Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about an urn
In brief: 30-second summary.
- There is no specific cremation law in Ireland. Rules and forms are set by each crematorium.
- The cremation application is signed by the executor of the will or the nearest surviving relative.
- A doctor fills out the medical certificate, and the crematorium's doctor (Medical Referee) verifies it. If a coroner is involved in the case, cremation takes place only after their permission.
- At Dublin Cemeteries Trust crematoria, an adult cremation costs 810 € (rates effective from 16 March 2026). Source: DCT price list 2026.
- Transporting the urn to Ukraine costs from 800 €, with no prepayment.
Oleg Zdendiak, ownerpersonally responsible for every case 5,0 129 reviews on Google
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. Who Gives Consent for Cremation
First, the wishes of the deceased are considered. If they left a will or written wishes for cremation, the family usually follows them.
The Application for Cremation (at Dublin Cemeteries Trust, this is Form B) is signed by the executor of the will or the nearest surviving relative. The signature is witnessed by a third party. The applicant must be at least 16 years old. If the application is submitted by someone other than the executor or the nearest relative, the form must state whether the nearest relative was informed and why you are submitting the application.
Citizenship is not the main factor here. A Ukrainian is cremated using the exact same forms as an Irish citizen.
If the family is in Ukraine, traveling to Ireland is not mandatory. We arrange the cremation through local partners: the funeral director collects signatures and documents, and you sign the application remotely, as agreed with the crematorium. If the cremation has already taken place, we collect the ready urn from the crematorium or from the family.
Permits and Documents for Cremation in Ireland
Cremation in Ireland is not regulated by a separate law. Crematoria operate under their own rules and code of ethics. Let's look at the example of Dublin Cemeteries Trust, the largest operator in Dublin (Glasnevin, Newlands Cross, and Dardistown crematoria). Forms may differ at other crematoria, so we verify them case by case.
What is required:
- Funeral Director's Confirmatory Form (Form A): date, service, coffin dimensions, implants such as a pacemaker;
- Application for Cremation (Form B), as mentioned above;
- Medical Certificate for cremation (Form C). It is completed by a doctor registered in Ireland who attended the person before and after death. The certificate must reach the crematorium no later than 15:00 on the day before the cremation;
- Coroner's Certificate for Cremation (Form D), if the death is being investigated by a coroner.
Every medical certificate is checked by the crematorium's independent doctor (Medical Referee). Cremation does not take place until they confirm in writing that the cause of death has been established and the case does not need to be referred to the coroner. If the case is already with the coroner, the crematorium waits until the coroner completes the investigation and releases the body.
Separately, the death is registered at the civil registration office. The doctor issues a Death Notification Form. Registration is free, and the death certificate costs 20 € (source: Citizens Information Board, Bereavement Guide 2026). The death should be registered within 3 months, and at the latest within 12 months. The certificate is required to transport the urn, so we ask to have this done right away.
How Long to Wait for Cremation
We did not find a minimum waiting period from death to cremation in official sources. In practice, the timeline depends on three things: when the doctor signs the certificate, whether the coroner takes the case, and whether there is an available date at the crematorium.
If the death is natural and the doctor has signed the certificate, cremation is usually scheduled within a few days. If the case is with the coroner, the wait can take longer, and no one can promise an exact timeframe. In such cases, the death certificate is also issued later. The coroner provides an interim death certificate for banks and government authorities.
After cremation, the ashes must be collected within 4 weeks. They are collected by the applicant or their representative with an ID document, or by the funeral director with authorization.
How Much Cremation Costs in Ireland
Dublin Cemeteries Trust rates from 16 March 2026:
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Private Adult Cremation | 810 € |
| Chapel ceremony, 30 minutes | 140 € |
| Chapel ceremony, 60 minutes | 280 € |
Source: Dublin Cemeteries Trust price list, from 16 March 2026
The funeral director is paid separately: coffin, body transport, documents. Each director has their own prices. Other crematoria in Ireland have their own rates.
If we arrange the cremation, we calculate the cost based on your situation. Transporting the urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from 800 €. There is no prepayment: you pay after the urn is handed over according to the contract.
Urn for Transport
The crematorium releases the ashes in a standard urn, or you can choose your own. For travel, it is better to have a sturdy, tightly sealed urn that can be easily X-rayed: plastic, wood, or cardboard. A metal or stone urn might not be see-through during airport security screening.
An urn in carry-on baggage is usually transported by prior agreement with the airline. The urn is X-rayed at security. Each airline sets its own rules, so we check them for your flight before booking a ticket.
How to Bring an Urn to Ukraine: Documents
We did not find a requirement for a separate permit to take ashes out of Ireland in official sources. Usually, the following documents travel with the urn:
- death certificate;
- crematorium's cremation certificate;
- the applicant's passport, or a power of attorney if another person is carrying the urn.
Irish documents for use in Ukraine are usually certified with an apostille. It is issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ireland. We do the Ukrainian translation ourselves. The Embassy of Ukraine in Ireland operates in Dublin and can assist if consular certificates are needed. We provide the full list of documents to every family.
The urn is transported by plane or by land through Europe. At the Ukrainian border, the urn goes through separate clearance; read more about this in the article customs clearance of an urn. To learn how we transport urns, read our urn transport page.
Can You Transport the Urn Yourself?
Yes, the family can collect the urn and transport it themselves. The law does not prohibit this.
Problems happen in practice. An airline may not approve the urn in the cabin. The urn might not pass the X-ray scan and may have to be opened, which families usually want to avoid. At the Ukrainian border, officials may ask for documents with an apostille and translation. If something is missing, the urn is held until the matter is clarified.
Entrust the transport to us if no one from the family can travel to Ireland, if the documents are not ready yet, or if you do not want to take risks at security screening.
Cremation or Body Transport
| Cremation and urn transport | Body transport | |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | cremation, then a few days for documents and travel | depends on documents and flight, see the country page |
| Documents | application, medical certificate, death certificate, cremation certificate | death certificate, body export permits, carrier documents |
| Price | urn from 800 € | see the country page |
If the family wants a traditional coffin burial, read about body transport from Ireland.
Burial of the Urn in Ukraine
In Ukraine, an urn can be buried in a grave, interred in an existing family grave, or placed in a columbarium. This requires permission from the cemetery, and for a family grave, the grave ownership documents as well. Read more about this separately: urn burial. Make arrangements with the cemetery in advance while the urn is still in transit.
Timeline: From the First Call to the Urn Burial
| Stage | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Call, contract, power of attorney | 1–2 days |
| Medical certificate, death registration | a few days |
| Cremation | per crematorium schedule, usually within a week |
| Coroner's case, if applicable | from a few days to several weeks |
| Apostille and translation | 1–2 weeks |
| Urn transport to Ukraine | a few days |
| Urn burial | as agreed with the cemetery |
Timelines are approximate. They depend on the doctor, the coroner, the crematorium, and government authorities.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Ukrainian be cremated in Ireland?
Yes. There are no separate rules for foreign citizens. An application from a relative, a medical certificate, and verification by the crematorium's doctor are required.
Who signs the cremation application in Ireland?
The executor of the will or the nearest surviving relative. The signature is witnessed by a third party. If the family is in Ukraine, signing can be arranged remotely.
How much does cremation cost in Ireland?
At Dublin Cemeteries Trust, an adult cremation costs 810 € from 16 March 2026. The funeral director's services are paid separately. Source: DCT price list 2026.
How long does the crematorium keep the ashes?
At Dublin Cemeteries Trust, the ashes must be collected within 4 weeks after cremation.
Is a permit required to take an urn out of Ireland?
We did not find a separate permit requirement in official sources. You need the death certificate, the cremation certificate, an apostille, and a translation.
How much does it cost to transport an urn from Ireland to Ukraine?
From 800 €. There is no prepayment; payment is made after the urn is handed over.
What to Do Now
- Call us and tell us where your loved one died and whether a cremation date is already set.
- Find the deceased's passport and, if there is one, their will.
- Decide who in the family will sign the application and issue a power of attorney.
- Arrange a place for the urn with a cemetery in Ukraine. We will take care of the rest.
Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about an urn
Phone available 24/7, also on Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
We will help you find out who can pay
Leave your number. We will call you back and tell you what to check about payment.