Ashes transport guide
Bringing ashes home from Zambia
You have ashes in Zambia and need to bring them home. This page covers what Zambia requires before they can leave.
Quick reference
3-10 days to arrange
What does Zambia require before ashes can leave?
Departure airports: LUN (Lusaka Kenneth Kaunda International Airport); LVI (Livingstone Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport)
Carriers serving the UK: Ethiopian Airlines (via Addis Ababa); Kenya Airways (via Nairobi); South African Airways (via Johannesburg)
Authority that must release the case: Registrar General's Office, Births and Deaths Registration Act (Zambia); Ministry of Health; University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Lusaka, Forensic Pathology; Director of Public Prosecutions
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 Zambia require to export ashes?
Cremation availability
Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Zambia 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 Zambia, 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 We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.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 Zambia 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 Zambia?
Zambia is a Commonwealth country; the British High Commission Lusaka is the consular authority; Victoria Falls is accessible from the Zambian side via Livingstone; deaths at the Falls or during activities (white-water rafting, bungee jumping, micro-light flights) require Zambia Wildlife Authority involvement; No direct UK flights from Lusaka; most cargo routes to the UK go via Johannesburg or Nairobi, each adding at least one transit day; Lusaka Kenneth Kaunda International Airport handles most international cargo; deaths in the Copperbelt or Northern Zambia require transfer to Lusaka; University Teaching Hospital forensic pathology capacity in Lusaka is adequate but can have queue delays for non-urgent cases
high
Full repatriation guide
Complete guide: repatriation from Zambia
Official support
British Embassy in Zambia: contacts and what consular staff can do
Need guidance?
We can help with ashes transport
We deal with Registrar General's Office, Births and Deaths Registration Act (Zambia); Ministry of Health; University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Lusaka, Forensic Pathology; Director of Public Prosecutions and the local crematorium directly.
Send an enquiryFurther guidance
Official lists for Zambia
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 Zambia
More on ashes and cremation abroad
Bringing ashes home from Zambia
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.