Call +380 77 882 77 77Get a price for repatriation from the USA
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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. How much it costs to ship a body from the USA, and why
The casket travels as separate cargo in the hold of a passenger plane. Airlines charge by the weight of the casket and its packaging, and a transatlantic flight is long. On top of that come the American paperwork, the apostille, translations, a sealed casket with a zinc liner for the flight, a connecting flight to an airport near Ukraine and our vehicle to your town.
Embalming adds to the bill, too. Although no federal law requires it, most airlines will only accept an embalmed body on long-haul routes. The American funeral home charges for it separately.
Direct cremation in the USA: cost and what happens to the urn
A direct cremation with no service costs roughly $1,000 to $3,500, depending on the state and city. With a viewing and a ceremony, the total rises to several thousand dollars.
An urn costs far less to fly than a casket. In Ukraine it can be buried in a cemetery, placed in a columbarium or laid in a family grave. We bring an urn from the USA to Ukraine from €2,500, including paperwork, customs clearance and delivery to the family.
Families often learn two things too late. Cremation in the US needs approval from the county medical examiner or coroner, which takes a few days. And after cremation there is no way to say goodbye with an open casket.
Body or ashes: how to decide
Families bring the body home when they want a farewell at home, when insurance covers repatriation or when their faith requires it.
They choose an urn when money is tight, when the person wanted to be cremated or when relatives live far apart and no large funeral is planned.
The simplest way to decide is to price both options all the way to the door. Tell us the state, the city and where the person is going in Ukraine, and we will give you the full figure within minutes.
Who pays: where to find the money
Start with life insurance. In the US, many people have it through their employer, the payout goes to the beneficiary, and it usually covers the funeral.
Next, ask the employer or the union. Some companies have a fund for an employee's funeral, and HR will know about it.
If the person was in the US temporarily, look for a travel insurance policy. Some of these policies pay for repatriation.
Ukrainian parishes and communities in America often help as well. Fundraising on GoFundMe or similar platforms is common, and it works better when people can see an actual quote from the funeral home.
The Ukrainian consulate handles documents but does not pay for transportation. There is no government program that covers repatriation from the US. More on this in Who pays for repatriation.
How long the process takes
The American paperwork takes the longest. The state issues the death certificate, then you need a burial-transit permit and an apostille from the Secretary of State. After that come translations and approval from the Embassy of Ukraine. The flight with a connection and the drive add a few more days. We describe the whole process step by step on the page Repatriation from the USA.
Who authorizes cremation in the USA when the family is in Ukraine
There is no single federal law for the entire country: each state regulates cremation separately. However, the general logic is similar. Cremation must be authorized in writing by the person who holds the right to control disposition. Usually, this is someone the deceased designated in writing, followed by the spouse, adult children, parents, and siblings.
Example: Texas
- The law (Health and Safety Code § 711.002) lists this exact order of priority: a person designated in a written instrument, the surviving spouse, any one of the surviving adult children, either surviving parent, any one of the surviving adult siblings, followed by the executor of the estate and next of kin.
- A crematory cannot proceed until it receives a signed cremation authorization form and a death certificate that permits cremation (§ 716.051).
- A family representative can sign the form, but the written authorization appointing them must be notarized (§ 716.053).
- If the person with the right to control disposition makes no decision and appoints no one, the right passes to the next relative in line. The time limit is 6 days from the date the person learned of the death, or 10 days from the date of death, whichever comes first (§ 711.002(a-1)). Because of this, family members in Ukraine need to respond to the funeral home quickly.
Example: Florida
Florida also has its own priority list of "legally authorized persons" (§ 497.005), and cremation cannot take place without their written authorization (§ 497.607). In addition, the district medical examiner reviews every case before cremation (§ 406.11).
For a family in Ukraine, this usually means getting a power of attorney from a Ukrainian notary, having it apostilled, and translating it into English. We check in advance which exact form the specific funeral home will accept so the paperwork is not done twice.
We can arrange the cremation in the USA through local partners, or collect a ready urn from the funeral home or from relatives.
How long you wait for cremation in the USA
The waiting period also depends on the state. In Texas, a crematory cannot cremate remains earlier than 48 hours after the time of death listed on the death certificate. Only a written waiver from a justice of the peace or the county medical examiner, or a court order, can shorten it (§ 716.004).
Other steps that take time:
- the death certificate and clearance from the medical examiner or coroner;
- an autopsy, if the death was sudden or the circumstances are unclear;
- a power of attorney from Ukraine: notarization, apostille, and translation;
- the schedule at the crematory.
The urn for a flight from the USA
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) allows cremated remains in both carry-on and checked baggage. However, there are important details to keep in mind:
- some airlines do not allow cremated remains in checked baggage, so you must check the rules with your carrier;
- the TSA recommends using an urn made of a lightweight material, such as wood or plastic;
- if the X-ray scanner cannot see what is inside, the urn will not be allowed through security;
- security officers will not open the urn, even if the passenger asks them to.
Bringing a metal or stone urn on a flight is a bad idea. You can buy a permanent urn for the burial once you are in Ukraine.
Can you bring the urn from the USA yourself
Yes, you can. However, the journey from the US is complicated, and we want to be honest about where problems usually come up.
There are no direct flights to Ukraine. You will fly with a layover to a neighboring country, and then travel by car or bus. Each flight is subject to the rules of its specific airline, and it is best to keep the urn with you in the cabin.
What you need to carry with you:
- a certified copy of the death certificate with an apostille;
- a certificate of cremation with an apostille;
- Ukrainian translations and documents from the Consulate of Ukraine;
- a certificate stating that the urn contains no foreign objects.
Families are most often delayed at the Ukrainian border when an apostille, translation, or consular document is missing. You can read more in our article on customs clearance for an urn.
It makes sense to entrust the urn to us if the family is in Ukraine and cannot fly, if the person passed away in a different state from where their relatives live, or if you do not have time to deal with apostilles and the consulate. Transporting an urn from the US costs from €2,500, with no upfront payment: you pay after the urn is handed over according to the contract.
Burying the urn in Ukraine
An urn can be buried in a family grave, placed in a columbarium niche, or buried in a new grave plot. What a specific cemetery allows and which documents it requires is decided by its administration. We clarify these details in advance.
Keep all American documents with their apostilles and translations, as you will need them at the cemetery. With an urn, there is usually no rush, so you can calmly choose the day of the memorial service when all relatives are able to gather. Read more in our article on burying an urn in Ukraine.
Timeline: from the first call to the urn burial
| Stage | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| First call, full quote for delivery home | Same day |
| Death certificate, coroner or medical examiner clearance | A few days, depending on the county |
| Power of attorney from Ukraine: notary, apostille, translation | A few days |
| Cremation | In Texas, no earlier than 48 hours, then based on the crematory's schedule |
| Secretary of State apostilles, translations, consulate | From a few days to several weeks |
| Connecting flights and travel by car | A few days |
| Urn burial | Whenever the family is ready |
Timeframes depend on the state, county, and consulate, so we provide exact dates after our first conversation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a body from the USA to Ukraine?
From €7,100 for the whole journey, flight included. A coffin of your choice and an urn in Ukraine are free of charge. The exact price depends on the state, the departure airport and the destination in Ukraine.
How much does it cost to bring an urn home?
From €2,500. The family pays the American funeral home for the cremation itself.
Can I carry the urn in my luggage?
Some airlines allow an urn in hand luggage with the death and cremation certificates. But at the Ukrainian border you still need translated documents and a consular certificate, or the urn may be held.
Is embalming required?
Not by law, but most airlines require it on long flights. We will tell you in advance what your carrier needs.
Does the family need to fly to America?
Usually not. We handle the paperwork under a power of attorney. If the state requires a relative to sign in person, we will tell you.
Who in the US has the right to authorize cremation?
This is determined by state law. Usually, the first person in line is someone the deceased designated in writing, followed by the spouse, adult children, parents, and siblings. If these relatives are in Ukraine, they can give their consent through a notarized power of attorney with an apostille.
How long is the wait for cremation in the US?
It depends on the state. In Texas, the law prohibits cremation earlier than 48 hours after death, unless this waiting period is waived in writing. Add a few days for the death certificate, medical examiner clearance, and the power of attorney from Ukraine.
What happens if an urn is not picked up from the crematory for a long time?
In Texas, a crematory may dispose of unclaimed cremated remains no earlier than the 121st day after cremation. Other states have their own timeframes. If the urn is already waiting at the funeral home, call us: we will pick it up and bring it to Ukraine.
What to do now
Find the life or travel insurance policy, if there is one. Find out which state the person is in and where exactly. Then call us on +380 77 882 77 77, day or night, or message us on Viber, WhatsApp or Telegram. We do not take prepayment for transport.
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