Cremation and ashes transport

Cremation in and bringing ashes home

No cremation facility. Burial on Pitcairn or repatriation are the only options. 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

No cremation facility. Burial on Pitcairn or repatriation are the only options.

Religious context: Majority Seventh-day Adventist. Burial preferences should be discussed with the family and Island Pastor.

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

Who must release the body

Island Magistrate's Court; Governor of Pitcairn Islands

Documentation language

English

Airline guidance

Carrying ashes on the flight home

Routing out of : No airport exists on Pitcairn Island. Repatriation requires sea passage on the supply vessel from Pitcairn to Mangareva (French Polynesia), then Air Tahiti Mangareva to Papeete (PPT), then Air France PPT to CDG (~22h), then UK. Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands are uninhabited. Population approximately 45 residents. Vessel schedule is approximately quarterly; bespoke charter arrangements may be necessary.

Departure airports: None: no airport on Pitcairn. Supply vessel MV Claymore II from Mangareva (French Polynesia) every 3 months approximately. Mangareva reachable via Air Tahiti from Papeete (PPT).

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We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case.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 Island Magistrate's Court; Governor of Pitcairn Islands has to release the case first
Translation, since documentation is in English
Routing home. No airport exists on Pitcairn Island. Repatriation requires sea passage on the supply vessel from Pitcairn to Mangareva (French Polynesia), then Air Tahiti Mangareva to Papeete (PPT), then Air France PPT to CDG (~22h), then UK. Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands are uninhabited. Population approximately 45 residents. Vessel schedule is approximately quarterly; bespoke charter arrangements may be necessary.
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 Island Magistrate's Court; Governor of Pitcairn Islands and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.