Cremation and ashes transport

Cremation in and bringing ashes home

Cremation is not practised in Iran. Full body repatriation to the UK is required. 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

Cremation is not practised in Iran. Full body repatriation to the UK is required.

Religious context: Approximately 98% Muslim (predominantly Shia). Islamic burial within 24 hours strongly observed. Zoroastrian, Christian, and Jewish minorities exist.

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

Who must release the body

State Organisation for Civil Registration (SABTE AHVAL); Medical Legal Organisation (Pezeshki Qanuni)

Documentation language

Persian (Farsi)

Airline guidance

Carrying ashes on the flight home

Routing out of : Via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Dubai (Emirates/flydubai), Doha (Qatar Airways). Direct UK routes suspended since 2012.

Departure airports: IKA (Imam Khomeini International, Tehran), THR (Mehrabad, Tehran)

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We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case.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 State Organisation for Civil Registration (SABTE AHVAL); Medical Legal Organisation (Pezeshki Qanuni) has to release the case first
Translation, since documentation is in Persian (Farsi)
Routing home. Via Istanbul (Turkish Airlines), Dubai (Emirates/flydubai), Doha (Qatar Airways). Direct UK routes suspended since 2012.
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 State Organisation for Civil Registration (SABTE AHVAL); Medical Legal Organisation (Pezeshki Qanuni) and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.