Ashes transport guide
Bringing ashes home from Zimbabwe
You have ashes in Zimbabwe and need to bring them home. This page covers what Zimbabwe requires before they can leave.
Quick reference
3-10 days to arrange
What does Zimbabwe require before ashes can leave?
Departure airports: HRE (Harare Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport); VFA (Victoria Falls International Airport); BUQ (Bulawayo Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport)
Carriers serving the UK: British Airways; Ethiopian Airlines; Kenya Airways
Authority that must release the case: Registrar General's Office, Civil Registry Act (Zimbabwe); Ministry of Health and Child Care; Harare Central Hospital Department of Forensic Medicine; Attorney General's Office
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 Zimbabwe require to export ashes?
Cremation availability
Cremation may be restricted or unavailable in Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe, 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 We do not publish a figure, because what you pay depends on the case.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 Zimbabwe 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 Zimbabwe?
Zimbabwe is a Commonwealth member (rejoined December 2018); the representative office is the British Embassy Harare; Victoria Falls is the most frequent location for British tourist deaths; activities including bungee jumping, white-water rafting, and gorge swings carry inherent risk; Deaths at Victoria Falls National Park require Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority involvement alongside Zimbabwe Republic Police; Administrative capacity at Zimbabwean government departments is variable; a specialist with experienced local agents is particularly important here; British Airways operates direct scheduled services from Harare (HRE) to London Heathrow
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Full repatriation guide
Complete guide: repatriation from Zimbabwe
Official support
British Embassy in Zimbabwe: contacts and what consular staff can do
Need guidance?
We can help with ashes transport
We deal with Registrar General's Office, Civil Registry Act (Zimbabwe); Ministry of Health and Child Care; Harare Central Hospital Department of Forensic Medicine; Attorney General's Office and the local crematorium directly.
Send an enquiryFurther guidance
Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Zimbabwe
More on ashes and cremation abroad
Bringing ashes home from Zimbabwe
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.