Cremation and ashes transport

Cremation in Martinique and bringing ashes home

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

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for Martinique

Cremation in Martinique

Can you cremate someone in Martinique?

Cremation is available in Martinique. Ashes may be repatriated to the UK in a sealed urn.

Religious context: Predominantly Roman Catholic.

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

Who must release the body

Mairie (municipal civil registry: mairie of the commune of death); Gendarmerie nationale or Police nationale (non-natural deaths)

Documentation language

French, Antillean Creole

Airline guidance

Can you carry ashes on the flight home?

Routing out of Martinique: Martinique Aimé Césaire Airport (FDF) has direct Air France service to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Flight time approximately 9 hours. All UK repatriation routes via Paris CDG. No direct UK flights.

Departure airports: FDF (Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport, Le Lamentin)

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from Martinique

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case.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

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether Mairie (municipal civil registry: mairie of the commune of death); Gendarmerie nationale or Police nationale (non-natural deaths) has to release the case first
Translation, since documentation is in French, Antillean Creole
Routing home. Martinique Aimé Césaire Airport (FDF) has direct Air France service to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Flight time approximately 9 hours. All UK repatriation routes via Paris CDG. No direct UK flights.
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 Martinique guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for Martinique

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in Martinique

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

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

Talk to us about cremation in Martinique

We deal with Mairie (municipal civil registry: mairie of the commune of death); Gendarmerie nationale or Police nationale (non-natural deaths) and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.