the deceased's identity document;
- a copy of the cremation permit;
- a power of attorney or contract with a funeral agency;
- for an agency not registered in Bulgaria, a document proving its registration;
- proof of payment of the €10.23 fee.
Source: ИИСДА: Издаване на разрешение за пренасяне на покойници/тленни останки/урна извън страната, 2026
The processing time for the service is 24 hours. The apostille on documents issued by the municipality is placed by the regional administration (областна администрация). We arrange the translation into Ukrainian. Before departure, we verify the document package with the Embassy of Ukraine in Bulgaria. The general list is on the documents page.
The urn can be transported by plane or overland via Romania or Moldova. More details about crossing the border can be found in the article on customs clearance for an urn.
Can You Transport the Urn Yourself
Yes, a relative can collect the urn and transport it themselves. However, the RZI export permit is required in any case, and the application must be submitted with the full set of documents.
Common problems include: missing the RZI permit, missing an apostille or translation, the airline not approving the urn in the cabin, or names spelled differently across documents. If you are not in Bulgaria or have little time, it is better to entrust this to us.
Cremation vs Body Transport
| Urn with ashes | Body in a coffin | |
|---|---|---|
| Documents | death record, cremation permit, RZI permit, apostille | death record, RZI permit, apostille |
| Transport | passenger car or plane | special hearse, hermetically sealed metal-lined coffin |
| Timeframes | cremation within 8 days of death, then a few days | depends on the documents |
| Price | from €800 | see the country page |
If the family wishes to bury the body, read about body transport from Bulgaria.
Burying the Urn in Ukraine
The urn can be buried in a grave, placed in a columbarium, or interred in an existing family grave. You will need the cemetery's consent and the documents we bring with the urn. Read more in the article on urn burial.
Timeframes: From the First Call to Urn Burial
| Stage | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Consultation, power of attorney, arrangement with the agency | 1–2 days |
| Death record, cremation permit | 1–3 days |
| Cremation | from 24 hours to 8 days after death |
| RZI permit, apostille, translation | 2–5 days |
| Urn transport to Ukraine | 2–3 days |
| Urn burial | as arranged with the cemetery |
Timeframes depend on public authorities and the crematorium, which are beyond our control.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Ukrainian be cremated in Bulgaria?
Yes. A death record and a doctor's permit for cremation are required. Citizenship does not matter.
How much time is there for cremation?
No earlier than 24 hours and no later than 8 days after death; the body is kept in a refrigerated unit.
Is a permit required to take an urn out of Bulgaria?
Yes. The permit is issued by the director of the RZI within 24 hours, and the fee is €10.23. Source: ИИСДА: Издаване на разрешение за пренасяне на покойници/тленни останки/урна извън страната, 2026
How much does cremation cost in Bulgaria?
There is no single state tariff; the price is set by the crematorium. Transporting the urn to Ukraine costs from €800.
What happens if the urn is not collected right away?
If the urn is not collected within 30 days, the ashes are buried in an urn grave at the cemetery.
Do I need to travel to Bulgaria?
Usually not. We handle the paperwork under a power of attorney and bring the urn to Ukraine.
What to Do Now
- Call us right away: there are only 8 days from the time of death for cremation.
- Locate the deceased's documents and find out where the body is and who issued the medical notice of death.
- Decide who in the family will sign the power of attorney and where you will bury the urn in Ukraine.
- We will arrange the cremation through our partners or collect the ready urn, obtain the RZI permit, and bring the urn home.
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