Cremation and ashes transport

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

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for Iceland

Cremation in Iceland

Can you cremate someone in Iceland?

Cremation arrangements in Iceland 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

Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá Íslands); Medical Director of Health (Embættislæknir); Landspítali National University Hospital, Department of Pathology; National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (Lögreglustjórinn)

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: KEF (Reykjavik Keflavik International Airport); RKV (Reykjavik Domestic Airport)

Carriers serving the UK: Icelandair; easyJet

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from Iceland

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case.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

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá Íslands); Medical Director of Health (Embættislæknir); Landspítali National University Hospital, Department of Pathology; National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (Lögreglustjórinn) 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 Iceland guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for Iceland

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in Iceland

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

Official lists for Iceland

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 Iceland

Talk to us about cremation in Iceland

We deal with Registers Iceland (Þjóðskrá Íslands); Medical Director of Health (Embættislæknir); Landspítali National University Hospital, Department of Pathology; National Commissioner of the Icelandic Police (Lögreglustjórinn) and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.