Cremation and ashes transport
Cremation in Singapore 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 Singapore requires, and what to check before you decide.
Cremation in Singapore
Can you cremate someone in Singapore?
Singapore has a high cremation rate. Cremation can proceed once the Coroner releases the body. Ashes can be carried as hand luggage to the UK with a cremation certificate issued by the Singapore crematorium and a Health Sciences Authority export permit. Singapore Airlines permits ashes in hand luggage on flights to London.
Weighing cremation abroad against bringing your loved one home intact? How families decide between the two.
What affects the cost from Singapore
We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case. For Singapore the things that move it are:
- Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
- Whether an investigation must conclude before release
- Whether you carry the ashes yourself or need them shipped
Contact us with the details and we will give you a figure for your case. Source: FCDO guidance and funeral industry data
Considering full repatriation instead?
Some families decide they want their loved one brought home intact. The full Singapore guide sets out that process.
Full repatriation guide for SingaporeOfficial lists for Singapore
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
- Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice
Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Singapore
Talk to us about cremation in Singapore
We can advise on whether cremation abroad is the right choice for your family. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.
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