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- The cause of death is first reviewed by a medical examiner, then registered within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). After registration, you receive a "green form" for the crematorium.
- The cremation application (form Cremation 1) is submitted by the executor or a near relative aged 16 or over.
- Council crematorium fees differ from council to council. Examples from official fee lists are below.
- We found no separate UK permit for taking ashes abroad in official sources. You need the death certificate and the certificate of cremation, plus a document for Ukrainian customs.
- Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800, with no prepayment.
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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 can apply for cremation
In England and Wales, the application for cremation is submitted by the executor or a near relative who is at least 16 years old. This is set out in Regulation 15 of the Cremation (England and Wales) Regulations 2008. Near relatives here include a spouse, civil partner, parents, children, or another relative who usually lived with the deceased.
If there are no such people or they cannot apply, another person may submit the application. In that case, the crematorium's medical referee must be satisfied that this is a suitable person and that relatives do not object.
Citizenship does not matter. A Ukrainian is cremated under the same rules as a British citizen. If the family is in Ukraine, one of the near relatives signs the application, while a local funeral director handles the paperwork in practice. Each crematorium decides for itself how to accept a signature from abroad, so we check this before starting.
In form Cremation 1, the applicant states right away what should be done with the ashes: release them to the family, hand them over to the funeral director, or bury them on site. This determines who will receive the urn later.
Permits and documents for cremation in England and Wales
Since 9 September 2024, a new death certification system has been in place. The process works like this:
- A doctor completes the Medical Certificate of Cause of Death (MCCD). A medical examiner independently reviews the cause of death. The family can speak with the medical examiner's office, though this is optional.
- Once confirmed by the medical examiner's office, the death is registered at a register office within 5 days. Weekends and bank holidays are included in these 5 days.
- The registrar issues the death certificate and the certificate for burial or cremation (the "green form"). The crematorium cannot proceed without it.
- The funeral director submits form Cremation 1 along with the other documents.
- The crematorium's medical referee signs form Cremation 10. This is the authorisation to cremate.
The old medical forms Cremation 4 and 5 are no longer used. If a coroner is investigating the death, they issue form Cremation 6, and the cremation goes ahead on the coroner's paperwork.
Scotland
In Scotland, a death must be registered within 8 days, and the cremation application is submitted using form A1. A new version of the forms was introduced on 2 March 2026. If the urn is not collected within 4 weeks after cremation, the crematorium contacts the applicant. If there is no response, the ashes may be scattered or buried according to their rules.
How long you wait for a cremation
The law does not set a minimum waiting time between death and cremation. Time goes into the medical examiner's review, registering the death, and waiting for a slot at the crematorium. If a coroner is involved, everything takes longer because cremation is only allowed after their decision.
The exact date is given by the crematorium. Early morning slots without a service are usually easier to book. For example, in Lambeth, cremations without family present take place at 8:00, 8:30, or 9:00.
After cremation, the urn is kept at the crematorium. If the ashes are left there temporarily, the crematorium cannot bury or scatter them until it has tried to give the applicant 14 days' notice. Still, it is best not to delay for too long, as some councils charge for storage.
How much cremation costs in the UK
Prices are set by each local council or private crematorium. Here are examples from official council websites:
| Crematorium | What is included | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Lambeth and West Norwood (London), 1.04.2026–31.03.2027 | adult cremation with a service, medical referee included | £1,060 |
| Lambeth and West Norwood | direct cremation, no service or family (8:00–9:00) | £325 |
| Lambeth and West Norwood | overseas certificate for taking ashes abroad | £51 |
| Pembrokeshire (Wales), 2025–2026 | weekday service, 9:15–15:15 | £903 |
| Pembrokeshire | cremation only, no service | £738.50 |
Source: Lambeth and West Norwood crematoria fees, 2026–2027 · Pembrokeshire crematorium fees, 2025–2026
The funeral director is paid separately for transporting the body, the coffin, and handling the paperwork. Every funeral home sets its own fees for these services.
If we arrange the cremation through our local partners, we calculate the cost based on your situation. Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800. There is no prepayment: you pay under the contract after the urn is handed over. See service details on the urn transport page.
The urn: flying with ashes
The cremation price usually includes a simple container for the ashes. In Lambeth, for example, one container is included, while a wooden casket costs £110.
Source: Lambeth and West Norwood crematoria fees, 2026–2027
For air travel, people usually choose a lightweight urn made of wood, cardboard, or solid plastic. Hand luggage goes through an X-ray scanner, and if security cannot see what is inside, they may not let the urn through. A metal or stone urn is riskier here. You can buy a permanent urn for the burial once you are in Ukraine.
GOV.UK advises telling the airline in advance that you are carrying ashes and keeping the certificate of cremation with you. Every carrier has its own rules, so check them before buying a ticket. Do not open the urn during the journey, as the documents are issued specifically for that sealed container.
Taking ashes abroad to Ukraine: documents
On the UK side, we found no separate official permit required to take ashes out of the country. In practice, you need:
- the death certificate;
- the certificate of cremation from the crematorium. Some crematoria issue a separate overseas certificate for taking ashes abroad (in Lambeth, this costs £51);
- a statement confirming that the urn contains only ashes.
Source: Lambeth and West Norwood crematoria fees, 2026–2027
On the Ukrainian side, Article 22 of the Law of Ukraine "On Burial and Funeral Affairs" requires a death certificate and a certificate stating that the urn contains no items prohibited from transport. This is issued by a competent authority in the country of departure and legalised by a Ukrainian consulate or embassy. Consular services are handled by the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Kingdom.
UK documents are apostilled when needed at the FCDO Legalisation Office. A paper apostille costs £45 per document plus delivery, and an electronic one costs £35. Standard processing takes up to 25 working days. We translate the documents into Ukrainian.
Source: GOV.UK: legalisation fees
To learn how to clear the urn at the border, read our article on urn customs. A full list of paperwork is available on the documents page.
You can transport the urn by plane with a connection or overland through the EU. The overland route takes longer, but it does not depend on airline rules.
Can you carry the ashes yourself
Yes, the family can collect the urn from the crematorium and carry it themselves. This is legal. Common issues include:
- the urn cannot be scanned by X-ray, so airport security refuses to let it into the cabin;
- the airline was not notified in advance and asks to check the urn in differently;
- at the Ukrainian border, there is no legalised certificate of the urn's contents, and the customs officer stops the clearance process;
- the documents are in English without a translation.
If you are short on time, are in Ukraine, or do not want to deal with the paperwork, it is easier to leave this to us. We can arrange the cremation through local partners or collect an already prepared urn from the crematorium or the family. Then we handle the documents and bring the urn home.
Cremation vs body repatriation
| Cremation and urn | Body repatriation | |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | cremation depends on crematorium availability, the urn travels quickly | depends on documents and flights |
| Documents | certificate of cremation, death certificate, customs certificate | more documents, hermetically sealed coffin |
| Price | urn from €800 | see the country page |
| Who transports | we do or the family | specialist carrier only |
If the family wishes to bury their loved one in a coffin, read about repatriation of a body from the UK.
Burying an urn in Ukraine
To bury an urn, you need a place: a new grave, burial in an existing family grave, or a niche in a columbarium. Permission is given by the cemetery administration or the local council. For burial in an existing grave, you usually need the consent of the person registered as the grave's holder. Read more about the procedure in our article on burying an urn in Ukraine.
We advise making arrangements with the cemetery while the cremation is taking place in the UK. That way, the urn can be buried right after it arrives.
Timeline table: from the first call to burying the urn in Ukraine
| Stage | Estimated time |
|---|---|
| Medical examiner's review, death registration | up to 5 days after confirmation (up to 8 in Scotland) |
| Cremation 1 application, medical referee's authorisation | a few days |
| Crematorium waiting time | from a few days to a few weeks |
| Certificate of cremation, apostille, translation | from a few days to a few weeks |
| Customs certificate, legalisation at the embassy | depends on the embassy |
| Transporting the urn to Ukraine | a few days |
| Urn burial | as agreed with the cemetery |
Timelines depend on the medical examiner, the coroner, the crematorium, and the embassy, not on us. If a coroner is investigating the case, the process takes longer.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Ukrainian be cremated in the UK if the family is in Ukraine?
Yes. The application is submitted by the executor or a near relative aged 16 or over. The funeral director handles the rest. We check in advance how the crematorium accepts a signature from abroad.
How much does cremation cost in the UK?
At council crematoria, it costs roughly from £325 for a direct cremation to £1,060 with a service, according to council fee schedules for 2025–2027. The funeral director's fees are paid separately. Source: Lambeth and West Norwood crematoria fees, 2026–2027
Do I need a permit for taking ashes abroad from the UK?
We found no separate UK permit in official sources. You need the death certificate and the certificate of cremation. For Ukraine, you also need a certificate confirming the contents of the urn, legalised by the Embassy of Ukraine.
Can I carry ashes on a plane in hand luggage?
Usually yes, if agreed with the airline. The urn must be able to pass through an X-ray scan. Keep the certificate of cremation with you.
What happens if the urn is not collected for a long time?
In England and Wales, the crematorium may bury or scatter the ashes after trying to give the applicant 14 days' notice. In Scotland, the crematorium contacts the family if the urn has not been collected within 4 weeks.
Can you collect a ready urn if the cremation has already taken place?
Yes. We collect the urn from the crematorium or the family, complete the paperwork, and bring it to Ukraine. Transporting an urn costs from €800.
What to do now
- Find out who is handling the case: the hospital, the medical examiner, or the coroner.
- Decide within the family who will submit the cremation application and who the urn will be released to.
- Arrange a place for the urn with a cemetery in Ukraine.
- Call us: we will arrange the cremation through our partners or collect a ready urn, prepare the documents, and bring the urn home.
We are available 24/7: +380 77 882 77 77, and also on Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
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