Cremation and ashes transport

Cremation in and bringing ashes home

No commercial cremation facilities in DRC. This page sets out what requires, and what to check before you decide.

WhatsApp us 24/7 Full repatriation guide for

Cremation in

What applies in

No commercial cremation facilities in DRC.

Religious context: Predominantly Christian (Catholic, Protestant, Kimbanguist). Local funeral practices vary significantly by region and community.

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

Who must release the body

Parquet (state prosecutor); Police Nationale Congolaise; Institut National Medico-Legal (INML)

Documentation language

French; Lingala; Swahili; Kikongo

Airline guidance

Carrying ashes on the flight home

Routing out of : Kinshasa via Brussels (Brussels Airlines), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), Nairobi (Kenya Airways). Eastern DRC (Goma) may route via Nairobi or Kigali.

Departure airports: Ndjili International Airport (FIH), Kinshasa; Goma International Airport (GOM)

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case.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

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether Parquet (state prosecutor); Police Nationale Congolaise; Institut National Medico-Legal (INML) has to release the case first
Translation, since documentation is in French; Lingala; Swahili; Kikongo
Routing home. Kinshasa via Brussels (Brussels Airlines), Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines), Nairobi (Kenya Airways). Eastern DRC (Goma) may route via Nairobi or Kigali.
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 guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in

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

Talk to us about cremation in

We deal with Parquet (state prosecutor); Police Nationale Congolaise; Institut National Medico-Legal (INML) and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.