Source: Marianum: Cenník služieb, platný od 1.8.2026, 2026
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In brief in 30 seconds.
- Cremation is regulated by the Funeral Services Act (zákon č. 131/2010 Z. z. o pohrebníctve).
- The funeral is ordered by the "funeral arranger" (obstarávateľ pohrebu): the person who holds the death certificate and makes arrangements with the funeral home.
- In Bratislava, cremation in a coffin costs €172.20 including VAT (Marianum crematorium, prices effective from August 1, 2026).
- The urn is released to the funeral arranger, the funeral home, or a person with a power of attorney bearing an officially certified signature.
- Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800, with no prepayment.
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The decision on cremation is made by the funeral arranger (obstarávateľ pohrebu). The law defines this person as someone who confirms their status with a death certificate or a laissez-passer for a corpse and orders the funeral. The crematorium is obliged to act in accordance with the will of the funeral arranger (§ 11).
Usually, the funeral arranger is a spouse, child, or another close relative. It is best if the family agrees in advance on who this will be. This prevents disputes at the crematorium.
Citizenship does not matter: a Ukrainian is cremated under the exact same conditions. If the family is in Ukraine, we act as the funeral home under a contract and a power of attorney.
Permits and Documents for Cremation in Slovakia
- Medical certificate of death following the examination of the body (potvrdenie o prehliadke mŕtveho) or a laissez-passer for a corpse (pas pre mŕtvolu). Without this, the crematorium will not accept the body (§ 11).
- Death certificate (úmrtný list), issued by the registry office (matričný úrad).
- If a crime is suspected, the funeral home may collect the body only with the written consent of the criminal proceedings authority (§ 8).
- The identity of the deceased must be established: cremating an unidentified person is prohibited (§ 4).
The law does not require a separate permit from the city hall for cremation. Other conditions are set by the crematorium in its internal rules (prevádzkový poriadok).
How Long Is the Wait for Cremation
The law sets general timeframes for the body: without refrigeration, burial must take place within 96 hours of death, but no earlier than 24 hours. If the body is kept in a refrigerator, the timeframe is 14 days from death, and in a freezer unit, 30 days (§ 3). We schedule the cremation within these limits.
The exact date is given by the crematorium depending on their queue. Weekends and public holidays add extra days. In Bratislava, the crematorium offers expedited cremation for a 15% surcharge.
An interesting detail: the law allows the funeral arranger or close relatives to be present when the coffin is placed into the cremation chamber. The crematorium records the process on video and keeps the recording for at least 12 months.
How Much Cremation Costs in Slovakia
Each crematorium sets its own prices. For example, Marianum, the municipal funeral organization of Bratislava, price list effective from August 1, 2026:
| Service | Including VAT |
|---|---|
| Cremation of a body in a coffin, including placing ashes in an urn | €172.20 |
| Cremation in a coffin up to 120 cm long | €149.65 |
| Basic urn with a nameplate | €16.00 |
| Temporary storage of an urn (after one month, for each month) | €15.38 |
| Sending an urn by post (excluding postage fees) | €19.47 |
Source: Marianum: Cenník služieb, platný od 1.8.2026, 2026
Funeral home services are added to this: body transport, refrigeration, and the coffin. Other cities have their own prices. If we organize the cremation through local partners, we calculate the total cost for your specific situation. If the urn is already ready, we collect it.
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. Details are on the urn transport page.
Urn for Transport
The crematorium places the ashes in a sealed urn marked with a cremation record number (číslo záznamu o spopolnení). This number links the urn to the documents.
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 agreement with the airline, and it is X-rayed at security. Each airline sets its own rules, so check in advance.
How to Take an Urn with Ashes from Slovakia to Ukraine
Slovak law does not require a separate permit to export ashes: the rules for transporting a body (preprava) explicitly do not apply to ashes. A laissez-passer for a corpse applies only to a body.
The urn must be accompanied by:
- the death certificate (úmrtný list);
- the crematorium's certificate of cremation;
- a translation into Ukrainian.
Slovakia and Ukraine are both parties to the Hague Apostille Convention. An apostille on a death certificate is issued by the district office (okresný úrad), and the official guide of the Ministry of Interior of Slovakia lists a fee of €10 per document. Whether an apostille is needed for your package of documents is something we verify with the Embassy of Ukraine in Slovakia. The general list is on the documents page.
Source: Ministerstvo vnútra SR: Manuál overovania verejných listín APOSTILLE, 2021
Transport can be done by land or by plane. Slovakia shares a direct border with Ukraine, so the overland route is short. Read more about customs in the article on customs clearance of an urn.
Can You Transport the Urn Yourself
Yes. However, keep in mind: the crematorium releases the urn to the funeral arranger, the funeral home, or a person holding a power of attorney with an officially certified signature. If the funeral arranger is in Ukraine and another relative is picking up the urn, they will not release the urn without such a power of attorney.
A power of attorney from Ukraine is drawn up by a notary. Before you sign it, we check whether an apostille and a Slovak translation are required by the specific crematorium. That way, you will not have to redo the document.
Other common issues include missing translations, discrepancies in the spelling of names, or the airline not approving the urn. If you cannot travel yourself or are 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 certificate, translation | death certificate, laissez-passer for a corpse, translations |
| Transport | passenger car or plane | specialized funeral vehicle, hermetically sealed coffin |
| Timeframes | a few days after cremation | depends on the documents |
| Price | from €800 | see the country page |
If the family wishes to bury the body, read about transporting a body from Slovakia.
Burial of an Urn in Ukraine
An urn can be buried in a grave, placed in a columbarium, or interred in an existing family grave. You will need the cemetery's permission and the documents that come with the urn. Details are in the article on urn burial.
Timeframes: From the First Call to Urn Burial
| Stage | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Consultation, contract, power of attorney | 1–3 days |
| Death certificate | a few days |
| Cremation | from a few days to 2 weeks |
| Cremation certificate, apostille, translation | 1–7 days |
| Transporting the urn to Ukraine | 1–2 days |
| Urn burial | as arranged with the cemetery |
Timeframes depend on government authorities and the crematorium's schedule, which are beyond our control.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Ukrainian be cremated in Slovakia?
Yes. The law makes no distinction based on citizenship. A medical confirmation of death and a funeral arranger are required.
Who gives consent for cremation?
The funeral arranger (obstarávateľ pohrebu), usually a close relative holding the death certificate. The crematorium acts according to their wishes.
How much does cremation cost in Slovakia?
In Bratislava, cremation in a coffin costs €172.20 including VAT according to the Marianum price list effective from August 1, 2026. Transporting the urn to Ukraine costs from €800. Source: Marianum: Cenník služieb, platný od 1.8.2026, 2026
Is a permit needed to take the urn out of the country?
The law does not require a separate permit. You need the death certificate, the cremation certificate, and a translation.
Who can pick up the urn at the crematorium?
The funeral arranger, the funeral home, or a person with a power of attorney bearing an officially certified signature.
What happens if the urn is not picked up?
If the urn is not collected within 12 months, the crematorium may bury the ashes in a communal grave.
What to Do Now
- Locate the death certificate or doctor's certificate and find out the name of the funeral home.
- Agree within the family on who will act as the funeral arranger.
- Decide where you will bury the urn in Ukraine.
- Call us. We will arrange the cremation through our partners or collect the ready urn and bring it to Ukraine.
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