Cremation and ashes transport

Cremation in Cuba and bringing ashes home

For some families, arranging cremation locally and carrying ashes home is the right choice, and it can be quicker than full repatriation. This page sets out what Cuba requires, and what to check before you decide.

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for Cuba

Cremation in Cuba

Can you cremate someone in Cuba?

Religious context: Roman Catholic / Santeria

Weighing cremation abroad against bringing your loved one home intact? How families decide between the two.

Documentation language

Spanish

Airline guidance

Can you carry ashes on the flight home?

What Cuba requires: Cuban cremation certificate; Death certificate (translated); Sanitary clearance certificate; Ashes in a sealed, clearly labelled container

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from Cuba

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case. For Cuba the things that move it are:

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether an investigation must conclude before release
Translation, since documentation is in Spanish
Whether you carry the ashes yourself or need them shipped

Considering full repatriation instead?

Some families decide they want their loved one brought home intact. The full Cuba guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for Cuba

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in Cuba

The step-by-step first response guide covers the first 24 hours in Cuba.

Official lists for Cuba

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 Cuba

Talk to us about cremation in Cuba

We can advise on whether cremation abroad is the right choice for your family. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.