Cremation in Turkey: Is It Possible? What Families Can Do

The short version, in 30 seconds.

In its 2026 guidance, the UK government states: cremation is not permitted in Turkey and there are no crematoriums.
The most common route: transport the body to Ukraine and arrange cremation at home.
To transport the body out of the country, you need a Turkish death certificate, an embalming certificate and a permit to transport the body.
Bringing the ashes of foreign nationals into Turkey is prohibited, so urns from other countries are not transported here.
Transport with no upfront payment: you pay under the contract after the handover.

Call +380 77 882 77 77 Inquire about repatriation

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Is cremation possible in Turkey

The honest answer is no. In its guidance for British nationals updated in July 2026, the UK government explicitly states that cremation is not permitted in Turkey and there are no facilities for it.

Formally, the old Public Health Law of 1930 (Umumi Hıfzıssıhha Kanunu No. 1593) contains articles on cremation. Article 224 allows municipalities to build cremators with the approval of the Ministry of Health. Article 225 lists the documents required for cremation. It also states that bodies already buried cannot be exhumed from a grave for cremation. However, there is no operating crematorium in the country, so these articles do not work in practice.

In Turkey, earth burial is closely tied to the faith of the majority of people, and this should be respected. For a Ukrainian, choosing cremation here simply means having it done in another country.

What families do instead of cremation

Transporting the body to Ukraine

This is the most common option. A Turkish funeral service processes the paperwork, the body is embalmed, placed in a special coffin, and transported to Ukraine. We have described how this works and how much it costs on our page about transporting a body from Turkey.

The Turkish Regulation on the Construction of Cemeteries and Funeral Transport and Burial Procedures (Mezarlık Yerlerinin İnşaası ile Cenaze Nakil ve Defin İşlemleri Hakkında Yönetmelik) requires a hermetically sealed coffin for international transport: a wooden outer coffin and a soldered inner liner made of lead or another airtight material. We prepare this type of coffin.

Cremation in Ukraine after repatriation

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: a farewell service at home, documents in Ukrainian, and cremation in the place where the burial will follow.

Cremation in a neighboring country

Theoretically, the body can be transported to a neighboring country that has a crematorium and cremated there. However, this means an extra border, another set of documents, and another set of rules. It is usually neither cheaper nor faster than transporting the body to Ukraine. We consider this option only for specific situations.

If you already have an urn

Sometimes a person was cremated in another country, and the urn is currently in Turkey or being transported through Turkey. There is an important rule here. Article 38 of the Turkish regulation prohibits bringing human ashes into Turkey if neither the deceased nor their immediate relatives are Turkish citizens. Therefore, we do not advise planning a route for an urn through Turkey. The text does not specify whether this ban applies to airside transit without leaving the airport, so we clarify this with the airline.

If the urn is already in Ukraine, the next steps are straightforward: burial in a grave, placement in a columbarium, or interment in an existing family grave. Read our article on urn burial. For information on borders and customs, see our article on customs clearance for an urn.

Documents

First, how a death is registered. In Turkey, a death is recorded by a hospital, the forensic medical service, or a prosecutor. The medical certificate of death (Ölüm Belgesi) is sent to the local civil registry office, which issues the official death certificate (Formül C) to the next of kin or the funeral service. If the death is sudden or violent, the process may take longer due to an autopsy.

To transport a body from Turkey, the following documents are usually required:

a death certificate from the civil registry office (Formül C) or, before it is issued, a hospital death report (Ölüm Belgesi);
an embalming certificate;
a permit to transport the body: a municipal road transit permit (yol izin belgesi) and a laissez-passer for a corpse (geçiş izin belgesi) issued by the health authorities;
the passport of the deceased.

Both Turkey and Ukraine are parties to the Hague Convention, so an apostille is placed on Turkish documents. We handle the translation into Ukrainian. We provide a full list of documents to every family. Consular assistance is provided by the Embassy of Ukraine in Ankara and the Consulate General in Istanbul.

Cremation vs. body transport: comparison

	Transporting the body and cremation in Ukraine	Cremation in a neighboring country
Documents	Turkish documents for exporting the body	Turkish documents plus documents of the cremation country
Borders	one	two
Price	see the country page, cremation in Ukraine is paid separately	calculated per case, urn transport from €800
Farewell service	possible in Ukraine	usually no farewell service at home

How much it costs

The cost of transporting a body depends on the city, route, and documents; we calculate it for your specific situation. Cremation in Ukraine is paid separately according to the crematorium's rates. If there is already an urn that needs to be brought home, transporting an urn with ashes to Ukraine costs from €800. Everything is done with no upfront payment.

Frequently asked questions

Can a person be cremated in Turkey?

In practice, no. The UK government states that cremation is not permitted in Turkey and there are no crematoriums.

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.

Is it possible to cremate in a neighboring country?

Theoretically yes, but this involves an extra border and another set of documents. Transporting the body to Ukraine is usually simpler.

What documents are needed to transport a body from Turkey?

A death certificate (Formül C) or hospital report, an embalming certificate, transit permits, and a passport. An apostille is placed on the Turkish documents.

Can an urn be transported through Istanbul?

The regulation prohibits bringing the ashes of foreign nationals into Turkey. The rule does not specify transit, so we coordinate the route in advance.

Do we have to pay in advance?

No. We work with no upfront payment: you pay under the contract after the handover.

What to do now

Call us and tell us where and when the person died.
If the person had insurance, notify the insurance company.
Decide with your family: cremation in Ukraine or burial.
Sign a power of attorney. We take care of the rest.

Call +380 77 882 77 77 Inquire about repatriation

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