Cremation and ashes transport

Cremation in Guyana and bringing ashes home

Cremation facilities are available in Georgetown. The Hindu community uses cremation. Ashes can be repatriated to the UK. Export of ashes requires cremation certificate and Ministry of Public Health clearance. This page sets out what Guyana requires, and what to check before you decide.

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for Guyana

Cremation in Guyana

Can you cremate someone in Guyana?

Religious context: Guyana has significant Christian (Protestant and Catholic), Hindu, and Muslim populations, reflecting its Indo-Guyanese, Afro-Guyanese, and Amerindian communities. Christian and Hindu communities generally accept repatriation; Muslim families may prefer swift local burial. Cremation is accepted within the Hindu community.

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

Who must release the body

General Register Office for death registration; Magistrate's Court for coroner inquests; police for non-natural deaths; Ministry of Public Health for export documentation

Documentation language

English

Airline guidance

Can you carry ashes on the flight home?

Routing out of Guyana: Guyana has no direct UK flights. Repatriation routes via Miami (American Airlines, Caribbean Airlines), New York JFK (Caribbean Airlines), or Barbados/Trinidad as Caribbean hub connections. Caribbean Airlines flies Georgetown-London Gatwick with connection. Total cargo journey 3 to 6 days from Georgetown to the UK.

Departure airports: Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO), Timehri; Eugene F. Correia International Airport (OGL), Ogle (domestic and regional)

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from Guyana

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case.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

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether General Register Office for death registration; Magistrate's Court for coroner inquests; police for non-natural deaths; Ministry of Public Health for export documentation has to release the case first
Translation, since documentation is in English
Routing home. Guyana has no direct UK flights. Repatriation routes via Miami (American Airlines, Caribbean Airlines), New York JFK (Caribbean Airlines), or Barbados/Trinidad as Caribbean hub connections. Caribbean Airlines flies Georgetown-London Gatwick with connection. Total cargo journey 3 to 6 days from Georgetown to the UK.
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 Guyana guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for Guyana

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in Guyana

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

Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Guyana

Talk to us about cremation in Guyana

We deal with General Register Office for death registration; Magistrate's Court for coroner inquests; police for non-natural deaths; Ministry of Public Health for export documentation and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.