Funeral Shipping
Shipping Human Remains to Italy
Italy’s consulate in Miami issues a Mortuary Passport, and it asks families to wait for its confirmation before buying the flight. Here is what the consulate publishes, and how we help.
The short version
Last reviewed: November 8, 2026.
- The Italian consulate in Miami issues a Mortuary Passport, which certifies that the procedures required by Italian law have been completed. It says to allow about 3 weeks for the municipality clearance and the passport.
- The consulate says to buy the flight only after it has confirmed the documents are accurate and complete, and then to send it the flight details.
- The documents include an apostilled long-form death certificate with cause of death, a full Italian translation (which the consulate says does not need an apostille), proof of Italian citizenship, and a notarized affidavit from the funeral director.
- For ashes, the family is advised to contact the Italian municipality first, because the municipality decides whether an urn can be kept outside a cemetery or ashes scattered.
Source: Consulate General of Italy in Miami: Repatriation of human remains and cremated remains. The consulate page is written for the repatriation of Italian citizens. It gives no fee amount and refers to its consular fee table, so fees may not be the same today. If the person was not an Italian citizen, we confirm with the consulate what applies.
How shipping human remains to Italy works
- Choose a licensed funeral home in FloridaIt cares for your loved one and prepares the funeral director’s affidavit and the Florida certificates.
- Contact the Italian municipality (for ashes)The consulate strongly advises families to contact the relevant municipality before requesting the repatriation of ashes.
- Email the documents to the consulateThe next of kin or the funeral home sends the documents by email to the consulate’s assistance office for review.
- Wait for confirmation, then buy the flightAfter the consulate confirms the file is accurate and complete, the flight can be bought and the details sent to the consulate.
- Mail the originalsThe data sheet, the service fee by money order, the deceased’s original passport if still valid, and a prepaid return envelope for the Mortuary Passport.
- Municipality clearance and Mortuary PassportThe consulate says to allow about 3 weeks. The remains then travel with the Mortuary Passport.
Documents the Italian consulate lists
This table follows the Miami consulate’s page. An older consulate guide lists slightly different requirements for the apostille and translation, so we confirm the current list with the consulate before we quote.
| Document or item | Who usually provides it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Request for registration of the death certificate, and request for repatriation, signed by next of kin; photo ID of the applicant | Family | Forms are linked on the consulate page. |
| Extended long-form death certificate with cause of death, apostilled | Florida funeral home and the vital records office; apostille through Florida authorities | A married woman’s maiden name must be legible. See our Dominican Republic guide for how Florida apostilles work. |
| Full Italian translation of the death certificate | Qualified translator | The consulate says no apostille is needed on the translation. See Document Translations for Destination Countries. |
| Proof of the deceased’s Italian citizenship | Family | A passport, birth certificate or similar. |
| Bodies: medical certificate on letterhead stating the cause of death and no infectious disease | Hospital or physician | Listed by the consulate. |
| Bodies: County Health Department certificate | County Health Department, via the funeral home | Confirms no epidemic disease in the county, no contagious-disease death, and handling under State law. |
| Ashes: cremation certificate with a notarized signature | Crematory | Listed by the consulate. |
| Funeral director’s affidavit on letterhead, notarized | Funeral home | A form is linked on the consulate page. |
| Originals by mail: data sheet, money order for the fee, deceased’s valid passport, prepaid return envelope | Family or funeral home | The fee is under art. 66H of the consular fee table. |
The Consulate General of Italy in Miami is at 4000 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Suite 590, Coral Gables, FL 33146, Attention: Assistance Office, and receives documents at assistenza.miami@esteri.it (consulate page).
Timing and cost factors
We do not publish a fixed price or number of days for Italy. The main variables are:
- The 3-week municipality clearance and Mortuary Passport process the consulate describes.
- The Florida apostille and the Italian translation.
- Flight availability, cargo cut-off and the arrival airport, and the trip onward inside the country.
- Funeral home charges at both ends, consular and document fees, translation and airline cargo charges, which may not be the same from case to case.
Read What Affects the Cost of Funeral Shipping, and How to Keep It Affordable and How Long Does Funeral Shipping Take?. For the wider region see Repatriation to Europe.
How we help families with Italy repatriation
We coordinate the shipping side: sequencing the documents, translations and apostilles, coordinating with the Florida funeral home and the receiving side in Italy, booking transport once the consulate confirms the file, and keeping you updated. We do not have an office in Italy, and the funeral and burial there are carried out by the receiving funeral home.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship to Italy?
Yes, we coordinate repatriation to Italy. We confirm the current requirements and the route on every case.
What is the Mortuary Passport?
The Miami consulate describes it as a certificate by which the consulate certifies that all the procedures required by Italian law have been fulfilled.
How long does the Italian process take?
The consulate says to allow about 3 weeks for the municipality clearance and the Mortuary Passport, after the documents are confirmed. Other steps add time, and we cannot promise a fixed date.
When should we buy the flight?
The consulate says to buy it after it confirms the documents are accurate and complete, and then to send it the flight details.
Does the Italian translation need an apostille?
The consulate’s repatriation page says the full Italian translation of the death certificate does not need an apostille, but the death certificate itself must be apostilled. We confirm this with the consulate.
What about ashes?
Contact the Italian municipality first. The consulate lists a cremation certificate with a notarized signature among the documents. See Cremation and Shipping.
What if the person was not an Italian citizen?
The consulate’s page is written for Italian citizens. Tell us the situation and we will confirm with the consulate what applies.
Arrange repatriation to Italy
Tell us where your loved one is and where in Italy the funeral will be held. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.