Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about an urn
In brief (30 seconds).
- The oldest crematorium has operated at Zagreb's Mirogoj Cemetery since 1985, and the second one opened in Osijek in 2021.
- Cremation is arranged by a funeral director, a family member, or the person organizing and paying for the funeral (Law on Cemeteries, Article 14).
- In Zagreb, under the City Cemeteries price list, the price for cremation is €146 including VAT, plus €21.43 for the pre-cremation medical check.
- For the Ukrainian border, a sealed, airtight metal urn is required.
- Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800, with no prepayment.
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The new Law on Cemeteries (Zakon o grobljima, NN 78/2025, Article 14) puts it simply: farewell ceremonies, burial, and cremation are arranged by a funeral director (pogrebnik), a family member, or another person who organizes and pays for the funeral. The cremation itself is carried out by the cemetery administration (upravitelj groblja).
This law does not set a specific order of priority among relatives for giving consent to cremation. Therefore, our main guide is the wish of the deceased: if they expressed a preference for cremation during their lifetime, we follow that wish. If there is a disagreement within the family, it is best to resolve it before placing the order.
For a Ukrainian citizen who died in Croatia, the rules are the same. If the family is in Ukraine, there is no need to travel. You sign a power of attorney at a notary's office, and we add an apostille and translate it into Croatian. Both Croatia and Ukraine are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention.
Permits and documents for cremation in Croatia
The death is registered by the civil registry office (matični ured), which issues an extract from the death register (izvadak iz matice umrlih). For foreign authorities, an international extract (međunarodni izvadak) is available. The death and its cause are certified by a medical examiner (mrtvozornik) who inspects the body.
Before cremation, a mandatory check of the deceased is performed (kontrolni pregled umrlog prije kremacije). In the Zagreb price list, this is a separate service. The funeral director submits the documents, and we collect them together with their team.
The body is transported to the crematorium in a softwood coffin without metal or plastic parts, placed inside a polyethylene bag. This is required by the 2018 regulations on the transport and cremation of deceased persons (Pravilnik NN 116/2018, Articles 7 and 16).
How long is the wait for cremation
There are no official waiting times. In practice, the timeline depends on three things: how quickly the paperwork is completed, whether an autopsy is needed, and available slots at the crematorium. From Dalmatia or Istria, the body must be driven several hundred kilometers to Zagreb, which adds another day. Zagreb publishes the schedule of farewells and cremations on the City Cemeteries (Gradska groblja) website.
How much cremation costs in Croatia
In Zagreb, prices are published directly by the operator, City Cemeteries (Gradska groblja, a branch of Zagrebački holding). According to the current municipal services price list on their website (effective from 01.01.2023):
- cremation of the deceased: €146.00 including VAT;
- mandatory check before cremation: €21.43;
- use of the farewell hall and urn transport are billed separately.
Source: Gradska groblja Zagreb, price list of communal services, valid from 01.01.2023
These are only the crematorium fees. The funeral director is paid separately for transporting the body, the coffin, the urn, and paperwork. Osijek has its own pricing, which we confirm upon request.
We can arrange the cremation through local partners or pick up a ready urn from the crematorium or the family. We calculate the local cremation cost based on your specific situation. Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800. We work without prepayment: you pay after delivery according to the contract. See details on the urn transport page.
The urn for transport
Croatian law allows placing an urn in an urn niche (kazeta za urne), a columbarium, or a grave, while scattering ashes is permitted only in places approved by the local council. An urn can be moved to another location at any time, regardless of when it was buried (Article 4).
For bringing ashes to Ukraine, Ukrainian law is what matters most. Article 22 of the Law of Ukraine "On Burial and Funeral Affairs" requires that ashes crossing the border be placed in an airtight, sealed metal urn. For this reason, we immediately choose a metal urn with an official seal. You can buy a decorative urn later at home.
By plane, the urn is usually carried in hand luggage after prior approval from the airline. It may be screened by X-ray. Each carrier has its own rules.
How to bring an urn to Ukraine: documents
For the border, the following documents are usually prepared:
- an international extract from the death register or a death certificate with an apostille;
- a cremation certificate from the crematorium;
- a certificate confirming there are no prohibited items inside the urn, legalized at the Consulate of Ukraine, as required by Ukrainian law;
- a translation into Ukrainian.
For a body, Croatian rules require a transit permit (sprovodnica) from the sanitary inspectorate. We found no separate requirements for an urn in the 2018 regulations, so we check with the local authority whether a sprovodnica is needed for ashes. We coordinate the paperwork with the Embassy of Ukraine in Croatia. You can find the full list on the documents page.
Overland transport goes through Hungary, while flying is faster. To learn more about crossing the Ukrainian border, read our article on customs clearance for an urn.
Can you transport the urn yourself
Yes, you can. Difficulties usually arise not in Croatia, but at the Ukrainian border: if the urn is not metal and sealed, or if the certificate of no foreign objects or consular legalization is missing. In that case, customs may not let the ashes through. Air transport must also be cleared with the airline in advance.
If you are on site and have all the paperwork, you can handle it yourself. If the family is in Ukraine, it is simpler to entrust the entire process to us.
Cremation vs. body transport
| Cremation in Croatia and urn | Body transport | |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | a few days for documents and cremation, then urn transport | depends on documents and route |
| Documents | death extract, pre-cremation check, urn documents | sprovodnica, airtight coffin, body documents |
| Price | urn from €800 | see the country page |
| Farewell | in Croatia before cremation | in Ukraine |
If the family wants a farewell ceremony at home, transporting the body is the right option. Find details on the body transport from Croatia page.
Burying the urn in Ukraine
In Ukraine, an urn can be buried in a grave, placed in a columbarium, or interred in an existing family grave. You will need permission from the cemetery administration or local council. We explain how this works in our article on urn burial.
From the first call to burial: timeline
| Stage | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Consultation, power of attorney | 1–2 days |
| Death registration, medical check, transport to crematorium | a few days |
| Cremation | according to crematorium schedule |
| Apostille, translation, border certificates | 1–2 weeks |
| Urn transport to Ukraine | 2–4 days |
| Urn burial | as agreed with the cemetery |
These are our general estimates. Actual timelines depend on government agencies beyond our control.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the crematoriums in Croatia?
In Zagreb at Mirogoj Cemetery (since 1985) and in Osijek (since 2021). There are no crematoriums in Dalmatia or Istria, so bodies are transported from the coast to these cities.
How much does cremation cost in Croatia?
In Zagreb, according to the City Cemeteries price list, cremation costs €146 including VAT, plus €21.43 for the pre-cremation check. Funeral director services are paid separately. Source: Gradska groblja price list, from 01.01.2023.
Who can order a cremation?
A funeral director, a family member, or the person organizing and paying for the funeral. This is stated in the 2025 Law on Cemeteries.
Do I need to travel to Croatia?
Usually no. A power of attorney with an apostille and translation is enough.
What kind of urn is needed for the border?
A metal, airtight, and sealed urn, in accordance with Article 22 of the Law of Ukraine "On Burial and Funeral Affairs".
How much does it cost to transport an urn from Croatia?
From €800, with no prepayment. The cost of cremation on site is calculated separately.
What to do now
- Find out where the body is currently located and whether the death has been registered.
- Decide within the family who will act as the client and sign the power of attorney.
- Think about where the burial will take place in Ukraine.
- Call us. We will arrange the cremation through our partners or pick up a ready urn and bring it home.
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