Ashes transport guide
Bringing ashes home from Costa Rica
You have ashes in Costa Rica and need to bring them home. This page covers what Costa Rica requires before they can leave.
Quick reference
3-10 days to arrange
What does Costa Rica require before ashes can leave?
Departure airports: SJO (Juan Santamaria International, San Jose); LIR (Daniel Oduber, Liberia, for Guanacaste)
Carriers serving the UK: Copa Airlines; American Airlines; United Airlines; LATAM
Authority that must release the case: Registro Civil (RCEC) in the canton of death; Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud); OIJ (Organismo de Investigacion Judicial) forensics; OIJ and Ministerio Publico (for criminal/suspicious 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?
What does Costa Rica require to export ashes?
Cremation availability
Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica, 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 We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.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 Costa Rica 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 Costa Rica?
Costa Rica is the most popular Central American destination for British tourists; eco-tourism deaths in national parks and jungle areas are documented; OIJ (judicial police) investigation is mandatory for any unnatural death including accidents in national parks; No direct UK flights; routing via Miami (American/United) or Panama City (Copa) is standard; INCIENSA (national forensic laboratory) in San Jose handles post-mortems; regional transfers are required for deaths outside the Central Valley
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Full repatriation guide
Complete guide: repatriation from Costa Rica
Official support
British Embassy in Costa Rica: contacts and what consular staff can do
Need guidance?
We can help with ashes transport
We deal with Registro Civil (RCEC) in the canton of death; Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud); OIJ (Organismo de Investigacion Judicial) forensics; OIJ and Ministerio Publico (for criminal/suspicious deaths) and the local crematorium directly.
Send an enquiryFurther guidance
Official lists for Costa Rica
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 Costa Rica
More on ashes and cremation abroad
Bringing ashes home from Costa Rica
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.