Ashes transport guide

Bringing ashes home from Macau

You have ashes in Macau and need to bring them home. This page covers what Macau requires before they can leave.

Quick reference

What does Macau require before ashes can leave?

Cremation is available in Macau. The Macau SAR government operates cremation facilities. Ashes may be repatriated to the UK in a sealed urn.

Routing from Macau: Macau International Airport (MFM) has regional connections to mainland China and Southeast Asia. More practically, the Hong Kong to Macau Ferry (1 hour) or Zhuhai border crossing puts the repatriation into the Hong Kong/Guangdong routing network. Many repatriations route via Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).

Departure airports: MFM (Macau International Airport)

Documentation language: Cantonese Chinese, Portuguese

Authority that must release the case: Conservatória do Registo Civil (Civil Registry Conservatory); Polícia Judiciária (Judicial Police, 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 Macau require to export ashes?

Cremation availability

Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Macau 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 Macau, 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 We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.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 Macau 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 Macau

Official support

British Embassy in Macau: contacts and what consular staff can do

Need guidance?

We can help with ashes transport

We deal with Conservatória do Registo Civil (Civil Registry Conservatory); Polícia Judiciária (Judicial Police, non-natural deaths) and the local crematorium directly.

Send an enquiry

Further guidance

Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Macau