Ashes transport guide
Bringing ashes home from Hong Kong
You have ashes in Hong Kong and need to bring them home. This page covers what Hong Kong requires before they can leave.
Quick reference
3-10 days to arrange
What does Hong Kong require before ashes can leave?
Departure airports: HKG (Hong Kong International Airport)
Carriers serving the UK: Cathay Pacific; British Airways; Virgin Atlantic
Authority that must release the case: Births Deaths and Marriages Registry (BDMR); Department of Health under Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132); Government Forensic Pathologist (under Coroner's Court jurisdiction); Coroner's Court (Coroner's Office)
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 Hong Kong require to export ashes?
Cremation availability
Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong, 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 We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.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 Hong Kong 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 Hong Kong?
Hong Kong operates a separate legal system from mainland China under One Country Two Systems; do not confuse mainland China procedures with Hong Kong procedures; The Coroner's Court system in Hong Kong is modelled on the UK system and is familiar to experienced repatriation specialists; Cathay Pacific and British Airways both operate direct daily flights to Heathrow, among the best-connected routes from Asia; Significant British expat community means British Consulate-General staff are experienced with repatriation cases
medium
Full repatriation guide
Complete guide: repatriation from Hong Kong
Official support
British Embassy in Hong Kong: contacts and what consular staff can do
Need guidance?
We can help with ashes transport
We deal with Births Deaths and Marriages Registry (BDMR); Department of Health under Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132); Government Forensic Pathologist (under Coroner's Court jurisdiction); Coroner's Court (Coroner's Office) and the local crematorium directly.
Send an enquiryFurther guidance
Official lists for Hong Kong
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
- Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice
Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Hong Kong
More on ashes and cremation abroad
Bringing ashes home from Hong Kong
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.