Cremation and ashes transport

Cremation in Finland 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 Finland requires, and what to check before you decide.

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for Finland

Cremation in Finland

Can you cremate someone in Finland?

Cremation arrangements in Finland depend on local facilities and on whether an investigation is open. Contact us and we will confirm the current position before you make any decision.

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

Who must release the body

Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos (THL), Forensic Medicine Unit, Helsinki

Treaty position

Signatory to the Council of Europe Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses (Strasbourg, 1973)

Airline guidance

Can you carry ashes on the flight home?

Departure airports: HEL (Helsinki-Vantaa Airport); OUL (Oulu Airport); TMP (Tampere-Pirkkala Airport)

Carriers serving the UK: Finnair; British Airways; Norwegian Air Shuttle

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from Finland

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case.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

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos (THL), Forensic Medicine Unit, Helsinki has to release the case first
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 Finland guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for Finland

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in Finland

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

Official lists for Finland

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 Finland

Talk to us about cremation in Finland

We deal with Terveyden ja hyvinvoinnin laitos (THL), Forensic Medicine Unit, Helsinki and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.