Ashes transport guide
Bringing ashes home from Albania
You have ashes in Albania and need to bring them home. This page covers what Albania requires before they can leave.
Quick reference
3-10 days to arrange
What does Albania require before ashes can leave?
Departure airports: TIA (Tirana International Nene Tereza)
Carriers serving the UK: Air Albania; Ryanair; Wizz Air; British Airways (via connections)
Authority that must release the case: RGJC (National Civil Registry) local office; Ministry of Interior or local prefecture; Institute of Forensic Medicine (Institut i Mjekesise Ligjore), Tirana; Prosecutor's Office (Prokuroria)
The rules that apply on any route, and what you may do with ashes once home, are covered in bringing ashes into the UK.
What are the airline rules for carrying ashes?
What does Albania require to export ashes?
Cremation availability
Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Albania due to religious or legal reasons. If you are dealing with ashes from a previous cremation held elsewhere, the export rules may differ. Contact us for guidance specific to your situation.
What affects the cost?
Carrying ashes home yourself is the least expensive way to bring someone back from Albania, and for many families it costs little more than the return flight they are already taking. We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.
| What changes the cost | Why |
|---|---|
| Whether the cremation has already taken place | Arranging it locally adds funeral director and crematorium involvement |
| Where the death happened | Distance to the nearest crematorium changes local transfer |
| Carrying versus shipping | Hand luggage costs nothing extra; a specialist courier is a separate arrangement |
| Documentation Albania requires | Export permits and translation, where they apply |
Send us the details of your situation and we will give you a figure, with no obligation.
What else is worth knowing about Albania?
Albania is a Council of Europe member and Strasbourg Agreement signatory, which simplifies documentation; Growing tourist destination with increasing numbers of British visitors to the Albanian Riviera; Limited direct flights to the UK, Ryanair and Wizz Air serve Luton and other airports but frequency is lower than Western European routes; Albanian language is linguistically isolated; certified translation is essential
medium
Full repatriation guide
Complete guide: repatriation from Albania
Official support
British Embassy in Albania: contacts and what consular staff can do
Need guidance?
We can help with ashes transport
We deal with RGJC (National Civil Registry) local office; Ministry of Interior or local prefecture; Institute of Forensic Medicine (Institut i Mjekesise Ligjore), Tirana; Prosecutor's Office (Prokuroria) and the local crematorium directly.
Send an enquiryFurther guidance
Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Albania
More on ashes and cremation abroad
Bringing ashes home from Albania
Tell us where the ashes are now and where home is. We will explain what is needed and send you a quote. We send ashes home to the UK, Ireland or any other country.