Ashes transport guide
Bringing ashes home from Sierra Leone
You have ashes in Sierra Leone and need to bring them home. This page covers what Sierra Leone requires before they can leave.
Quick reference
3-10 days to arrange
What does Sierra Leone require before ashes can leave?
Departure airports: Lungi International Airport (FNA), Lungi: across the Sierra Leone River estuary from Freetown city centre
Documentation language: English
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 Sierra Leone require to export ashes?
Cremation availability
Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone, 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 We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.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 Sierra Leone 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 Sierra Leone?
Lungi International Airport (FNA) is located across the Sierra Leone River estuary from Freetown; moving a body between the city and the airport requires a ferry crossing (approximately 45 minutes), a hovercraft, or a helicopter charter; this applies to every repatriation case and cannot be avoided; Sierra Leone is a Commonwealth member with English as the official language; documentation is in English throughout, which simplifies the process relative to Francophone West African neighbours; The British High Commission is resident in Freetown and provides active consular support; Sierra Leone has a long historical relationship with the UK, Freetown was founded as a settlement for freed slaves; Sierra Leone has significant humanitarian, NGO, and mining industry activity; British nationals working in these sectors represent a significant share of British deaths in the country; The 2014 to 2016 Ebola outbreak centred in West Africa, with Sierra Leone among the most affected countries; FCDO travel health advice should always be checked for current disease risk before travel to the region
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Recurring causes of British deaths here: Lungi Airport is separated from Freetown by the Sierra Leone River estuary; ferry crossing takes approximately 45 minutes; helicopter is faster; rough weather or mechanical issues can suspend services; Connaught Hospital has very limited forensic pathology capacity; complex post-mortems may require significant time; Upcountry deaths in the Northern, Eastern, and Southern provinces require long road transfers to Freetown on roads that deteriorate in the rainy season (May to November); Sierra Leone has a history of Ebola outbreaks; FCDO travel advice should be checked for current health advisories before travel
Full repatriation guide
Complete guide: repatriation from Sierra Leone
Official support
British Embassy in Sierra Leone: contacts and what consular staff can do
Need guidance?
We can help with ashes transport
If you are unsure about the paperwork or airline requirements, we can take it from here.
Send an enquiryFurther guidance
Official lists for Sierra Leone
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.
- Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice
Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Sierra Leone
More on ashes and cremation abroad
Bringing ashes home from Sierra Leone
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.