Cremation and ashes transport

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

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for Samoa

Cremation in Samoa

Can you cremate someone in Samoa?

Cremation arrangements in Samoa 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

Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital (TTM), Apia (main hospital; limited forensic capacity)

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: APW (Faleolo International Airport, Apia)

Carriers serving the UK: Samoa Airways (regional); Air New Zealand (via Auckland); Qantas (via Sydney)

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from Samoa

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case.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

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital (TTM), Apia (main hospital; limited forensic capacity) 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 Samoa guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for Samoa

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in Samoa

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

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

Talk to us about cremation in Samoa

We deal with Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital (TTM), Apia (main hospital; limited forensic capacity) and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.