Ashes transport guide

Bringing ashes home from Suriname

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

Quick reference

What does Suriname require before ashes can leave?

Cremation available in Paramaribo. Hindu community uses cremation regularly. Ashes can be transported to the UK as cremated remains.

Routing from Suriname: Paramaribo via Miami (Surinam Airways, Caribbean Airlines), Amsterdam (KLM, TUI fly Netherlands), Port of Spain Trinidad (Caribbean Airlines). Amsterdam route most relevant for UK cargo.

Departure airports: Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport (PBM), near Paramaribo

Documentation language: Dutch; Sranan Tongo; English

Authority that must release the case: Korps Politie Suriname (KPS); Bureau voor Openbare Gezondheidszorg (BOG); Civil Registry (Centraal Bureau Burgerzaken)

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 Suriname require to export ashes?

Cremation availability

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 We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.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

Official support

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

Need guidance?

We can help with ashes transport

We deal with Korps Politie Suriname (KPS); Bureau voor Openbare Gezondheidszorg (BOG); Civil Registry (Centraal Bureau Burgerzaken) and the local crematorium directly.

Send an enquiry

Further guidance

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