Ashes transport guide
Bringing ashes home from Moldova
You have ashes in Moldova and need to bring them home. This page covers what Moldova requires before they can leave.
Quick reference
What does Moldova require before ashes can leave?
Cremation facilities are available in Chisinau. Ashes can be repatriated to the UK as accompanied or unaccompanied baggage. Cremation documentation follows standard European procedures.
Routing from Moldova: Chisinau Airport (KIV) has direct flights to London Luton (Wizz Air, FlyOne). Additional connections via Bucharest (TAROM), Vienna (Austrian), Istanbul (Turkish Airlines). Cargo follows these passenger routes. The Transnistria separatist region adds a specific regional complication.
Departure airports: Chisinau International Airport (KIV)
Documentation language: Romanian (Moldovan); Russian
Authority that must release the case: Civil Status Agency (Agenția Servicii Publice) for death registration; State Medical Examiner Service for non-natural deaths; State Inspectorate for Emergency Situations for major incidents
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 Moldova require to export ashes?
Cremation availability
Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Moldova 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 Moldova, 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 We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.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 Moldova 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 Moldova
Official support
British Embassy in Moldova: contacts and what consular staff can do
Need guidance?
We can help with ashes transport
We deal with Civil Status Agency (Agenția Servicii Publice) for death registration; State Medical Examiner Service for non-natural deaths; State Inspectorate for Emergency Situations for major incidents and the local crematorium directly.
Send an enquiryFurther guidance
Official lists for Moldova
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 Moldova
More on ashes and cremation abroad
Bringing ashes home from Moldova
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.