Cremation and ashes transport
Cremation in Tanzania 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 Tanzania requires, and what to check before you decide.
Cremation in Tanzania
Can you cremate someone in Tanzania?
Religious context: Islam / Christianity
Weighing cremation abroad against bringing your loved one home intact? How families decide between the two.
Documentation language
Swahili, English
Airline guidance
Can you carry ashes on the flight home?
What Tanzania requires: Tanzanian cremation certificate; Death certificate; Freedom from infectious disease certificate; Ashes in a sealed, clearly labelled container
What affects the cost from Tanzania
We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case. For Tanzania the things that move it are:
- Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
- Whether an investigation must conclude before release
- Translation, since documentation is in Swahili, English
- 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; IATA regulations
Considering full repatriation instead?
Some families decide they want their loved one brought home intact. The full Tanzania guide sets out that process.
Full repatriation guide for TanzaniaOfficial lists for Tanzania
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.
- Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice
Sources: FCDO: death abroad · FCDO travel advice · Repatriation from Tanzania
Talk to us about cremation in Tanzania
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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