Ashes transport guide
Bringing ashes home from Myanmar
You have ashes in Myanmar and need to bring them to the UK. This page covers what Myanmar requires before they can leave.
Quick reference
3-10 days to arrange
What Myanmar requires before ashes can leave
Departure airports: RGN (Yangon International Airport); MDL (Mandalay International Airport)
Carriers serving the UK: Thai Airways (via Bangkok); Singapore Airlines (via Singapore); Malaysia Airlines (via Kuala Lumpur)
Authority that must release the case: Yangon General Hospital, Forensic Medicine Department
The rules that apply on any route, and what you may do with ashes once home, are covered in bringing ashes into the UK.
Airline rules
Export requirements from Myanmar
Cremation availability
Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Myanmar 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 Myanmar, 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 We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.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 Myanmar 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.
Worth knowing about Myanmar
Since the military coup of February 2021, Myanmar's civil administration has been replaced by military control at all levels; repatriation processes are subject to military-aligned bureaucracy and outcomes are less predictable than before 2021; The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Myanmar and against all travel to many border regions; British nationals who die in restricted areas may have limited consular access; The British Embassy is in Yangon, not the official capital Naypyidaw; all consular functions for British nationals are handled from Yangon; All official documents are in Burmese script; certified English translations are required for every document in the chain before UK formalities can be completed; No direct UK flights have operated from Myanmar for many years; routing is via Bangkok (Thai Airways or Bangkok Airways), Singapore (Singapore Airlines), or Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia Airlines); each transit point adds complexity and handling time
high
Full repatriation guide
Complete guide: repatriation from Myanmar
Official support
British Embassy in Myanmar: contacts and what consular staff can do
Need guidance?
We can help with ashes transport
We deal with Yangon General Hospital, Forensic Medicine Department and the local crematorium directly.
WhatsApp us Send enquiryFurther guidance