Lastjourney Blog

Dispersing Loved One’s Ashes Abroad? Here’s Everything You Need To Know

Varun

27 January, 2022

Reading Time: 4 minutes

An increasing number of individuals are embracing the notion of dispersing ashes to places that held special memories for the deceased.  After all, the best you can do is provide your loved ones with a final resting place that is meaningful to them by transporting ashes on plane.

Besides this, there are a variety of additional reasons why families seek to transport human ashes abroad. Transporting cremated remains home to family members who reside abroad, as well as a desire to return to the deceased’s birthplace or other locations of significance, are just a few of the most prevalent reasons why individuals inquire if they may transfer human ashes internationally.

Transporting cremated remains, on the other hand, is a unique challenge. Certain regulations range from one country to the next. Permits are required to transfer cremated remains, and each nation and airline has its own process for moving ashes from one country to another. 

Documents Required for Transporting Cremated Remains Overseas: 

Several requirements must be met before transport ashes on plane to another nation. To begin, you must understand the local criteria of the nation to which you are travelling. Since each nation has its own set of laws, the criteria may range from one country to the next. The baseline conditions, on the other hand, aren’t that dissimilar. The following are some of them:

1. International death certificate certified copy
2. A certified copy of a cremation entry (sometimes known as a ‘green form’)
3. A certified copy of the cremation certificate is required.

Here are some suggested permissions to have on hand when transporting human ashes internationally. When these aren’t required, they might help you avoid problems while travelling.

1. Certificate of the airline proof urn’s sealing.
2. A document from your crematorium’s funeral director certifying that the urn contains the ashes of the deceased individual.
3. Proof of your link with the deceased person.

When going through airport security, these documents come in handy. These documents also make it clear what you intend to accomplish and what you’re carrying. Airline protocols might be a pain, but they are necessary for safety reasons. As a result, be sure to follow airport standards and international legislation to save yourself a lot of time and aggravation.

Check the local laws.

The most essential thing to remember while transport ashes on plane overseas is to familiarise yourself with the local regulations. When it comes to the internment and repatriation of the deceased, each country has its own set of rules. The same is true when it comes to dispersing the ashes. As a result, if you want to spread your loved one’s ashes, always check with the local embassy in the country you’re bringing the ashes to first. When it comes to taking or dispersing cremated remains overseas, different nations have different restrictions, so make sure you are aware of the norms and regulations of the country.

Getting Ashes Through Airport Security & Traveling with Urns

When flying with ashes, you’ll need a particular type of cremation urn to properly preserve the ashes and travel with them. Keep in mind that, out of respect for the departed, no one is permitted to open the container containing the ashes.

If you follow a few simple recommendations, the procedure may be straightforward:

1. The urn should be composed of a nonmetallic, scannable material that can be X-rayed readily during security inspections. Wood, non-lead coated ceramics, plastic, biodegradable materials like paper, and glass are among the materials recommended. The urn will not be permitted on the plane even if it has the proper documents if it does not pass through security.
2. To avoid leakage, the urn must be tightly closed and sealed.
3. Never store the ashes in a suitcase; always carry them as hand baggage. The majority of airlines do not allow ashes to be transferred in bags, which will prevent any potential harm.
4. Consider transporting a temporary urn. Urns can serve a variety of purposes, including serving as the last resting place for a loved one. There’s a danger your urn will be destroyed when travelling such a great distance. As a result, transport the ashes in a modest, affordable temporary urn and transfer the ashes once you are home.
5. Embroider a tag on the urn. Cremated remains are finely powdered material that can be mistaken for anything if not properly identified. The remains of a loved one are extremely precious, and the notion of losing them is heartbreaking.

Transporting Ashes to India

When death comes to the repatriation of ashes, Indian processes differ greatly from those in the United Kingdom. That’s why it’s a good idea to get in touch with the British High Commission in India ahead of time to prepare for any issues that may occur once you arrive. You’ll require a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Indian Embassy/Consulate in the UK to transfer cremated remains to India. To obtain the NOC, you must submit the following papers (originals or notarized copies) to your consulate:

1. A certified copy of the death certificate from the Country
2. The deceased’s current passport
3. The cremation certificate is signed by the crematorium where the cremation took happened.
4. The crematorium’s Declaration of Contents

Carry the NOC, as well as all of the other documents you received from the Consulate/Embassy, including the Consular Mortuary Certificate, which may be required by airlines. The airline/consignor must notify the Indian airport’s Health Officer about the cremated remains importation at least 48 hours in advance.

There are various airlines that enable ashes to be sent to India, but Emirates is the most popular. This airline enables cremated ashes to be taken as hand or checked luggage as long as the traveller has all of the required papers, as we have discussed previously. These documents might be required to be shown to authorities in the origin country and India, as well as any other intermediary station.

Conclusion

It is difficult to transport the ashes of a loved one to another country. All of the new processes in a distant place might worsen the grief process. Furthermore, a variety of things might hinder the process. To ease everything for you, Last Journey will help you in collecting the documents, choosing the right urns, and transporting your loved one’s ashes. All you have to do is contact us, and we’ll be at your service. 

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