Repatriation of human remains to Italy. From abroad to the place of burial.
When a family member dies abroad we arrange the return of the remains to Italy: we coordinate transport from the country of death, follow arrival at the airport and customs formalities, and hand the coffin over to the funeral director chosen by the family.
Answers to the most common questions.
A family member has died abroad: who should I contact?
The local authorities and the Italian embassy or consulate, which indicate the documents required. If there is travel insurance, the insurer should be notified at once. For transport to Italy you can contact us and the funeral director who will receive the coffin.
Which documents are needed to bring human remains back to Italy?
As a rule you need the death certificate, the transport authorisation and the mortuary passport or the country's equivalent document; where necessary, also the clearance of the Italian consulate. Documents in a foreign language must be translated.
Is customs duty payable on the repatriation of human remains?
No, human remains are not goods subject to duty. On arrival, customs formalities and the checks of the border health authority still take place, and they require complete and consistent documents.
At which airport do the remains arrive?
We choose the airport most convenient for the place of burial, among those served by flights that accept coffins from the country of departure. From there transport continues in the hearse of the appointed funeral director.
Can you also arrange the return of a cremation urn?
Yes, we arrange the return of ashes to Italy. The death certificate, the cremation certificate and the transport authorisation issued by the country are needed, with the required translations.
How is a person who died abroad brought back to Italy?
The first things to do
A death abroad must be reported to the local authorities and to the competent Italian embassy or consulate, which assists the family and indicates the documents required. If the person had travel or health insurance it is worth notifying the insurer at once, because many policies cover repatriation. Meanwhile the funeral director in Italy who will receive the coffin is chosen. We can step in from this point, to organise the journey.
Documents in the country of death
As a rule you need the death certificate issued by the local authority, the transport authorisation and the mortuary passport or the equivalent document provided for by the country. Where the international conventions do not apply, the clearance of the Italian consulate for the entry of the remains into Italy is required. Many countries also ask for a certificate stating the absence of infectious disease and the proper sealing of the coffin. Documents in a foreign language must be translated.
Who acts on the spot
In the country of death the preparation of the remains, the coffin and the local documents are handled by a local funeral director, appointed by the family or the insurer or indicated by the consulate. Our task is to make the work done locally match what is needed for the flight and for entry into Italy: we check the papers before departure, because otherwise a missing document is discovered only on arrival.
The return flight
The remains return by air as a cargo shipment, with an air waybill made out to the funeral director or family member receiving them. As IATA cargo agents we follow the booking and keep in contact with the airline, choosing the arrival airport most convenient for the place of burial. We tell the family and the funeral director the flight and the scheduled time, so that collection can be arranged.
Arrival at the airport and customs
On arrival the coffin is taken into the airport's cargo warehouse, where customs formalities and the checks of the border health authority take place. Our in-house customs department presents the documents and follows the release. Human remains are not goods subject to duty, but the documents must be complete and consistent with each other: name, dates and numbers must match on every paper. Once the checks are complete, the coffin is handed over to the funeral director.
From the airport to the municipality of burial
From the airport transport continues in the hearse of the appointed funeral director, to the mortuary, the church or the cemetery. The municipality where the burial or cremation will take place issues the authorisations within its remit on the basis of the documents that arrived with the remains. That is why it helps for the funeral director to receive copies before arrival: we forward them as soon as they are available.
Repatriation of ashes
If cremation took place abroad, it is the urn that returns to Italy. The death certificate, the cremation certificate and the transport authorisation issued by the country are needed, with the required translations. The urn can arrive as an air shipment or accompanied by a family member, depending on the airline's rules. Once back, the final placement of the ashes follows Italian law and the rules of the municipality: interment, custody or scattering.
How to contact us
Tell us in which country and city the death occurred, where the remains must arrive in Italy and which funeral directors are involved, if you already know them. We explain which documents are needed and how the return will take place, and we remain your point of contact until handover. We answer Monday to Friday, from 8:00 to 19:30, by telephone and by email.
