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- Cremation is carried out at Swiss crematoria in Chur or St. Gallen. This is directly stated in the cemetery regulations of the municipality of Vaduz.
- The burial method is chosen according to the wishes of the deceased, or if there are none, the relatives decide.
- A doctor issues a medical certificate of death, and the death is registered by the Civil Registry Office (Zivilstandsamt) in Vaduz.
- Cemetery rules and costs are set individually by each of the 11 municipalities (Gemeinde).
- Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800, with no prepayment.
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We did not find a separate burial law, like those in Switzerland or Austria, in the Liechtenstein legal database (Lilex). The procedure is set by municipalities through their cemetery regulations (Friedhofordnung). In its guide for families, the municipality of Vaduz advises first checking whether the deceased left written wishes regarding the funeral, and making the decision together with the relatives.
Next, a simple rule in Vaduz applies: relatives instruct the funeral home (Bestattungsdienst) to prepare the body and arrange the cremation (Friedhofordnung, Art. 4).
For a Ukrainian citizen, everything works the same way. Citizenship does not affect the procedure. If the family is in Ukraine, you sign a power of attorney and consent for cremation, and we pass them on to the local funeral home. If there are several relatives, it is better to agree on the decision in advance.
Permits and Documents for Cremation
The procedure according to the guide from the municipality of Vaduz:
- a doctor examines the body and issues a medical certificate of death (Todesschein);
- the death is reported to the Civil Registry Office of Liechtenstein. Usually, the doctor or the Office of Public Health (Amt für Gesundheit) does this automatically;
- the family contacts a funeral home;
- official death certificates are issued by the Civil Registry Office in Vaduz.
Since cremation takes place in Switzerland, the crematorium operates under its own rules. The St. Gallen crematorium notes that the civil registry office (Zivilstandsamt) explains to the family which documents are needed to register the death. In practice, the funeral home prepares the entire package for the crematorium. Liechtenstein and Switzerland have a customs union, so there is no customs border on the way to the crematorium.
If the death is sudden or violent, the police and the prosecutor's office work on the case first. In that case, the timeline is longer.
How Long to Wait for Cremation
The municipality of Eschen states that burial usually takes place on the third day after death. For cremation, the timeline depends on the schedule at the Swiss crematorium and on when the farewell ceremony takes place: before cremation with the coffin or after it with the urn. Vaduz offers both options.
Usually, it takes from a few days to a week from the time of death until the urn is ready, and longer on weekends and public holidays. The funeral home agrees on the exact schedule with the crematorium.
How Much Cremation Costs in Liechtenstein
This is decided by the municipality. For burials at the Vaduz cemetery, Vaduz covers the cost of cremation in Chur or St. Gallen, as well as the opening and closing of the grave. The family pays for the coffin, transporting the body to the crematorium and the urn back, the urn itself, and the headstone. A plot for an urn is provided free of charge for residents of Vaduz, and costs 1,000 CHF for others.
Source: Friedhofordnung der Gemeinde Vaduz, Anhang Mieten- und Kostenregelung
If the urn is taken to Ukraine, this benefit likely does not apply: the rule is written for burials at the Vaduz cemetery. We clarify this with the municipality. We did not find published rates for the crematoria in Chur and St. Gallen.
If we arrange the cremation through local partners, we calculate the cost for your specific situation and show it to you before work begins. Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800. There is no prepayment: payment is made after the urn is handed over under the contract. Read more about the service on the urn transport page.
Urn for Transport
For ground burial, Vaduz requires an urn made of biodegradable material, while for a wall niche a more durable container is needed. For the journey to Ukraine, this is important: we recommend a sealed, sturdy urn that can be scanned by X-ray. If the burial in Ukraine will be in the ground, the urn can be changed once you are home.
The St. Gallen crematorium prepares the urn for release to the funeral home or to the relatives. This means you can pick it up yourself or through the funeral home.
Airlines often allow an urn in carry-on luggage with prior approval. Each carrier has its own rules, so we check in advance.
How to Take an Urn to Ukraine: Documents
Liechtenstein does not have its own airport, so the urn usually travels via Switzerland or Austria, for example by plane from Zurich. We did not find a separate permit for exporting ashes in official Liechtenstein sources. We check with the specific municipality to see what it requires.
Document package:
- death certificate from the Civil Registry Office of Liechtenstein;
- cremation certificate from the crematorium;
- apostille on the death certificate, if required by the Ukrainian authority. We clarify the procedure at the Civil Registry Office;
- translation into Ukrainian;
- if needed, consular registration of death at the Embassy of Ukraine in Switzerland and Liechtenstein (Bern).
We explain how to clear customs in the article customs clearance of an urn. The general list is on the documents page.
Can You Transport the Urn Yourself
Yes. The urn is also released to relatives, so you can pick it up yourself and fly with it. Common problems include: the carrier did not approve the urn in advance, the container cannot be scanned by X-ray, or the documents are in German without translation.
If the family is in Ukraine or you do not have time for this, entrust the transport to us. We will pick up the urn at the crematorium or funeral home and bring it to you.
Cremation or Body Transport
| Urn with ashes | Body in a coffin | |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | cremation in Switzerland, then transport | no cremation, longer road journey |
| Documents | death certificate, cremation certificate | laissez-passer for a corpse, hermetically sealed coffin |
| Transport | easy, by car or plane | specialized vehicle |
| Price | from €800 | see the country page |
If the family wants to bury the person in a coffin, read about body transport from Liechtenstein.
Urn Burial in Ukraine
In Ukraine, an urn is buried in the ground, placed in a columbarium, or buried in an existing family grave. A permit from the cemetery is required, and for burial in an existing grave, the consent of the person to whom the grave is registered. Read more in the article urn burial.
Timeline from the First Call to Urn Burial
| Stage | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| Call, identifying the municipality, funeral home, documents | 1 day |
| Power of attorney, consent for cremation | 1–3 days |
| Transporting the body to the crematorium, cremation | from a few days to a week |
| Death certificate, translation | 1–2 weeks |
| Transporting the urn to Ukraine | a few days |
| Urn burial | as arranged with the cemetery |
Timelines depend on authorities and the crematorium, which are beyond our control.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a crematorium in Liechtenstein?
No. Cremation is carried out in Switzerland, in Chur or St. Gallen. This is arranged by the funeral home.
Who decides on cremation if the family is in Ukraine?
The wishes of the deceased apply, and if there are none, the relatives decide. You sign a power of attorney and consent; usually, there is no need to travel in person.
How much does cremation cost in Liechtenstein?
It depends on the municipality. Vaduz pays for cremation when the burial takes place at its cemetery. For taking the urn abroad, we calculate the cost separately. Transporting the urn to Ukraine costs from €800.
Can we pick up the urn ourselves?
Yes. The St. Gallen crematorium prepares the urn for release to the funeral home or to the relatives.
What documents are needed to take an urn to Ukraine?
A death certificate from the Civil Registry Office, a cremation certificate, a translation into Ukrainian, and, if needed, an apostille.
Can I take the urn on a plane?
Often yes, in carry-on luggage by prior arrangement with the airline. The urn must be sealed and scannable by X-ray.
What to Do Now
- Write down the person's name, date of death, municipality, and the name of the funeral home, if there is one already.
- Find out whether the person left written wishes regarding the burial.
- Decide where in Ukraine the urn will be buried.
- Call us. We will arrange the cremation with our partners or pick up the ready urn and bring it home.
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