Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about an urn
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- Cremation is permitted in Israel. The law does not regulate it, and courts recognize the wishes of a deceased person who asked to be cremated.
- There are no state crematoriums. The service is provided by a private organization, which sets the price.
- The National Insurance Institute (ביטוח לאומי, Bituach Leumi) does not pay for cremation. Its burial grant covers burial only.
- To take an urn out of the country, you need a death certificate and a cremation certificate. Israeli documents are apostilled.
- Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800. No prepayment required.
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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. Who gives consent for cremation in Israel
The main factor here is the wish of the person themselves. Israeli courts have heard disputes where the family opposed cremation, and ordered that the deceased's wishes be carried out. In one such case, the Supreme Court upheld this decision. Therefore, if there is a will or another written record requesting cremation, keep it safe.
If no wishes were recorded, the decision is made by the next of kin: spouse, adult children, or parents. We advise collecting written consent from all closest relatives. This reduces the chance that someone will challenge the decision.
Keep the religious aspect in mind. Jewish tradition does not approve of cremation, and for many families in Israel this is a sensitive issue. If the deceased or their relatives are religious, discuss the decision within the family calmly and in advance.
If the family is in Ukraine
You do not have to travel to Israel. You sign a power of attorney, and we pass it on to our partners. Documents for Israeli authorities are translated into Hebrew. We verify before submission whether notarization of the translation is required.
Cremation of a Ukrainian citizen in Israel
We found no separate rules for foreigners. Citizenship does not prevent cremation. However, if the person was a tourist, insurance will help: the insurance company often appoints the funeral service itself.
Permits and documents for cremation in Israel
The death certificate is issued by the Ministry of Interior of Israel (משרד הפנים) in Hebrew.
If the cause of death is unknown, sudden, or violent, the police may order an autopsy. It is performed only at the National Center of Forensic Medicine (המכון הלאומי לרפואה משפטית) in Tel Aviv. Usually, the body is released a few days after the autopsy. For an autopsy, the police first ask for the family's consent, and if there is no consent, they apply to the court.
The law does not establish a separate state permit for cremation. We clarify which documents the organization performing the cremation requests, and in what order, for each specific case.
How long does cremation take
There are no official timeframes. The timing depends on whether there was an autopsy, how quickly the death certificate was issued, and when there is an opening in the crematorium's schedule. There are no state queues here because there are no state crematoriums. We provide the actual timeframe after speaking with our partners.
How much does cremation cost in Israel
There is no official tariff. The price is set by a private organization, so we confirm the price with the crematorium for your case.
Important: The National Insurance Institute (ביטוח לאומי) does not reimburse cremation. In 2026, a court rejected a lawsuit for such compensation: cremation is not prohibited, but the court cannot order payment for it without a decision by the legislature.
Our price. Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800. No prepayment: payment is made after the urn is handed over according to the contract. If we arrange the cremation, we calculate its cost based on your situation.
Urn for transport
The urn must be sturdy and tightly sealed. For air travel, an urn made of metal, wood, or durable plastic that can be scanned by X-ray is best. Ceramics and stone are heavy and can break.
Flying with ashes in carry-on luggage is usually done by prior arrangement with the airline. Inform the carrier about the urn in advance. At security control, the urn is X-rayed. We check the rules of each airline separately.
Taking ashes abroad: from Israel to Ukraine
In its guidance for its citizens, the British government lists what is needed to take ashes out of Israel:
- death certificate;
- cremation certificate;
- compliance with local rules for exporting ashes, which are explained by the funeral service;
- prior notice to the airline.
Israel and Ukraine are parties to the Hague Convention, so an apostille is placed on Israeli documents. It is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel or registrars of the Magistrates' Courts (בית משפט שלום), depending on the document. We handle the translation into Ukrainian. The Embassy of Ukraine in Israel operates in Tel Aviv, and its consular section will assist if Ukrainian documents are needed.
There are currently no direct flights to Ukraine. The urn is flown to a country neighboring Ukraine, and then transported by land. Sending ashes by mail or courier may not be possible. Air cargo is possible, but expensive.
At the Ukrainian border, the urn goes through separate clearance. To see what to show customs, read our article on customs clearance of an urn. We provide a full list of documents to every family.
Can you transport the urn yourself
Yes. Many families do just that. What you need to have with you: original death certificate and cremation certificate with an apostille, translation, and passport. Notify the airline before buying a ticket.
Where problems happen: the carrier did not approve the urn, there is no cremation certificate, the urn cannot be scanned by X-ray, or there are different rules at the transfer airport. If no one in the family can fly or time is short, entrust this to us. Read more about our urn transport service.
Cremation vs. body transport
| Cremation in Israel | Body transport | |
|---|---|---|
| Timeframes | after the death certificate and per the crematorium's schedule | after preparing transport documents |
| Documents | death certificate, cremation certificate, apostille | death certificate, body transport documents, apostille |
| Transport | urn in carry-on luggage or with us | special coffin, air or road transport |
| Price | urn from €800 plus local cremation | see the country page |
| Burial in Ukraine | urn in a grave, columbarium, or existing family grave | traditional burial |
We have described everything about transporting a body from Israel on a separate page.
Burial of an urn in Ukraine
An urn can be buried in a new grave, placed in an existing family grave, or placed in a columbarium. A cemetery in Ukraine processes this according to its own rules, so start by speaking with them. We explained how this works in the article burial of an urn.
From the first call to urn burial: timeframes
| Stage | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Consultation, family consents, power of attorney | 1–5 days |
| Death certificate, autopsy if ordered | a few days |
| Cremation | per the crematorium's schedule |
| Cremation certificate, apostille, translation | 1–2 weeks |
| Transporting the urn to Ukraine | a few days |
| Burial of the urn | by arrangement with the cemetery |
Timeframes depend on the police, the Ministry of Interior, and the crematorium. We keep you informed about the progress at every step.
Frequently asked questions
Is cremation permitted in Israel?
Yes. There is no separate law on cremation, but there is no ban either. Courts recognize the wishes of a person who asked to be cremated.
How much does cremation cost in Israel?
There is no official tariff; the price is set by a private organization. We confirm the price with the crematorium. The National Insurance Institute does not pay for cremation.
Who decides if relatives disagree?
If the person requested cremation in writing, courts place their wishes above the family's position. Without such a record, it is best to have written consent from the closest relatives.
Can I take an urn from Israel in carry-on luggage?
Usually yes, by prior arrangement with the airline. You will need the death certificate and the cremation certificate.
How much does it cost to transport an urn to Ukraine?
From €800. No prepayment: payment is made after the urn is handed over according to the contract.
Do we need to travel to Israel?
No. A power of attorney is enough. We take care of the documents and transport.
What to do now
- Call us and tell us where and when the person passed away.
- Find the will or another record if the person asked for cremation.
- Agree within the family on who will sign the consent, 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
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