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In brief in 30 seconds.
- Cremation is regulated by the Act on Cemeteries and Burials (1999. évi XLIII. törvény a temetőkről és a temetkezésről) and Government Decree 145/1999. (X. 1.) Korm. rendelet.
- Cremating a foreign national requires a permit from the consulate of their country, unless an international treaty provides otherwise (§ 38 of the Act).
- In the certificate of medical examination of the body (halottvizsgálati bizonyítvány), the doctor must note that the body may be cremated.
- Cremation must take place within 15 days from the issue of this certificate. Within 90 days, the ashes are buried or released to the family.
- Transporting the urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from 800 €, with no prepayment.
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The deceased person has the final say. If during their lifetime they left instructions regarding the method and place of burial, these instructions are binding as long as they do not place an excessive burden on the person arranging the funeral (§ 19).
If there are no instructions, the method of burial is decided by the person arranging the funeral (eltemettető). The law sets the order of priority: first the person who undertook this obligation by contract, then the person named in the will, then the spouse or partner, and then other close relatives in the order of inheritance (§ 20).
An important rule: if several people are arranging the funeral and they do not agree on the method, burial is only possible without cremation (§ 19, par. 4). Therefore, reach an agreement within the family in advance.
For a Ukrainian citizen, a consular permit is also required. More on this below.
Permits and Documents for Cremation in Hungary
- Certificate of medical examination of the body (halottvizsgálati bizonyítvány) with a note stating that the body may be cremated (hamvasztható) (§ 24 of the Act).
- Cremation permit. According to the explanation of the municipal cemetery in Pécs: if a person died at home and there was no autopsy, the permit is issued by the Public Health Department of the District Office (Járási Hivatal Népegészségügyi Osztálya). If the death occurred in a hospital or an autopsy was performed, cremation is authorized by the pathologist.
- If the death is under official investigation, an additional permit from the investigating authority is required (§ 24, par. 2).
- For a foreign national: a permit from the consulate of the country of citizenship, or if there is none, from the authority at the last place of residence. This rule applies unless an international treaty provides otherwise (§ 38, par. 2). For a Ukrainian citizen, we request the permit from the Consulate of Ukraine in Hungary.
By law, the funeral home can obtain the cremation permit on behalf of the family (§ 53/A of the Decree). This is what we do through our partners.
How Long Does Cremation Take
The Decree requires the body to be cremated within 15 days from the issue of the certificate of medical examination of the body, and to be kept in refrigerated storage until then (§ 24, par. 2 of the Decree).
According to data from the Pécs cemetery, the crematorium asks for 4–5 days from the delivery of the body. In practice, the burial of the urn there takes place about 2 weeks after death. For an extra fee (in Pécs, 15 000 Ft plus VAT), cremation is done within 24 hours. Other cities have their own conditions.
Source: Pécsi Köztemető: Általános tájékoztató urnás temetésekről, 2022
For a foreign national, the consular permit adds time. Weekends and public holidays do too. We can give you the exact date after speaking with the crematorium.
How Much Does Cremation Cost in Hungary
There is no single state tariff. Cremation prices are set by the crematorium (hamvasztóüzem), while the funeral home, refrigerated storage, and body transport are paid separately. We did not find a current official crematorium price list in municipal sources to cite as an example. We request the exact amount for your specific case.
Interestingly, the law allows cremation in any crematorium in the country. Under the Decree, the body is taken to the nearest one unless the family chooses another (§ 32, par. 3).
If we organize the cremation through local partners, we calculate the cremation cost based on the situation. If the urn is already ready, we pick it up. Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from 800 €. No prepayment: payment is made after handing over the urn under the contract. Details are on the urn transport page.
The Urn for Transport
The Decree requires an urn with a capacity of at least 3 liters with a label showing, among other things, the name of the deceased and the date of cremation (§ 57). The sealed urn is handed over to the funeral home or released to the family at the crematorium. The crematorium issues a certificate of proper cremation (§ 58).
For travel, a durable metal or plastic urn is better. 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.
How to Take an Urn with Ashes from Hungary to Ukraine
Within 90 days after cremation, the ashes must be buried or released to the person obligated to arrange the funeral (§ 24, par. 3 of the Decree). The Pécs cemetery explains: to release the ashes to the family, the deceased's will or a private document with full probative force (teljes bizonyító erejű magánokirat) from the person who will keep the ashes is required.
We found no separate permit for taking an urn out of the country in the law. The District Office permit for transport abroad applies to a body. We clarify on the spot whether any additional papers are needed in your case.
The urn must be accompanied by:
- death certificate (halotti anyakönyvi kivonat);
- crematorium certificate of cremation;
- translation into Ukrainian.
Hungary and Ukraine are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. The apostille is affixed by authorized Hungarian authorities. We verify the document package with the Embassy of Ukraine in Hungary. The general list is on the documents page.
Hungary shares a direct border with Ukraine, so urns are usually transported by land. Read about customs in the article on customs clearance of an urn.
Can You Transport the Urn Yourself
Yes, if you are the person to whom the crematorium will release the ashes and you have the required document. Common problems include: no consular permit for cremation, no document for releasing the ashes, or no translation. If you are in Ukraine or short on time, it is better to entrust this to us.
Cremation vs. Body Transport
| Urn with ashes | Body in a coffin | |
|---|---|---|
| Documents | death certificate, cremation permit, consular permit, cremation certificate | death certificate, permit for transport abroad |
| Transport | passenger car | specialized vehicle, metal-lined coffin |
| Timeframes | cremation up to 15 days, then a few days | depends on the documents |
| Price | from 800 € | see the country page |
If the family wants to bury the body, read about body transport from Hungary.
Burial of the Urn in Ukraine
The urn can be buried in a grave, placed in a columbarium, or buried in an existing family grave. Consent from the cemetery is required. Details are in the article on urn burial.
Timeframes: From the First Call to Urn Burial
| Stage | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Consultation, power of attorney, funeral home | 1–3 days |
| Certificate of medical examination of the body, cremation permit | 1–5 days |
| Consular permit | to be confirmed |
| Cremation | 4–5 days after delivery, up to 15 days |
| Documents, translation | 2–5 days |
| Transporting the urn to Ukraine | 1–2 days |
| Urn burial | as agreed with the cemetery |
Timeframes depend on the authorities and the crematorium, which are beyond our control.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Ukrainian citizen be cremated in Hungary?
Yes, but a permit from the Consulate of Ukraine is required, unless an international treaty provides otherwise.
Who decides on cremation?
First and foremost, the wishes of the deceased. Without them, the person arranging the funeral decides. If the organizers do not agree, cremation is not possible.
How much time is allowed for cremation?
Within 15 days from the issue of the certificate of medical examination of the body. The crematorium usually asks for a few days from delivery.
How much does cremation cost in Hungary?
There is no single tariff; the price is given by the crematorium. Transporting the urn to Ukraine costs from 800 €.
Will the urn be given to the family?
Yes, to the person arranging the funeral. Releasing the ashes requires a will or a special written document.
Do I need to travel to Hungary?
Usually no. We arrange the documents through our partners using a power of attorney.
What to Do Now
- Find the certificate of medical examination of the body, or the name of the hospital and funeral home.
- Agree within the family on who is arranging the funeral and whether everyone consents to cremation.
- Decide where you will bury the urn in Ukraine.
- Call us. We will arrange the cremation through our partners, help with the consular permit, or pick up the ready urn.
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