STS Quarterly Issue 15: September 2021

How Do I Export Human Remains?

There can be lots of differences in ship-in or ship-out cases, especially when the transport covers two or more nations. One of the most common questions we get looks like, “How do I ship cremated remains to the U.K.?” or “Does anyone have experience repatriating a loved one to Saudi Arabia?”

While it’s vital to know the policies and customs of the nations and people involved, some matters of best practice are nearly universal. Knowing the usual toolkit for transporting a loved one over international borders saves you time and positions you as an expert that families can trust.

Start building your international transfer toolkit with these three items required by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for importation of human remains into the US:

• Contact the involved consulate and/or embassy
• Obtain official death certificate(s)
• Obtain the necessary containers whether for cremated or non-cremated remains

Start with the consulate and work outward from there. The consular officials can tell you everything required for a smooth repatriation experience, including how many death certificate you’ll need.

You’ll also need to know the policies of the transportation companies responsible for transporting the family’s loved one. For questions on airline policies and to book shipment of human remains on flights originating in the U.S., call Eagle’s Wings Air.