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In brief, in 30 seconds.
- There is no single federal burial law. Each canton has its own.
- Cremation can take place no earlier than 48 hours after death. This is the rule in Basel and Lucerne.
- The type of funeral follows the wishes of the deceased, or if there are none, the next of kin decide.
- In Basel, the family can take the urn home. The cantonal cremation fee is shown below with its source.
- Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800, with no prepayment.
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In the Canton of Lucerne, the rule is stated directly (Verordnung über das Bestattungswesen, § 5). If the deceased clearly wanted cremation or earth burial, their wishes are followed. If there is no such statement, the next of kin decide on the method of burial. Other cantons take a similar approach, and we check the exact rules with the local authority.
Citizenship does not affect this. A Ukrainian citizen is cremated under the same conditions. If the family is in Ukraine, you sign a power of attorney and written consent, and we pass them on to the funeral home. In Basel, for example, to cremate a person from outside the canton, the funeral home submits a signed registration form (Anmeldung Kremation Auswärtige).
If there are several relatives, agree among yourselves before the cremation. Once it takes place, the decision cannot be reversed.
Permits and Documents for Cremation
The first document comes from a doctor. In Lucerne, after examining the body in person, the doctor issues a medical certificate of death for the civil registry office (Zivilstandsamt). If the death is violent, suspicious, or sudden without a clear cause, the doctor does not issue the certificate and notifies the investigating authority (Amtsstatthalter).
Example from Basel:
- if a person died at home, the death must be reported to the cantonal burial office (Bestattungsbüro) within two days;
- the civil registry office issues a death certificate (Todesurkunde) or, if the death cannot be entered in the register right away, a confirmation that the death has been reported;
- the canton issues a cremation certificate (Kremationsbescheinigung) and a declaration on the type of burial;
- for a person from outside Basel, the cremation request must be sent by email at least two working days in advance before 3:00 PM.
All of these steps are handled by the funeral home. The family only needs to sign the consent and provide the documents.
How Long to Wait for Cremation
In Basel, cremation is possible no earlier than 48 hours after death, and burial should preferably take place within seven days. Funerals are not held in Basel on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays.
In Lucerne, burial takes place no earlier than 48 hours and no later than 96 hours after death. If the body is kept in a refrigerated room or the person died abroad, the cemetery administration can extend the deadline.
The cremation itself in Basel takes about three hours. Usually, the urn is ready within a few days after death.
How Much Cremation Costs in Switzerland
Prices are set by the canton or municipality. Here is an official example, the fee schedule of the Canton of Basel-Stadt:
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Cremation | 512 CHF |
| Cremation certificate | 35 CHF |
| Declaration on the type of burial | 35 CHF |
| Urn storage at the crematorium from the 2nd month | 35 CHF per month |
Source: Verordnung über Gebühren im Bestattungswesen, Kanton Basel-Stadt, Gebührentarif (Stand 1.4.2021)
A death certificate in Basel costs 30 CHF, or 45 CHF for urgent issue.
Source: Kanton Basel-Stadt: Merkblatt Leichenausfuhr, 20.01.2026
There is a benefit for residents of Basel. If a person who lived and died in the canton is cremated in Basel, and the urn is buried outside the canton, the canton covers all costs up to the handover of the urn.
Source: Kanton Basel-Stadt: Wegleitung Todesfall und Bestattung, 2021
The funeral home, coffin, and transport of the body are paid separately. If we arrange the cremation through local partners, we calculate the total for your situation and show it to you in advance. 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
In Basel, the ashes, weighing around 1–2 kg, are placed in an urn bearing the name of the deceased. A ceramic disc with the cremation number is placed inside, and the lid is sealed. The Hörnli Cemetery offers urns made of clay and other materials, or you can provide your own.
For travel, we recommend a sealed, sturdy urn that can pass through an X-ray scanner. Do not remove the crematorium seal: it confirms that the contents have not been tampered with.
Airlines often allow an urn in carry-on luggage by prior arrangement. Each airline has its own rules, so we check with the carrier in advance.
How to Take an Urn from Switzerland to Ukraine: Documents
In Basel, the family can take the urn home. The person collecting it provides their details and signs an undertaking to treat the ashes with dignity. Cantons issue a laissez-passer for a corpse (Leichenpass) when transporting a body. We found no separate permit for taking an urn abroad in Basel's official information sheets. For your canton, we confirm this with the local authority.
Document package:
- death certificate (Todesurkunde);
- cremation certificate (Kremationsbescheinigung);
- apostille on the death certificate. It is issued by the cantonal chancellery (Staatskanzlei), for example in Zurich;
- translation into Ukrainian;
- if needed, consular registration of the death at the Embassy of Ukraine in Switzerland.
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, in Switzerland this is common practice. The urn is released to relatives, and many carry it themselves. Problems can happen at airport X-ray screening if the airline did not approve the urn in advance, or at the border if the documents are only in German or French.
If the family is in Ukraine and there is no one to pick up the urn, leave it to us. We will collect the urn from the crematorium or funeral home and bring it to you.
Cremation vs Body Transport
| Urn with ashes | Body in a coffin | |
|---|---|---|
| Timeframe | from 48 hours until cremation, then transport | no cremation, longer journey |
| Documents | death certificate, cremation certificate | Leichenpass, coffin sealing certificate |
| Transport | easy, by car or plane | specialized vehicle, zinc liner |
| Price | from €800 | see the country page |
If the family wants a burial in a coffin, read about body transport from Switzerland.
Burying the Urn in Ukraine
In Ukraine, an urn can be buried in the ground, placed in a columbarium, or interred in a relative's existing grave. You need permission from the cemetery, and for interment in an existing grave, the consent of the grave holder. Read more in the article urn burial.
Timeline from the First Call to Urn Burial
| Stage | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| Phone call, checking canton, crematorium, and documents | 1 day |
| Power of attorney, consent, cremation application | 1–2 days |
| Cremation (at least 48 hours after death) | a few days |
| Death certificate, apostille, translation | 1–2 weeks |
| Transporting the urn to Ukraine | a few days |
| Urn burial | as agreed with the cemetery |
Timelines depend on the authorities and the crematorium. The apostille and translation usually take the longest.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Ukrainian citizen be cremated in Switzerland?
Yes. The conditions are the same as for Swiss citizens: a doctor's certificate, registration of death, and a decision that matches the wishes of the deceased or the family.
How long is the wait for cremation in Switzerland?
At least 48 hours after death. In Lucerne, burial must take place within 96 hours, though the deadline can be extended if the body is kept in a refrigerated room.
How much does cremation cost in Switzerland?
It depends on the canton. An official tariff example with its source is given above in the section on costs. Our price for transporting the urn to Ukraine starts from €800.
Will the urn be released to the family?
Yes. In Basel, the urn can be taken home. The person collecting it signs an undertaking to treat the ashes with dignity.
What documents are needed to take an urn to Ukraine?
A death certificate, cremation certificate, apostille, and translation into Ukrainian. We check locally whether any additional cantonal permit is needed.
Can you take an 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 name, date of death, canton and city, and the name of the hospital or funeral home.
- Check whether the deceased left written wishes regarding the funeral.
- Decide where in Ukraine the urn will be buried.
- Call us. We will arrange the cremation with our partners or collect the ready urn and bring it home.
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