How It Works
Every document and every mile, mapped out.
Two tracks run from the first phone call to the moment your family member arrives home: the paperwork that makes the move legal, and the transport that makes it physical. Here’s exactly how each one works, and how they fit together.
Two tracks, one case
Documentation and transport run in parallel.
Transport can’t be booked until documentation clears at both ends, and documentation isn’t finished until it matches how the case will move. Your coordinator manages both tracks so neither one waits longer than it has to.
Documentation track
Death registered
Local certificate issued
Certificates issued
Embalming or cremation
Consular permit
Free-to-travel granted
Translations certified
Into destination language
Export cleared
Origin customs
Import permitted
Destination customs
Transport track
Route selected
Air or ground
Container prepared
Compliant with route
Booking confirmed
Once permits are in hand
In transit
Tracked by your coordinator
Received & handed over
To family or funeral home
Documentation, in detail
Seven documents, gathered in parallel wherever possible.
Not every case needs every document — requirements depend on the two countries involved. Your coordinator confirms the exact list on day one.
Local death certificate
The attending physician or medical examiner registers the death and issues the official certificate. Every other document depends on this one.
Embalming or mortuary certificate
Most countries require embalming, and airlines require proof of it before accepting human remains as cargo. Where embalming isn’t possible or wanted, some routes allow direct cremation instead — we confirm which applies to your case.
Consular mortuary permit
A “free to travel” authorization from the receiving country’s consulate or embassy, confirming the case meets their entry requirements. This step usually sets the earliest possible transport date.
Certified translations
Every certificate is translated into the destination country’s official language and certified, so customs and civil registries accept it on arrival without delay.
Health & non-contagious disease certificate
Where required, this confirms the death wasn’t caused by a notifiable disease before the remains are allowed to cross the border.
Export & import clearance
Origin customs release the case for export; destination customs clear it for import. We file both in parallel wherever the two countries’ processes allow it.
Casket or container compliance
Air carriers require a sealed, leak-proof, IATA-compliant container. Ground transport has its own, generally lighter, requirements — we match the container to the route.
Moving the case
Air or ground, chosen by distance and border.
We select the mode once documentation confirms the route is possible, and book it as soon as the required permits are in hand.
Air repatriation
Best for intercontinental or long-distance moves
- Booked as cargo, not on a passenger ticket — some routes require a connecting flight
- Container must meet IATA and the individual carrier’s human remains cargo standards
- An air waybill travels with the case, alongside every cleared document
- Received and cleared through the destination airport’s cargo mortuary facility
- Usually the fastest option once documentation has cleared
Ground repatriation
Best for neighbouring or nearby countries, reachable by road
- Moved by hearse or refrigerated transport, sometimes for the entire distance
- Requires a transit permit for every country the route crosses, not only origin and destination
- Customs clearance happens at each border crossing, not once
- Often more flexible on timing, since it isn’t tied to flight schedules
- Usually the more economical option over shorter distances
A typical case
What a seven-day case usually looks like.
Timelines vary by country and cause of death. This is a common pattern, not a guarantee — your coordinator gives you a case-specific estimate after the first call.
First contact & coordinator assigned
We confirm what’s known so far and open the case file.
Certificate, embalming, and consular permit requested
These move in parallel rather than one after another, wherever local rules allow it.
Translations completed; export clearance filed
Certified translations are prepared as soon as source certificates are issued.
Transport route selected and booked
Booking happens once the consular permit and export clearance are confirmed.
Import clearance filed; case in transit
Your coordinator tracks the case and keeps the family updated at each milestone.
Arrival, customs release, and handover
The case is received and handed over to the family or their chosen funeral home.
Questions
What families and funeral homes usually ask.
How long does repatriation usually take?
Most cases move within 5–10 days of first contact, depending on how quickly local authorities issue certificates. Cases involving an autopsy or an unclear cause of death take longer.
What if the destination country requires cremation instead?
We can arrange local cremation and repatriate the ashes instead. Ashes generally clear faster and face fewer transport restrictions than a body.
Who pays for this, and does insurance cover it?
Many travel insurance policies, and some life insurance and pension schemes, include repatriation cover. We coordinate directly with the insurer once you share the policy details.
Can documentation and transport happen out of order?
Rarely. Most airlines and every border authority require consular and customs clearance before they’ll accept a case for transport, which is why the two tracks are managed together from day one rather than one after the other.