Cremation and ashes transport

Cremation in Lithuania and bringing ashes home

Cremation is available in Lithuania. Crematoria in Vilnius and Kaunas. Ashes may be repatriated to the UK in a sealed urn. This page sets out what Lithuania requires, and what to check before you decide.

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for Lithuania

Cremation in Lithuania

Can you cremate someone in Lithuania?

Cremation is available in Lithuania. Crematoria in Vilnius and Kaunas. Ashes may be repatriated to the UK in a sealed urn.

Religious context: Predominantly Roman Catholic. Lithuania has one of the highest rates of Catholic affiliation in the Baltic states.

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

Who must release the body

Registrų centras (Register Centre, Civil Metrical Records); Lithuanian Police (non-natural deaths)

Documentation language

Lithuanian

Airline guidance

Can you carry ashes on the flight home?

Routing out of Lithuania: Direct flights from Vilnius (VNO) to London Gatwick and Luton (Ryanair, Wizz Air). Kaunas (KUN) also has London connections. Flight time approximately 3 hours.

Departure airports: VNO (Vilnius International Airport), KUN (Kaunas International Airport)

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from Lithuania

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case.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

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether Registrų centras (Register Centre, Civil Metrical Records); Lithuanian Police (non-natural deaths) has to release the case first
Translation, since documentation is in Lithuanian
Routing home. Direct flights from Vilnius (VNO) to London Gatwick and Luton (Ryanair, Wizz Air). Kaunas (KUN) also has London connections. Flight time approximately 3 hours.
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 Lithuania guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for Lithuania

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in Lithuania

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

Official lists for Lithuania

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 Lithuania

Talk to us about cremation in Lithuania

We deal with Registrų centras (Register Centre, Civil Metrical Records); Lithuanian Police (non-natural deaths) and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.