Cremation and ashes transport

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

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for Switzerland

Cremation in Switzerland

Can you cremate someone in Switzerland?

Cremation arrangements in Switzerland 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

Institut fuer Rechtsmedizin (IRM), University of Zurich / CURML Lausanne / University of Bern

Treaty position

Signatory to the Council of Europe Agreement on the Transfer of Corpses (Strasbourg, 1973)

Airline guidance

Can you carry ashes on the flight home?

Departure airports: ZRH (Zurich Airport); GVA (Geneva Airport); BSL/EAP (Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg Airport)

Carriers serving the UK: Swiss International Air Lines; British Airways; easyJet

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from Switzerland

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case.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

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether Institut fuer Rechtsmedizin (IRM), University of Zurich / CURML Lausanne / University of Bern 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 Switzerland guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for Switzerland

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in Switzerland

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

Official lists for Switzerland

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

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

Talk to us about cremation in Switzerland

We deal with Institut fuer Rechtsmedizin (IRM), University of Zurich / CURML Lausanne / University of Bern and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.