Cremation and ashes transport

Cremation in Palau and bringing ashes home

No cremation facilities in Palau. Full body repatriation is required. This page sets out what Palau requires, and what to check before you decide.

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for Palau

Cremation in Palau

Can you cremate someone in Palau?

No cremation facilities in Palau. Full body repatriation is required.

Religious context: Predominantly Christian. Catholic and Protestant denominations.

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

Who must release the body

Bureau of Vital Statistics (Palau), Palau Police Department

Documentation language

Palauan, English

Airline guidance

Can you carry ashes on the flight home?

Routing out of Palau: Via Manila (Philippines Airlines/United), via Guam (United Airlines), then to UK. No direct Pacific to UK flights. Multi-hop routing.

Departure airports: ROR (Roman Tmetuchl International, Koror/Babeldaob)

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from Palau

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case.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

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether Bureau of Vital Statistics (Palau), Palau Police Department has to release the case first
Translation, since documentation is in Palauan, English
Routing home. Via Manila (Philippines Airlines/United), via Guam (United Airlines), then to UK. No direct Pacific to UK flights. Multi-hop routing.
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 Palau guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for Palau

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in Palau

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

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

Talk to us about cremation in Palau

We deal with Bureau of Vital Statistics (Palau), Palau Police Department and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.