Transporting an urn to Spain can cause some concern for families who wish to hold a funeral or scattering ceremony on the islands. This is especially relevant for German families, now that the German postal service (Deutsche Post / DHL Group) has suspended its urn shipping service.
Despite this change, it is still possible to transport ashes by plane, using other reliable services. Below we explain how, and in which cases our team in Mallorca can take care of the transfer for you.
Can you take an urn with ashes on a flight?
Yes. In most cases it is permitted to carry ashes on a plane, usually as hand luggage.The most important thing is to have the correct documentation and to carry the urn in neutral and securely sealed packaging. We always recommend checking your airline’s specific regulations to avoid any issues.
Is it complicated?
Not really. Many people assume that the logistics are complex, but the process is quite simple when prepared properly. Here are the key points to keep in mind.
What do I need?
Documentation:
- Death certificate.
- Cremation certificate.
- If possible, a certificate from the crematorium confirming that the urn contains only ashes.
Urn / Container:
- Preferably non-metallic (some airlines require this).
- Must be neutrally and discreetly packaged.
- Must not exceed the airline’s weight allowance.
Why has the German postal service stopped transporting urns?
The Deutsche Post AG / DHL Group has officially announced that, as of October 1st 2025, it will no longer accept urns for national or international shipment. According to the company, the reason is the difficulty of guaranteeing an appropriate and respectful service for such a sensitive context.
This does not mean it is impossible to take an urn to Spain — only that this particular postal option will no longer be available.
As a result, many families are turning to specialized services for assistance with urn transfers.
Would you rather have a professional handle it?
At Nemocean, we offer a complete service for transporting urns from Germany to Mallorca. The process is straightforward:
- You hand the urn to one of our partners in Germany.
- Our staff personally fly to Palma de Mallorca, carrying the urn safely as hand luggage.
- In Mallorca, we keep the urn in our care until the ceremony. Before the service, we transfer the ashes into a biodegradable urn, to protect the environment and comply with legal requirements.
- On the day of the ceremony, we take the biodegradable urn on board, placing it with dignity on the vessel and accompanied by floral arrangements.
Watch our Youtube shorts to see how we translate the urn and prepare it for the funeral.
If you would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Useful Information
Transporting urns with Lufthansa
Urns can be transported free of charge within the permitted baggage allowance, either as hand luggage or checked baggage, provided the following conditions are met:
Checked baggage:
- The urn must be securely packed and sealed.
Hand luggage:
- The urn must be securely packed and sealed.
- The urn must be neutrally packaged, so that it is not recognizable as an urn to other passengers.
- The urn will be screened during security control.
It is not necessary to declare the transport of an urn in advance.
Passengers are responsible for having all confirmations and documents that may be required by foreign authorities during travel.
