Ashes transport guide
Bringing ashes home from Romania
You have ashes in Romania and need to bring them home. This page covers what Romania requires before they can leave.
Quick reference
3-10 days to arrange
What does Romania require before ashes can leave?
Departure airports: OTP (Henri Coanda International, Bucharest); CLJ (Cluj-Napoca)
Carriers serving the UK: TAROM; Ryanair; Wizz Air; British Airways
Authority that must release the case: Starea Civila (Civil Status Office) in the district of death; County Council (Consiliul Judetean) or local authority; Institute of Forensic Medicine (Institut de Medicina Legala); Prosecutor's Office (Parchet)
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 Romania require to export ashes?
Cremation availability
Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Romania 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 Romania, 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 We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.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 Romania 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 Romania?
Large Romanian diaspora in UK means many funeral directors on both sides are experienced with this route; Strasbourg Agreement simplifies documentation compared to non-signatory countries; Multiple Wizz Air and Ryanair daily departures from Bucharest Otopeni (OTP) to Luton, Stansted, and other UK airports
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Full repatriation guide
Complete guide: repatriation from Romania
Official support
British Embassy in Romania: contacts and what consular staff can do
Need guidance?
We can help with ashes transport
We deal with Starea Civila (Civil Status Office) in the district of death; County Council (Consiliul Judetean) or local authority; Institute of Forensic Medicine (Institut de Medicina Legala); Prosecutor's Office (Parchet) and the local crematorium directly.
Send an enquiryFurther guidance
Official lists for Romania
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 Romania
More on ashes and cremation abroad
Bringing ashes home from Romania
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.