Cremation and ashes transport

Cremation in Réunion and bringing ashes home

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

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for Réunion

Cremation in Réunion

Can you cremate someone in Réunion?

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

Religious context: Predominantly Roman Catholic. Significant Hindu, Muslim, and Buddhist communities reflecting historical indentured labour migration.

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, Réunion Creole

Airline guidance

Can you carry ashes on the flight home?

Routing out of Réunion: Roland Garros Airport (RUN) in Saint-Denis has direct Air France service to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Flight time approximately 11 hours. All UK repatriation routes via Paris CDG. No direct UK service.

Departure airports: RUN (Roland Garros Airport, Saint-Denis)

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from Réunion

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case. For Réunion 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, Réunion Creole
Routing home. Roland Garros Airport (RUN) in Saint-Denis has direct Air France service to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Flight time approximately 11 hours. All UK repatriation routes via Paris CDG. No direct UK service.
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 Réunion guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for Réunion

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in Réunion

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

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

Talk to us about cremation in Réunion

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.