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Apply for permit to scatter ashes of a deceased person

If you like to scatter ashes of a deceased person in other places than a graveyard you need to apply for permission.

The application must be made by the person organising the burial. For example, a relative, another close person or an official.

Before you apply, you must check whether a relative or close person of the deceased objects to the ashes being scattered at the place you wish to apply for.

It is free to apply for a permit.

Information you need to fill out the application

Please have this information available before you begin your application:

  • name, and Swedish personal identity number (personnummer) if you have one
  • if you want the ashes to be scattered over water or on land
  • the municipality where you would like to scatter the ashes
  • the property designation or other name of the site you would like to scatter the ashes
  • the month/year you would like to scatter the ashes
  • the geographical place to mark on the map
  • information about yourself, if you are a relative, family or representative (undertaker).

Documents you need to attach

You need to attach the following documents:

  • the approval from the landowner if your application regards scattering ashes on land.

You might also need to attach:

  • a power of attorney
  • other certificates of death (if the deceased does not have a Swedish identity number or for stillborn babies)

What happens after you send your application?

  1. Your application is registered and is given a reference number.
  2. We investigate your case.
  3. We make a decision.
  4. We send the decision to your home.
  5. If we have sent a service receipt with the decision, you need to sign it and send it back as soon as possible.

If you are unhappy with the decision we have made, you can appeal against it within three weeks of receiving it. Contact us with any questions about the investigation or decision.

Applications to scatter ashes are processed by seven county administrative boards:

  • the County Administrative Board in Stockholm County
    if you intend to scatter the ashes in the counties of Stockholm, Uppsala, Södermanland, Gotland or Västmanland County;
  • the County Administrative Board in Östergötland County
    if you intend to scatter the ashes in the counties of Östergötland, Jönköping or Kalmar;
  • the County Administrative Board in Skåne County
    if you intend to scatter the ashes in the counties of Skåne, Kronoberg or Blekinge;
  • the County Administrative Board in Västra Götaland County
    if you intend to scatter the ashes in the counties of Västra Götaland or Halland;
  • the County Administrative Board in Dalarna County
    if you intend to scatter the ashes in the counties of Dalarna, Värmland, Örebro or Gävleborg;
  • the County Administrative Board in Västernorrland County
    if you intend to scatter the ashes in the counties of Västernorrland or Jämtland; and
  • the County Administrative Board in Norrbotten County
    if you intend to scatter the ashes in the counties of Norrbotten or Västerbotten.

Information about our e-services

You do not need to log in to use this e-service, but the form that you have begun to fill out will disappear after three hours. That is why we recommend that you always log in so you can take the breaks you need before you send your errand to us.

You log in with your e-identification. We support BankID, mobile BankID, Freja eID+ and Telia e-identification (in some e-services, exceptions may occur). You can log in to either My Pages or in the e-service. Your account on My Pages is activated the first time you log in.

If you log in as a representative for a foundation or a security company, you will have access to your organisation's pages. You will be able to see the forms that you or anyone else in your organisation has sent to the Country Administrative Board from your organisation.

You can save your form if you log in via My Pages and continue to fill out the form later.

Log in with your e-identification before you begin filling out the form and save before you close it. You will be able to access the form on My Pages on this website. It will be saved for 14 days from the time you last worked on it.

The approved file formats are: pdf, tif, tiff, jpeg, jpg, doc, docx and excel (in some e-services, exceptions may occur). You are maximum allowed to upload 10 files.

The County Administrative Board processes personal data within several different areas of operations. Personal data should be handled according to laws and regulations to protect your integrity. You can find information about how the Country Administrative Board processes personal data, which rights you have and how to contact us for more information on this page:

How we process your personal data

Contact us

Do you have any questions about an area of operations, an individual matter, or content and information in the form? Please contact the County Administrative Board that is responsible for that matter.

You can find contact information to all County Administrative Boards on this page:

Contact us

Do you need help to fill out the e-service form or how to access My Pages? Please find contact information for questions and support on this page:

Help when using e-services