Ashes transport guide
Bringing ashes home from Bosnia and Herzegovina
You have ashes in Bosnia and Herzegovina and need to bring them home. This page covers what Bosnia and Herzegovina requires before they can leave.
Quick reference
What does Bosnia and Herzegovina require before ashes can leave?
Cremation facilities exist in Sarajevo (the Bare Crematorium) and a limited number of cities. Not available everywhere. For Muslim Bosniak families, cremation is not consistent with Islamic burial practice. Ashes export requires cremation certificate and ministry health clearance.
Routing from Bosnia and Herzegovina: Most repatriations route via Sarajevo Airport (SJJ) with Austrian Airlines via Vienna, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, or Wizz Air connections. Mostar has limited scheduled service. Banja Luka Airport has regional connections to Belgrade.
Departure airports: Sarajevo International Airport (SJJ); Mostar Airport (OMO, limited scheduled service)
Documentation language: Bosnian; Croatian; Serbian
Authority that must release the case: Municipal register office for death registration; Federal Institute of Forensic Medicine (Sarajevo, Federation entity) or Institute of Forensic Medicine of Republika Srpska (Banja Luka) for non-natural deaths
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?
If you are connecting through a third country on this routing, that country's rules apply to the transit as well, and should be checked separately.
What does Bosnia and Herzegovina require to export ashes?
Cremation availability
Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Bosnia and Herzegovina 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 Bosnia and Herzegovina, 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 We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.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 Bosnia and Herzegovina 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.
Full repatriation guide
Complete guide: repatriation from Bosnia and Herzegovina
Official support
British Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina: contacts and what consular staff can do
Need guidance?
We can help with ashes transport
We deal with Municipal register office for death registration; Federal Institute of Forensic Medicine (Sarajevo, Federation entity) or Institute of Forensic Medicine of Republika Srpska (Banja Luka) for non-natural deaths and the local crematorium directly.
Send an enquiryFurther guidance
Official lists for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.
- Translators and interpreters, for certified translation of the death certificate and permits
Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Bosnia and Herzegovina
More on ashes and cremation abroad
Bringing ashes home from Bosnia and Herzegovina
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.