Cremation in Czechia and Urn Transport to Ukraine

In 30 seconds.

• Cremation is governed by the Act on Funeral Services (zákon č. 256/2001 Sb., o pohřebnictví). A crematorium accepts a body only when death is confirmed by an official document, most often a death certificate (úmrtní list).
• If the deceased left no instructions, the spouse decides first, followed by children, parents, and siblings (§ 114 of the Civil Code).
• In Prague, cremation in a coffin costs 3 095 Kč, and a direct cremation package without a ceremony costs 14 414 Kč (price list effective January 1, 2025).
• No apostille is needed on Czech documents for use in Ukraine thanks to the bilateral legal assistance treaty.
• Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from 800 €, with no prepayment.

Source: Hřbitovy a pohřební služby hl. m. Prahy: Ceník od 1. 1. 2025, 2025

Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about urn transport

Who Authorizes Cremation in Czechia

First, the wishes of the deceased are considered. If they did not leave instructions on what to do with their body, the spouse decides. If there is no spouse, the decision passes to the children, then parents, then siblings, then their children, and finally any close person (§ 114 občanský zákoník).

The funeral is arranged by the "person arranging the funeral" (vypravitel pohřbu). This is the person to whom the crematorium issues the cremation certificate and releases the urn. By law, the person arranging the funeral is whoever makes the funeral arrangements within 96 hours of being notified of the death.

Citizenship does not matter here: Ukrainians are cremated under the same conditions. If the family is in Ukraine, you usually do not need to travel in person. You sign a power of attorney, and we make the arrangements with the funeral home (pohřební služba) and the crematorium.

How Long It Takes to Arrange Cremation

The law sets no minimum waiting period between death and cremation. It requires the body to be kept in refrigerated storage if cremation does not take place within 48 hours after the crematorium accepts the body.

In practice, the timeline depends on three things: when the death certificate is issued, how quickly the family decides on the person arranging the funeral and provides a power of attorney, and the crematorium's schedule. Weekends and public holidays also add days. We can give you an exact date after speaking with the crematorium.

An important point for families living abroad: after cremation, the crematorium invites the arranger to collect the urn. If the urn is not collected within 12 months, the crematorium is legally required to place the ashes in a communal grave at a cemetery.

Choosing an Urn for Transport

The law requires the crematorium to place the ashes in a tightly sealed urn marked with the cremation record number (číslo záznamu o zpopelnění). This number is also on the cremation certificate, making the urn easy to identify at the border.

For transport, a durable metal or plastic urn is best, avoiding glass or ceramics. When flying, the urn is usually taken in carry-on luggage by prior arrangement with the airline. At security, it must pass through an X-ray scanner, so heavy, opaque materials can sometimes cause issues. Every airline sets its own rules, so check in advance.

Can You Transport the Urn Yourself

Yes, a relative can collect the urn and bring it back personally. The crematorium releases the urn to the person who arranged the funeral or to the funeral home, so if someone else was named as the arranger, you will need a power of attorney from them.

Common issues include: missing translations, names spelled differently in the documents than in the relative's passport, or the airline refusing to allow the urn in the cabin. If you are short on time or cannot travel, it is safer to entrust this to us.

Burying the Urn in Ukraine

An urn can be buried in a separate grave, placed in a columbarium niche, or buried in an existing family grave. This requires permission from the cemetery administration and the documents we bring with the urn. Read more in our article on urn burial.