Ashes transport guide
Bringing ashes home from Mauritius
You have ashes in Mauritius and need to bring them home. This page covers what Mauritius requires before they can leave.
Quick reference
3-10 days to arrange
What does Mauritius require before ashes can leave?
Departure airports: MRU (Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport, Plaisance)
Carriers serving the UK: Air Mauritius (direct London Heathrow); British Airways (direct London Heathrow)
Authority that must release the case: Government Forensic Science Laboratory / Forensic pathology unit at SSR National Hospital, Pamplemousses
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 Mauritius require to export ashes?
Cremation availability
Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Mauritius 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 Mauritius, 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 We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.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 Mauritius 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 Mauritius?
Mauritius is a Commonwealth country; the British High Commission in Port Louis handles consular cases; the High Commission has regular experience of British national deaths given the very high volume of British tourists; Mauritius is one of the most popular Indian Ocean holiday destinations for UK travellers; approximately 150,000 British tourists visit annually; drowning, diving accidents, and heat-related illness are the most common causes of tourist deaths; English is an official language in Mauritius, which simplifies documentation considerably compared with non-English-speaking destinations; most administrative documents are in English or bilingual English/French; Air Mauritius and British Airways both operate direct London Heathrow to Mauritius (MRU) nonstop flights; cargo handling for human remains at MRU is well-established with both airlines; Mauritius has a well-developed tourist infrastructure including international-standard hospitals (Clinique Darné, C-Care Clinique du Nord); deaths in good hospitals have clean documentation chains; deaths in the sea or at remote beaches are more complex
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Full repatriation guide
Complete guide: repatriation from Mauritius
Official support
British Embassy in Mauritius: contacts and what consular staff can do
Need guidance?
We can help with ashes transport
We deal with Government Forensic Science Laboratory / Forensic pathology unit at SSR National Hospital, Pamplemousses and the local crematorium directly.
Send an enquiryFurther guidance
Official lists for Mauritius
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 Mauritius
More on ashes and cremation abroad
Bringing ashes home from Mauritius
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.