Cremation in Greece and Taking Ashes to Ukraine

In brief (30 seconds).

Cremation is permitted under Law 4277/2014. The first crematorium opened in 2019 in Ritsona (Euboea), and the second in November 2025 in Alexandreia (Imathia).
You need the written wish of the deceased, or a statement with a certified signature from a spouse, partner, or first- or second-degree relatives.
Before cremation, a forensic medical examiner confirms in writing that the cause of death does not require further investigation.
For the Ukrainian border, the ashes must be placed in a sealed, airtight metal urn.
Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from 800 €, with no prepayment.

Who gives consent for cremation

Law 4277/2014 (ν. 4277/2014, Article 49) puts the person's own wishes first. If there is a written statement or note expressing their wish to be cremated, that is enough.

If there is no such document, consent is given via a written statement by the husband or wife, or by a partner under a civil partnership agreement (σύμφωνο συμβίωσης). If there are none, the statement is signed by first- or second-degree relatives: children, parents, brothers, sisters, or grandchildren. The signature must be officially certified (βεβαίωση γνησίου υπογραφής).

The same rules apply to a Ukrainian citizen in Greece. If the family is in Ukraine, traveling to Greece is usually not necessary. The statement and power of attorney can be signed before a notary in Ukraine, and we then arrange the apostille and Greek translation. Both countries are parties to the Hague Apostille Convention.

It is best when the family is in agreement. If any close relatives object, it is better to resolve this before we submit the paperwork.

Permits and documents for cremation in Greece

The law does not require a separate municipal permit to cremate a body. Instead, a set of documents must be submitted to the civil registry office (ληξιαρχείο):

the death registration act (ληξιαρχική πράξη θανάτου). The registrar records the place of cremation and what will happen to the ashes in this document;
the written wish of the deceased or the relatives' statement mentioned above;
a written certificate from a forensic medical examiner (ιατροδικαστής). The examiner confirms that the cause of death requires no further investigation and that any medical devices that cannot be cremated (such as a pacemaker) have been removed from the body. The doctor's signature is certified by a state authority or a medical association.

The documents are submitted by the family or by a funeral home (γραφείο τελετών). In practice, the local funeral home gathers everything together with us.

A separate case is the cremation of previously buried bones. This requires a permit from the mayor or head of the municipality where the cemetery is located, along with the written consent of the same relatives (Article 49, paragraph 3).

How long does cremation take

The law requires the death registration act for cremation to be drawn up quickly. The original wording of Article 49 allowed 60 hours from the time of death, though the timeframe was later amended, so we confirm the current rule with the registrar. There are no official waiting times at the crematoria.

Three things affect the timeline the most: how quickly the forensic medical examiner issues the certificate, whether an autopsy was performed, and how busy the crematorium is. Because there are only two crematoria, a body coming from the islands or the south must be driven halfway across the country. This adds a day or more for transport. If the death was sudden, everything depends on the police and the forensic examination.

How much does cremation cost in Greece

Both crematoria are private, and there is no state-regulated fee. The price is set by the operator and depends on the city, transport of the body to the crematorium, the coffin, the farewell ceremony, and the urn. Translations, apostilles, and certificates are paid for separately. We calculate the exact local cost based on your specific situation.

We can arrange the cremation through our local partners, or we can pick up a ready urn from the crematorium or the family. The cost of cremation on the spot is calculated separately. Transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from 800 €. We work without prepayment: you pay under the contract after the urn is handed over. See service details on the urn transport page.

The urn for transport

Under Greek law, the ashes are placed in a special container (τεφροδόχος). Presidential Decree 210/1975 (Π.Δ. 210/1975, Article 4) requires a securely closed container for transporting ashes.

Ukrainian law is stricter. Article 22 of the Law of Ukraine "On Burial and Funeral Affairs" requires ashes crossing the border to be in a sealed, airtight metal urn. Therefore, for transport to Ukraine, we recommend choosing a metal urn with an official seal right away. You can buy a decorative urn once you are back home.

If you are flying, the urn is usually carried in hand luggage after prior approval from the airline. At the airport, it may be screened by X-ray. Every carrier has its own rules, so check with them before buying a ticket.

How to bring an urn to Ukraine: documents

For the border, the following documents are usually prepared:

the Greek death registration act with an apostille and a Ukrainian translation;
the cremation certificate from the crematorium;
a certificate confirming that the urn contains no prohibited items. Under Ukrainian law, this is issued by the competent authority of the country where the cremation took place and legalized at the Ukrainian consulate;
the passport or another ID document of the deceased, if available.

We did not find a separate permit procedure for exporting ashes from Greece on the state portal. Before departure, we check with the local authority whether a certificate from the Regional Directorate of Public Health is required for the urn. We also coordinate the accompanying paperwork with the Embassy of Ukraine in Greece. You can find the general list on the documents page.

The urn can be transported by plane or overland through Bulgaria and Romania. To learn more about crossing the Ukrainian border, read our article on customs clearance for an urn.

Can you transport the urn yourself

Yes, a relative can carry the urn themselves. Difficulties usually arise at the border rather than in Greece. Without a sealed metal urn and a certificate confirming there are no extraneous items inside, customs may not let the ashes through. Translations, apostilles, and legalization take time, and a single mistake in a document means another trip to an official office.

If you are currently in Greece, have all the paperwork ready, and have cleared your flight with the airline, you can handle it on your own. If the family is in Ukraine or some documents are missing, it is better to entrust this to us.

Cremation vs. body transport

	Cremation in Greece and urn	Body transport
Timeline	a few days for documents and cremation, followed by urn transport	depends on body paperwork and the route
Documents	death registration act, relatives' statement, forensic examiner's certificate, urn documents	death registration act, embalming certificate, body transit permit
Price	urn from 800 €	see the country page
Farewell	in Greece before cremation	in Ukraine, with an open or closed coffin

If the family wants to hold a funeral service at home, transporting the body is the right option. Find more details on the body transport from Greece page.

Burying an urn in Ukraine

An urn can be buried in a grave, placed in a columbarium niche, or interred in an existing family grave. This requires permission from the cemetery or the local municipal authority. We explain how this works in our article on urn burial.

From the first call to burial: timeline

Stage	Estimated time
Consultation, gathering details, power of attorney	1–2 days
Death registration act, forensic examiner's certificate, relatives' statement	a few days
Cremation	depends on the crematorium schedule
Apostille, translation, border certificates	1–2 weeks
Transporting the urn to Ukraine	a few days
Urn burial	as arranged with the cemetery

These are our general estimates. Actual timeframes depend on Greek and Ukrainian authorities, which are beyond our control.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Ukrainian citizen be cremated in Greece?

Yes. Law 4277/2014 does not restrict cremation by citizenship. You will need the death registration act, a statement from relatives, and a certificate from a forensic medical examiner.

How many crematoria are there in Greece?

Two: in Ritsona on Euboea (since 2019) and in Alexandreia in Imathia (since November 2025). Because of this, the body often has to be transported to the crematorium from another region.

Do relatives need to travel to Greece?

Usually not. The statement and power of attorney are signed in Ukraine, and we get them apostilled and translated into Greek.

What kind of urn is needed for transport to Ukraine?

It must be metal, airtight, and officially sealed. This is required by Article 22 of the Law of Ukraine "On Burial and Funeral Affairs".

Can you keep the urn at home in Greece?

Greek law allows storing the urn in a designated area at a crematorium or cemetery, burying it, or scattering the ashes in permitted places. Keeping the urn at home is not mentioned in the law.

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

From 800 €, with no prepayment. The cost of the local cremation is calculated separately based on your situation.

What to do now

Locate the deceased person's passport, find out where the body is right now, and decide which relative will give formal consent.
If the person left a written note asking for cremation, keep it safe.
Think about where the burial will take place in Ukraine.
Call us. We will arrange the cremation through our partners, or pick up a ready urn and bring it home.

We are available 24/7, including on Viber, WhatsApp, and Telegram.

Call +380 77 882 77 77 Ask about an urn

We will help you find out who can pay

Leave your number. We will call you back and tell you what to check about payment.

Name

Phone (Viber, WhatsApp, Telegram)

Where from optional

Comment optional

Fill in the form and we will call you with the exact price within 5 minutes.