Ashes transport guide

Bringing ashes home from Russia

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

Quick reference

What does Russia require before ashes can leave?

Cremation facilities are available in Moscow, St Petersburg, and other major cities. Rural areas typically have no cremation facilities. Ashes export requires a cremation certificate and Ministry of Health clearance. The ashes of a British national can be brought home to the UK as accompanied or unaccompanied baggage subject to airline and carrier rules.

Routing from Russia: Direct UK-Russia passenger and cargo flights suspended since 2022. Remains route via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Dubai (Emirates), or other non-Western hub airports. Total journey time highly variable depending on connection availability and diplomatic clearances.

Departure airports: Moscow Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO); Moscow Domodedovo Airport (DME); St Petersburg Pulkovo Airport (LED)

Documentation language: Russian

Authority that must release the case: ZAGS Civil Registry Office for death registration; Investigative Committee of Russia for non-natural deaths; Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation required for all export documents

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 Russia require to export ashes?

Cremation availability

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 We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.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

Official support

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

Need guidance?

We can help with ashes transport

We deal with ZAGS Civil Registry Office for death registration; Investigative Committee of Russia for non-natural deaths; Ministry of Foreign Affairs attestation required for all export documents and the local crematorium directly.

Send an enquiry

Further guidance

Official lists for Russia

Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.

Translators and interpreters, for certified translation of the death certificate and permits
Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice

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