A person who has died may need to be transported several times. Some types of transport are free of charge because they are covered by the funeral charge paid through taxes. Other transport costs are paid by the municipality, region or estate. If long distances are involved, transport may cost several thousand kronor.
Deaths in Sweden
There are no uniform rules in Sweden governing who pays for the different types of transport; this varies between municipalities. The cost depends, among other things, on whether the funeral and burial take place in the municipality where the deceased lived and was registered, or elsewhere in Sweden. Contact a funeral director to find out what applies in your situation.
What the funeral charge covers
Everyone who is registered as living in Sweden and pays municipal income tax automatically pays an annual funeral charge.
Examples of transport covered by the funeral charge within the area of responsibility of the relevant burial authority include:
- coffin or urn from the mortuary or holding facility to the venue for the ceremony
- coffin from the venue for the ceremony to the crematorium
- coffin or urn from the venue for the ceremony to the burial site
- urn from the crematorium to the place of interment
- pallbearers, where this is not part of the funeral ceremony
The funeral charge covers more than transport, including the burial plot.
What is covered by the funeral charge (svenskakyrkan.se, in Swedish) External link.
What the estate must pay for
Examples of transport that is not covered by the funeral charge and must therefore be paid for by the estate include:
- coffin from a hospital, care home or private residence to a mortuary, holding facility or venue for the ceremony
- coffin from the holding facility to a venue for the ceremony outside the municipality where the deceased was registered
- pallbearers at a coffin burial where the interment forms part of the funeral ceremony. If the deceased was a member of the Church of Sweden, pallbearers are covered by the membership fee
- coffin or urn for burial outside the municipality where the deceased was registered
If there are insufficient funds in the estate, contact the municipality where the deceased was registered. The municipality will assess how much financial support the estate may be eligible for.
Death abroad and burial in Sweden
If someone dies abroad and is to be buried in Sweden, find out whether the cost is covered by travel or home insurance. If not, the estate must pay for transporting the coffin or urn.
Transporting a coffin or urn by air or other means can be very expensive. The cost varies depending on where in the world the death occurred.
Death in Sweden and burial in another country
If someone dies in Sweden and is to be buried in another country, find out whether the cost is covered by travel or home insurance. If not, the estate must pay for transporting the coffin or urn.
If a coffin is to be transported abroad, the person or company carrying out the transport must obtain a permit called a Passersedel för lik from the Swedish Tax Agency. Transport costs can be very high depending on where in the world the burial is to take place.
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