Cremation in Georgia: Is It Possible and What to Do

The short version, in 30 seconds.

The UK government states directly in its guidance for British nationals: cremation is not possible in Georgia.
The most common option: transport the body to Ukraine and arrange cremation here.
A Georgian death certificate is issued in Georgian, and it usually does not state the cause of death.
Both Georgia and Ukraine are parties to the Apostille Convention. The main authority issuing apostilles is the Public Service Development Agency of the Ministry of Justice.
Transport without prepayment: payment is made after handover under the contract.

Call +380 77 882 77 77 Inquire about transport

Is cremation possible in Georgia

The honest answer is no. In its guidance for British nationals (updated in August 2024), the UK government states that cremation is not possible in Georgia. A Georgian funeral home can arrange a viewing, burial, and memorial service, but not cremation.

We checked whether anything has changed since then. We found no reports in official sources about a crematorium opening in Georgia. If one opens, we will update this article.

For most people in Georgia, earth burial is closely tied to the Orthodox faith and long-standing farewell traditions. We treat this with respect. For a Ukrainian who wanted cremation, this simply means it is carried out in another country.

What families do instead of cremation

Transporting the body to Ukraine

This is the most common option. A funeral service in Georgia prepares the paperwork, and the body is prepared for repatriation and brought to Ukraine. We have described how this works and how much it costs on the body transport from Georgia page.

Cremation in Ukraine after transport

The body is brought to Ukraine, and the cremation is carried out at a Ukrainian crematorium. Afterwards, the urn is buried at a cemetery or placed in a columbarium. We agree on the crematorium and the date together with the family.

For the family, this is often simpler: the farewell takes place at home, the documents are in Ukrainian, and the cremation is done near the burial place.

Cremation in another country

In theory, the body can be transported to another country that has a crematorium. However, this means crossing another border, preparing another set of documents, and following another set of rules. Usually, this is neither cheaper nor faster than transporting the body to Ukraine. We consider this option only for specific situations.

If you already have the urn

Sometimes a person was cremated in another country, and the urn is currently in Georgia, for example with the family. To bring it to Ukraine, you need the death certificate and the cremation certificate with an apostille or legalization from the country that issued the document, along with a translation. An urn in carry-on luggage is usually transported by prior agreement with the airline. Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800, without prepayment.

To learn about crossing the border, read our article on customs clearance for an urn, and about burial in the article on urn burial.

Documents

What you should know about Georgian documents:

the death certificate is written in Georgian, and the cause of death is usually not stated in it;
the final report on the cause of death may take several months to prepare;
a translation is required for Ukrainian authorities, which we handle.

Apostilles on Georgian documents are issued by the Public Service Development Agency of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia (საჯარო სერვისების განვითარების სააგენტო). Documents issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs are apostilled by its Service Agency.

The exact documents required to transport a body out of Georgia depend on the circumstances of the death. We verify the list with the funeral service and local authorities for your specific case. We provide the full list of documents to every family. Consular assistance: Embassy of Ukraine in Tbilisi.

Do not cancel the deceased's passport before transport. The UK government advises its citizens to do this only after the body has already been taken out of the country, as the passport may be needed for the paperwork. For international repatriation, British nationals are advised to contact an international funeral director, and this principle applies to everyone: you need a carrier who knows the document requirements of both countries.

The decision on transport is made by the next of kin. If the relatives are in Ukraine, there is no need to travel in person: a power of attorney is sufficient.

How much it costs

The cost of transporting a body from Georgia depends on the city, route, and documents. We calculate it for your specific situation, and a price guide is available on the country page. Cremation in Ukraine is paid separately according to the crematorium's rates. If you already have the urn, transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800.

If the person had insurance, notify the insurance company as early as possible. Payment for transport is made after handover under the contract.

Cremation in Georgia vs body transport: comparison

	Body transport and cremation in Ukraine	Cremation in another country
Documents	Georgian documents for transporting the body	the same plus documents of the country of cremation
Borders	one	two
Price	see the country page, cremation in Ukraine is paid separately	calculated for your situation, urn from €800
Farewell	possible in Ukraine	usually without a farewell at home

Frequently asked questions

Can a person be cremated in Georgia?

No. The UK government states that cremation is not possible in Georgia. We have found no reports of a crematorium opening.

What should we do if the person wanted to be cremated?

Transport the body to Ukraine and arrange the cremation here. Afterwards, the urn is buried at a cemetery or placed in a columbarium.

Why is there no cause of death on the Georgian death certificate?

That is how they are usually issued. The final report on the cause of death can take several months to prepare.

Who issues an apostille on Georgian documents?

The Public Service Development Agency of the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. Documents from the Ministry of Internal Affairs are apostilled by the MIA Service Agency.

Do we need to travel to Georgia?

No. A power of attorney is sufficient. We handle the paperwork and transport.

Do we have to pay in advance?

No. Transport is without prepayment: payment is made after handover under the contract.

What to do now

Call us and tell us where and when the person passed away.
If there was insurance, notify the insurance company.
Decide within the family: cremation in Ukraine or burial.
Arrange a power of attorney. We will take care of the rest.

Call +380 77 882 77 77 Inquire about transport

Phone available 24/7, also on Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram.

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Cremation in Georgia: Is It Possible and What Families Can Do