Bringing ashes home to the UK

Can you take ashes on a plane?

Yes. The UK government says you do not need a permit to bring ashes to the UK, and that you can usually take them on the plane with you or put them in the hold as part of your luggage. It asks you to tell the airline in advance and to carry the cremation certificate.

What airlines say about carrying ashes

• British Airways accepts ashes in hand baggage or checked baggage within your allowance. Carry a death certificate and a certificate of cremation (or the departure country’s equivalent), and put the remains in a tightly sealed, sturdy box or case.
• Ryanair permits ashes in the cabin, in addition to your normal cabin bag allowance, if a copy of the death certificate and the cremation certificate goes with them. The container needs a screw-top lid and protection against breakage.
• Air New Zealand accepts an urn in checked or carry-on baggage if it is sealed airtight, and asks for a death certificate and a cremation certificate.

We have not yet been able to read current policies from Virgin Atlantic, easyJet, Jet2 or Emirates on their own websites, so we do not summarise them here. Ask each airline directly before you book.

Security screening

British Airways explains that an urn in hand baggage must go through the X-ray. If the material stops the screener seeing inside, the container will not be allowed through, and security staff will not open an urn out of respect. A container that X-rays clearly avoids that problem.

Can you take ashes abroad from the UK?

Yes. Taking ashes out of the UK is mainly a question for the country you are travelling to and for your airline. GOV.UK notes that each country has its own rules about departing with human ashes, and that you will normally be asked for the death certificate and the certificate of cremation. Before you fly, check the destination country’s entry rules and those of any country where you change planes.

Can I take a small amount of ashes abroad?

None of the airline pages we read sets a different rule for a small portion. The same certificates are asked for whatever the quantity, so keep a copy with each container if the ashes are divided between family members.

Sources checked 6 October 2026:

• GOV.UK, What to do when someone dies abroad
• GOV.UK, Death abroad
• British Airways help
• Ryanair help
• Air New Zealand