Cremation and ashes transport

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

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for Norway

Cremation in Norway

Can you cremate someone in Norway?

Cremation arrangements in Norway 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

Oslo University Hospital, Rettsmedisinsk institutt (Institute of Forensic Medicine)

Treaty position

Not a signatory to the Strasbourg Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses

Airline guidance

Can you carry ashes on the flight home?

Departure airports: OSL (Oslo Gardermoen International Airport); BGO (Bergen Airport, Flesland); TRD (Trondheim Airport, Vaernes)

Carriers serving the UK: SAS Scandinavian Airlines; Norwegian Air Shuttle; British Airways

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from Norway

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case.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

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether Oslo University Hospital, Rettsmedisinsk institutt (Institute of Forensic Medicine) 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 Norway guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for Norway

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in Norway

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

Official lists for Norway

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

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

Talk to us about cremation in Norway

We deal with Oslo University Hospital, Rettsmedisinsk institutt (Institute of Forensic Medicine) and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.