Cremation in China and Urn Transport to Ukraine

In brief (30 seconds).

A funeral home cremates a foreign national based on a written application from the family or the embassy of the country of citizenship.
The ashes are collected by the family or the embassy; burying or scattering the ashes of foreign nationals in China is usually not permitted.
At the Ukrainian border, the urn requires a death certificate, a cremation certificate, and a certificate of no extraneous contents.
An apostille is used instead of consular legalization since November 7, 2023.
The price is fixed in the contract.

Call +380 77 882 77 77 Inquire about urn transport

Who Gives Consent for Cremation

A funeral home in China cremates the body of a foreign national based on a written application signed by the deceased's family or the embassy or consulate of their country. This is how the Shanghai Municipal Government describes the procedure. If the family is in Ukraine, the application is signed under a power of attorney issued in Ukraine with an apostille and a Chinese translation. Our local partners find out the exact requirements of the specific funeral home.

Documents for Cremation

Cremation requires a death certificate: issued by a hospital at the county level or higher in the case of a natural death, or by a police forensic medical examiner otherwise. If the person died outside a hospital, in a town or at home, the certificate may need to be notarized at a notary office at the deceased's place of residence. In Shanghai, the bodies of foreign nationals are accepted by designated funeral homes (Longhua, Baoxing, Yishan); other cities have their own lists.

Timeframes and Costs

Cremation timeframes depend on the city, the funeral home, and how quickly the documents are ready; we give the exact timeframe after the first conversation. The cost of cremation in China is set by the funeral home, not by us, so we do not quote separate figures. For the full amount covering cremation and urn transport, the price is fixed in the contract.

The Urn for Transport

The urn must be sturdy and sealed so that it does not break or open in transit. It is sealed by the crematorium. If the urn is transported by plane, the airline sets the requirements; we check them for the specific flight.

How to Bring an Urn from China to Ukraine

Ashes are permitted to be taken out of China for burial; the application for this is approved by provincial authorities under the Provisions on the Administration of Corpse Transportation (Art. 5). Transport is arranged through the International Corpse Transportation Center of the China Funeral Association and its local partners.

At the Ukrainian border, the following documents are required for the urn:

death certificate;
cremation certificate;
certificate of no extraneous contents, certified by the Consulate of Ukraine.

Details: customs clearance for an urn.

Can You Carry the Urn Yourself

The Shanghai Municipal Government states that the family may collect the ashes. In practice, problems arise due to translations, seals, and airline requirements. If a family member is in China and wants to carry the urn themselves, we will prepare the documents and explain what to take to the border. If the family is in Ukraine, we transport the urn.

Cremation vs. Body Repatriation

	Urn	Body
Embalming	not required	mandatory
Coffin	urn	hermetically sealed coffin with a zinc liner
Chinese documents	death certificate, cremation certificate	death certificate, certificates of embalming and sealing of the coffin, quarantine inspection
Price	the price is fixed in the contract	the price is fixed in the contract, see repatriation of a body from China

Burial of an Urn in Ukraine

An urn can be buried in a grave, interred in a family plot, or placed in a columbarium. Permission from the cemetery is required. Details: burial of an urn.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Ukrainian citizen be cremated in China?

Yes. A funeral home cremates the body based on a written application from the family or the embassy. We arrange cremation only together with transporting the urn to Ukraine.

Can the ashes be buried in China?

Usually no: burying or scattering the ashes of foreign nationals in China is permitted only in exceptional cases with permission from the civil affairs authorities.

What documents are needed for an urn at the Ukrainian border?

A death certificate, a cremation certificate, and a certificate of no extraneous contents certified by the Consulate of Ukraine.

Does a Chinese cremation certificate need consular legalization?

No, since November 7, 2023, an apostille and a translation into Ukrainian are sufficient.

How much does it cost to transport an urn from China?

The price is fixed in the contract once we know the city and the circumstances.

What to Do Now

Call us and let us know that your family is considering cremation.
Send a photo of the deceased's passport.
Together with our partners in China, we will check the funeral home and timeframes, and the price is fixed in the contract.

Call +380 77 882 77 77 Inquire about urn transport

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