Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about transport
The short version, in 30 seconds.
- The UK government notes: cremation in Egypt is permitted, but there are no official facilities.
- There is one unofficial crematorium in Alexandria. It can only be used with permission from the local authorities, and the procedure is complicated.
- The most common path: transport the body to Ukraine and hold the cremation there.
- Embalming is required to transport a body. Egyptian documents must be legalised, as Egypt does not issue apostilles.
- Transport with no upfront payment: you pay after handover under the contract.
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Translated from Ukrainian “You were always available, whatever the time…” — Віта Х. “Everything was organised with great dignity, professionally and with attention to every detail.” — Тамара Ю. “Every question was resolved promptly, with respect and attention to detail.” — Olha B. “…your support, compassion, sense of responsibility and professionalism meant a great deal to us.” — Ірина Б. “It all went quickly and professionally…” — Оля К. Is cremation possible in Egypt
In short: almost no. In its guidance for British nationals (updated in October 2024), the UK government states that cremation in Egypt is permitted, but there are no official facilities for it. One unofficial crematorium operates in Alexandria. It can only be used after getting permission from the local authorities. The UK government directly advises families to transport the body home or arrange a local burial instead, because the procedure is complicated.
We do not promise cremation in Egypt. If a family strongly wishes to do this, we check on the ground whether getting permission is realistic in your case. However, we are honest: it is a long and unpredictable process.
Most people in Egypt bury their loved ones according to Muslim or Christian traditions. This is part of the local faith, and we treat it with respect.
What families do instead of cremation
Transporting the body to Ukraine
This is the most common option. An Egyptian funeral director prepares the documents, and the body is embalmed and transported to Ukraine. The UK government notes that embalming is mandatory for transporting a body. We have described how this works on the transporting a body from Egypt page.
Cremation in Ukraine after transport
The body is brought to Ukraine, and the cremation is carried out by a Ukrainian crematorium. The urn is then buried at a cemetery or placed in a columbarium. We agree on the crematorium and the date together with the family.
For the family, this is often simpler: the farewell takes place at home, the documents are in Ukrainian, and the cremation happens close to the burial place.
Cremation in another country
In theory, the body can be transported to another country that has a crematorium. However, this means another border, another set of documents, and another set of rules. It is usually neither cheaper nor faster than transporting the body to Ukraine. We only consider this option for specific situations.
Burial in Egypt
Some families bury their loved one locally. The UK government mentions that the Latin and Protestant cemeteries are most commonly used in Cairo. For a burial plot, they advise speaking with the local religious community and the funeral director.
If you already have the urn
If the person was cremated in Egypt or another country after all, the urn can be brought to Ukraine. You will need the death certificate and the cremation certificate, both legalised and translated. Carrying an urn in hand luggage is usually done by prior agreement with the airline. About crossing the border, read our article on customs clearance for an urn, and about burial, read the article on urn burial. Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from 800 €, with no upfront payment.
Documents
The death is registered at the local district health office. Usually, the funeral director handles this. The death certificate is issued in Arabic.
If the death is related to an infectious disease, such as hepatitis or HIV, the local authorities must be informed.
Egypt is not a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. Therefore, Egyptian documents go through legalisation. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a document is first certified by the issuing authority, and then by the ratification office of the Egyptian MFA. For example, a paper death certificate is certified by the Ministry of Health or the governorate health directorate. We check whether further legalisation at the Embassy of Ukraine in Cairo is needed based on your specific documents. We handle the translation into Ukrainian.
Decisions are made by the next of kin. They can authorise another person, such as us, to handle the arrangements. We provide a full list of documents to every family.
Cremation in Egypt vs transporting the body: comparison
| Body transport and cremation in Ukraine | Cremation in Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | realistic | only an unofficial crematorium with permission from the authorities |
| Documents | Egyptian transport documents, embalming | permission from local authorities, legalisation, documents for the urn |
| Predictability | high | low |
| Price | see the country page, cremation in Ukraine is paid separately | calculated case by case, urn transport from 800 € |
How much it costs
The cost of transporting a body from Egypt depends on the city, route, embalming, and documents. We calculate it for your specific situation, and an estimate is available on the country page. Cremation in Ukraine is paid separately according to the crematorium's rates. If you already have the urn, transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from 800 €.
If the person had travel insurance, contact the insurance company as early as possible. They may appoint a funeral director and cover part of the costs. We work with both families and insurers. Payment is made after handover under the contract.
Frequently asked questions
Can a person be cremated in Egypt?
Formally, cremation is permitted, but there are no official crematoria. There is one unofficial facility in Alexandria, and it requires permission from the local authorities.
What should we do if the person wanted to be cremated?
Transport the body to Ukraine and carry out the cremation there. Afterwards, the urn is buried at a cemetery or placed in a columbarium.
Is embalming mandatory?
For transporting a body from Egypt, yes. It is arranged by the funeral director.
Are Egyptian documents apostilled?
No. Egypt is not a party to the Apostille Convention, so documents are legalised through the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Who registers a death in Egypt?
The local district health office. Usually, the funeral director does this.
Do we have to pay upfront?
No. Transport is provided with no upfront payment: you pay after handover under the contract.
What to do now
- Call us and let us know where and when the person died.
- If there was insurance, notify the insurance company.
- Decide as a family: cremation in Ukraine or burial.
- Sign a power of attorney. We will take care of the rest.
Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about transport
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