Cremation
Cremation followed by interment of the urn, a natural burial or repatriation of the urn abroad.
What to expect
In a cremation the deceased is cremated at a crematorium. The ashes are then interred in an urn, scattered in nature or repatriated to the home country. In Switzerland, considerably more families now choose this form than choose burial.
The great advantage is freedom of timing: weeks may pass between the cremation and the interment. That gives families time to bring relatives from abroad or to plan a memorial service calmly.
For international cases cremation is often the simpler solution. Transporting an urn abroad is markedly less complicated and less expensive than a coffin repatriation — although not every country and not every religious community accepts cremation. We clarify this for your destination country.
Process
We collect the deceased and establish with you whether a farewell before the cremation is wanted and how the ashes should later be interred.
Notification to the civil registry office within two days and application for the cremation permit. Where the cause of death is unclear, an official release is also required.
Hygienic care, dressing and placing in the coffin. If you wish to say goodbye, we arrange a viewing — this must happen before the cremation.
The cremation takes place at the crematorium in a coffin approved for the purpose. The ashes are then placed in an urn and officially identified.
The ceremony can take place before the cremation with the coffin, or afterwards with the urn — whichever fits your family better. We arrange either.
Urn grave, urn niche, communal grave, woodland or meadow burial, burial at a lake, or repatriation abroad. We obtain the necessary permits.
In detail
Switzerland is among the most liberal countries in Europe in its handling of urns. The ashes may be interred in an urn grave or niche at the cemetery, interred anonymously in a communal grave, buried in woodland or a meadow, scattered on a lake or river, or kept at home by the family. Repatriating the urn to the country of origin is also possible. Most of these options require a permit or at least the landowner's consent — we clarify what is admissible in your case.
Questions & answers
The cremation itself usually takes place within a few days of the death. After that no statutory deadline applies to the interment of the urn — you can take weeks. Many families use that time to allow relatives from abroad to travel.
As a rule yes, mainly because the fees for an urn grave are lower than for a full grave and because a cremation coffin costs less. The exact difference depends on your municipality and the services chosen. You receive a quote from us with every item listed separately.
Yes. Some faiths prescribe burial, and personal or family reasons may also weigh against it. If a burial is preferred, we arrange the burial — with repatriation to the country of origin where required.
Yes, and it is considerably simpler than a coffin repatriation. The transport requires the cremation certificate, the death certificate and, depending on the destination country, a consular confirmation. Some airlines permit the urn as hand luggage, others require it to be sent as freight. We assemble the papers and clarify the conditions with the airline.
Yes, but it must happen before the cremation. Tell us at the first conversation that you would like a farewell: we will then arrange a viewing and schedule the cremation accordingly.
Guides
Simpler, faster and far cheaper than a coffin — but not every country accepts it.
Process, timings, permits and what happens to the ashes — explained step by step.
The items that make up the bill — and the one that really varies by destination country.
Other services
Worldwide repatriation from Switzerland — documents, permits and transport from a single point of contact.
Learn moreA death abroad: we bring your relative back to Switzerland.
Learn moreTraditional burial in a coffin — grave, date, ceremony and every formality.
Learn more