Cremation in Estonia and Taking the Ashes to Ukraine

In 30 seconds.

• Cremation is based on a death certificate (surmatõend). Without death registration, the crematorium will not cremate the body.
• Before cremation, the person ordering the cremation (tuhastamise tellija) signs a contract with the crematorium. The law directly lists what must be included in it.
• In Tallinn, cremation costs 412 €, or 463 € on the day of the funeral (Tallinna Krematoorium price list).
• The ashes are placed in a sealed container or urn with a nameplate showing the name and date of cremation.
• Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from 800 €, with no upfront payment.

Call +380 77 882 77 77Ask about an urn

Who gives consent for cremation in Estonia

The Cemeteries Act does not establish an order of priority among relatives who decide on cremation. Instead, it refers to the person ordering the cremation (tuhastamise tellija). This is the person who signs the contract with the crematorium and later receives the ashes.

Usually, the person ordering the cremation is one of the close relatives (omaksed). Under the law, this includes a spouse, registered partner, parents, adult children, brothers and sisters, as well as another close person depending on life circumstances. By law, close relatives bear the costs of burial or cremation.

If the person expressed a wish to be cremated during their lifetime, you should tell the crematorium. The law requires cremation to be carried out with dignity and, as much as possible, in accordance with the deceased's faith and cultural background.

The Cemeteries Act does not explain what to do if relatives disagree with each other. For this reason, reach an agreement within the family before signing the contract.

If the family is in Ukraine

You do not have to travel to Estonia. You issue a power of attorney, and we pass it on to our partners in Estonia. They make arrangements with the crematorium, sign the contract on your behalf, and collect the urn. Whether a power of attorney issued in Ukraine will be accepted and whether an Estonian translation is required is something we clarify before signing.

How long does it take to arrange cremation

The law does not set a minimum waiting period between death and cremation. It requires that a person be buried or cremated without undue delay. If immediate cremation is not possible, the crematorium keeps the body in a refrigerated chamber.

Tallinn Crematorium offers to arrange the details on the day of contact or the next day. It also accepts bodies outside regular working hours, and on Sundays for an extra fee. The timeline depends primarily on how quickly the death is registered. The wait is longer when the police are investigating the death.

Urn for transport

The law requires the ashes to be placed in a sealed container or urn. A nameplate with the person's details and the date of cremation is attached to it. This nameplate helps at the border: the border guard can see that the urn matches the documents.

For travel, a sturdy urn made of metal or wood is better, without glass or thin ceramics. The Tallinn price list includes both metal and wooden models. If transported by plane, the urn is usually taken in carry-on baggage by prior arrangement with the airline. At security control, it is X-rayed. Each airline sets its own rules, so we check with the carrier in advance.

Can you transport the urn yourself

Yes. The urn is released to the person who ordered the cremation or to someone holding their power of attorney. A relative can pick it up in person and travel home.

Common issues include: the name in the Estonian documents is spelled in Latin letters differently from the passport; there is no translation; the airline has not approved the urn in the cabin. Another pitfall: if the ashes are not picked up for a long time, the crematorium stores them for at least one year after the period stated in the contract, and then the local municipality buries them. If you cannot travel, it is better to entrust this to us.

Burying an urn in Ukraine

An urn can be buried in a separate grave, placed in a columbarium, or buried in an existing family grave. You need permission from the cemetery and the documents that we bring along with the urn. Read more in the article burying an urn.