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- Cremation (upepelitev) is carried out at the crematoriums in Ljubljana (Žale) and Maribor (Dobrava).
- If the deceased did not leave burial wishes, the person ordering the funeral decides, usually the closest legal heir.
- Cremation is possible no earlier than 36 hours after death, and a doctor examines the body beforehand.
- An urn for burial outside Slovenia is released only to a funeral service that shows an order for burial abroad.
- Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from 800 €, with no prepayment.
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The Funeral and Cemetery Services Act (Zakon o pogrebni in pokopališki dejavnosti, ZPPDej, Article 14) states that the farewell and burial are carried out according to the wishes of the deceased. If the person did not express their wishes, the person ordering the funeral (naročnik pogreba) decides.
Under Article 11, the person ordering the funeral is a legal heir of the first or second order of succession (spouse, children, parents, siblings), a person who permanently lived with the deceased or was legally required to support them, or their authorized representative. If there is no such person, the municipality organizes the burial.
For a Ukrainian who died in Slovenia, the rules are the same. If the family is in Ukraine, there is no need to travel in person. You sign a power of attorney with a notary, and we get it apostilled and translated into Slovenian. Both Slovenia and Ukraine are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention.
Permits and documents for cremation in Slovenia
The law does not require a separate municipal permit for cremation. You will need:
- a medical certificate of death and a report on the cause of death from an authorized doctor (Article 15);
- burial registration (prijava pokopa), accompanied by a document from the doctor or the civil registry (matični register);
- a control medical examination before cremation. This is done by a forensic medical examiner or an authorized doctor (Article 11).
All of this is arranged by the funeral service provider (izvajalec pogrebne dejavnosti), and we work together with them. The cremation takes place at a crematorium (upepeljevalnica) that meets environmental standards.
How long does cremation take
The law allows burial no earlier than 36 hours after death (Article 15). There are no official waiting time limits.
In practice, the timing depends on the paperwork, whether an autopsy is needed, and weekends. There are two crematoriums, so a body from Primorska or Štajerska is taken to Ljubljana or Maribor. The body can remain in the funeral service's refrigerated storage for up to 60 days, after which they notify the municipality (Article 10). So the family has a few days to make a decision.
How much does cremation cost in Slovenia
The law requires funeral services to publish their prices (Article 16). Examples from official price lists:
- Žale (Ljubljana): the estimated price for a basic funeral with scattering of ashes is 930 € (price list from 02.07.2025), excluding body transport;
- Maribor Funeral Company: a basic funeral with an urn is 1 047,27 € (price list from 01.07.2023), excluding cremation.
Source: Žale, estimated price of a basic funeral with scattering of ashes, 02.07.2025; Pogrebno podjetje Maribor, basic funeral prices, from 01.07.2023
The cremation itself, body transport, refrigerated storage, and 24-hour service are paid separately. We calculate the exact local cost based on your specific situation.
We can arrange the cremation through local partners or pick up an urn that is already prepared. The cost of local cremation is calculated separately. Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from 800 €. We work without prepayment: you pay after delivery under the contract. See details on the urn transport page.
The urn for transport
In Slovenia, ashes can be buried in an urn (žara) in a grave or scattered in a designated area; the law does not allow handling the ashes in any other way (Article 17). Keeping an urn at home is not listed among the permitted options under the law.
Ukraine has its own rule. Article 22 of the Law of Ukraine "On Burial and Funeral Affairs" requires that ashes crossing the border be in a hermetically sealed metal urn with an official seal. For this reason, we immediately use a sealed metal urn.
By plane, an urn is usually carried in hand luggage after approval from the airline. It may be screened by X-ray.
How to bring an urn to Ukraine: documents
Here lies the main Slovenian requirement. An urn that will be buried outside Slovenia is released by the crematorium only to a funeral service that presents a document ordering the burial of the urn abroad (Article 11). Therefore, a certificate from a Ukrainian cemetery or a burial contract is needed in advance. We prepare this together with you.
Transporting a body abroad requires a laissez-passer for a corpse (posmrtni potni list) from the Health Inspectorate. For an urn, the transport regulation explicitly states that such a passport is not required (Article 7).
For the Ukrainian border, the following documents are usually prepared:
- death certificate with an apostille and Ukrainian translation;
- cremation certificate from the crematorium;
- a certificate confirming there are no prohibited items inside the urn, legalized at the Consulate of Ukraine as required by Ukrainian law.
We coordinate the documents with the Embassy of Ukraine in Slovenia. The full list is on the documents page. The overland route goes through Hungary. Read more about crossing the border in the article on customs clearance for an urn.
Can you transport the urn yourself
A relative is allowed to transport an urn. However, a family cannot pick it up directly from the crematorium for burial abroad: by law, the urn must be collected by a funeral service. Furthermore, the Ukrainian border requires a sealed metal urn and a certificate confirming no foreign objects are inside. Without these, customs might not let the ashes through.
That is why for Slovenia we advise working through us from the start. Our local partner, a Slovenian funeral service, collects the urn, and we transport it to the cemetery in Ukraine.
Cremation vs. body transport
| Cremation in Slovenia and urn | Body transport | |
|---|---|---|
| Timeframe | from 36 hours until cremation, then urn transport | depends on documents and route |
| Documents | death certificate, medical check, order for burial abroad | laissez-passer for a corpse, hermetically sealed coffin |
| Cost | urn from 800 € | see the country page |
| Farewell ceremony | in Slovenia before cremation | in Ukraine |
If the family wants a farewell ceremony at home, body transport is the right choice. See details on the body transport from Slovenia page.
Burying an urn in Ukraine
An urn can be buried in a grave, placed in a columbarium, or interred in an existing family grave. This requires permission from the cemetery or local authorities. Read the article on urn burial.
From the first call to burial: timeframes
| Stage | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Consultation, power of attorney, Ukrainian cemetery certificate | 1–3 days |
| Death documents, medical check, cremation | from 36 hours, usually a few days |
| Apostille, translation, border certificates | 1–2 weeks |
| Transporting the urn to Ukraine | 2–3 days |
| Urn burial | by arrangement with the cemetery |
These are our general estimates. Actual timeframes depend on government authorities that are beyond our control.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Ukrainian citizen be cremated in Slovenia?
Yes, citizenship does not matter here. Death documents and a control medical examination by a doctor before cremation are required.
Why isn't the urn given to the family?
The law allows releasing an urn for burial abroad only to a funeral service that shows an order for such a burial. Our Slovenian partner receives the urn, and we bring it to Ukraine.
Is a laissez-passer for a corpse needed for an urn?
No. The Slovenian transport regulation explicitly states that it is not required for international urn transport.
How long is the wait for cremation?
At least 36 hours after death. After that, it depends on the documents and the crematorium's schedule.
What kind of urn is needed for the border?
Metal, hermetically closed, and officially sealed, under Article 22 of the Law of Ukraine "On Burial and Funeral Affairs".
How much does it cost to transport an urn from Slovenia?
From 800 €, with no prepayment. Local cremation is calculated separately.
What to do now
- Find out where the body is right now and who in the family will act as the person ordering the funeral.
- Decide where the burial will take place in Ukraine and request a certificate from the cemetery.
- Sign a power of attorney for us.
- Call us. We will arrange the cremation through our partners or pick up the prepared urn and bring it home.
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