Cremation and ashes transport

Cremation in Uruguay and bringing ashes home

Modern cremation facilities are available in Montevideo. Ashes can be repatriated to the UK as accompanied or unaccompanied baggage. Export of ashes requires cremation certificate, Registro Civil documentation, and apostille. This page sets out what Uruguay requires, and what to check before you decide.

Send an enquiry Full repatriation guide for Uruguay

Cremation in Uruguay

Can you cremate someone in Uruguay?

Religious context: Uruguay is one of the most secular countries in South America. Roman Catholicism is nominally predominant but secularism is widespread. Both burial and cremation are common. No significant religious restrictions on repatriation procedures.

Weighing cremation abroad against bringing your loved one home intact? How families decide between the two.

Who must release the body

Civil Registry (Registro Civil) for death registration; Medical Examiner (Médico Forense) and Ministry of Public Health for cause of death certification; judiciary for non-natural deaths

Documentation language

Spanish

Airline guidance

Can you carry ashes on the flight home?

Routing out of Uruguay: Repatriation from Montevideo routes via Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) or São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) for transatlantic connections to London. Direct Montevideo-London flights do not exist. Iberia Madrid and Air France Paris connections are common. Total cargo journey 2 to 4 days once paperwork is cleared.

Departure airports: Montevideo Carrasco International Airport (MVD)

Airline rules that apply on any route.

What affects the cost from Uruguay

We do not publish a figure, because it turns on the specifics of the case.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

Distance from where the death happened to the nearest crematorium
Whether Civil Registry (Registro Civil) for death registration; Medical Examiner (Médico Forense) and Ministry of Public Health for cause of death certification; judiciary for non-natural deaths has to release the case first
Translation, since documentation is in Spanish
Routing home. Repatriation from Montevideo routes via Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) or São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) for transatlantic connections to London. Direct Montevideo-London flights do not exist. Iberia Madrid and Air France Paris connections are common. Total cargo journey 2 to 4 days once paperwork is cleared.
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 Uruguay guide sets out that process.

Full repatriation guide for Uruguay

First steps guide

What to do if someone dies in Uruguay

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

Official lists for Uruguay

Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office for British nationals. We are not connected to the firms listed.

Funeral directors, for arranging local care and preparation
Lawyers, where an estate or an investigation needs local legal advice

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

Talk to us about cremation in Uruguay

We deal with Civil Registry (Registro Civil) for death registration; Medical Examiner (Médico Forense) and Ministry of Public Health for cause of death certification; judiciary for non-natural deaths and the local funeral directors directly. Tell us what has happened and we will take it from there.