Can I take my pet's ashes from France to the UK or US?

Owners thinking of taking their pet’s ashes back to the UK or US after cremation can do so by plane or boat, although it depends on the carrier.

However, there are a few requirements people should keep in mind to ensure the process goes smoothly.

The UK government confirms that pets which die outside Great Britain can be brought back if they have been cremated. Their ashes do not require an import licence from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

However, returning a pet's body rather than its ashes requires an import application to APHA.

If you are bringing back the ashes by plane, British Airways requires passengers to have a Certificate of Cremation. The remains must also be placed in a sturdy, tightly sealed container that can pass through airport X-ray screening.

This means that metal urns would not be suitable as they would prevent security staff from seeing the contents clearly. 

According to British Airways, security staff will not open urns for inspection, meaning containers that cannot pass screening will not be accepted.

In the baggage section of its website, EasyJet specifies that it allows the transport of human or pet cremated remains on its flights as hand luggage provided that you have a copy of the death certificate, the cremation certificate and that the ashes are placed in a suitable container and securely packaged.

Transavia permits urns in hand luggage but not in checked baggage. Its general guidance on ashes also says containers must not be made of metal.

Passengers carrying pet ashes should check with their airline in advance, as requirements may vary.

For ferry travel, the process may be less clear. The Connexion contacted operators including DFDS, which said it was unfamiliar with the process and had no specific procedure in place, directing passengers to check UK requirements.

Owners travelling by ferry could still carry their Certificate of Cremation with them as a precaution.

On its website, Irish Ferries says it permits the transport of the “cremated ashes of your deceased loved one,” although it does not specify pets. It adds, however, that passengers are not permitted to use its ferries to scatter ashes at sea. 

Travelling to the US

Avianca, which operates flights between Paris and Bogotá with connections to the US, allows passengers to carry cremated pet remains in their cabin baggage or personal item. 

They must carry a cremation certificate and use a sturdy urn made of cardboard, plastic or wood that can pass X-ray screening. 

Other US airlines have different policies. JetBlue, for example, does not accept pet remains, whether cremated or not. 

Delta, however, does allow it so long as you have a death or cremation certificate and the urn conforms to the security requirements mentioned above. 

The most important advice is to check with your airline prior to travel.