Funeral Shipping
Shipping Human Remains to the Philippines
The Philippine Embassy in Washington, whose jurisdiction includes Florida, issues the Consular Mortuary Certificate by mail. Here is what it publishes, and how we help.
The short version
Last reviewed: November 8, 2026.
- The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. lists Florida among the states it covers. Applications for the Consular Mortuary Certificate must be submitted by mail only, and should be received at least seven working days before the flight.
- It says that if the file is complete it is processed and mailed within 3 to 5 business days of receipt, and that incomplete applications may be returned.
- For an embalmed body the documents include a notarized mortuary certificate, a certificate of no contagious disease, a burial transit permit, and the name and contact details of the receiving Philippine funeral company.
- For cremated remains, a certificate of cremation attesting that the ashes are in a hermetically sealed urn or similar container.
Sources: Embassy of the Philippines, Washington D.C.: Consular Mortuary Certificate; and Report of Death: Application by Mail. The embassy page does not address quarantine procedures in the Philippines, so we confirm any such requirement. Fees may not be the same today.
How shipping human remains to the Philippines works
- Choose a licensed funeral home in FloridaIt embalms or arranges cremation and prepares the notarized certificates and the Florida permit.
- Report the death to the embassy (Filipino decedents)The embassy says the death must also be reported using its Report of Death requirements.
- Prepare the mail packageA cover letter, the documents below, the flight itinerary, a self-addressed envelope and a money order payable to the Embassy of the Philippines.
- Mail it so it arrives in timeThe embassy says to have it received at least seven working days before the scheduled flight.
- Receive the Consular Mortuary CertificateThe embassy says it is processed and dispatched within 3 to 5 business days of receipt when complete.
- Book the flight and shipWe confirm the carrier, cargo cut-off and arrival airport, and coordinate with the receiving funeral company in the Philippines.
Documents the government lists
This table follows the embassy’s pages.
| Document or item | Who usually provides it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign death certificate stating the cause of death (one original and two photocopies) | Florida funeral home and the vital records office | See Why Death Certificates Matter. |
| Photocopies of the decedent’s passport data page or government ID; proof of Filipino citizenship if Filipino | Family | Listed by the embassy. |
| Embalmed remains: notarized mortuary certificate stating the body was properly embalmed and the casket contains only the body (original and two photocopies) | Embalmer or funeral home | See Embalming and Shipping. |
| Embalmed remains: certificate of no contagious disease from the Health Department | Health Department, via the funeral home | Original and two photocopies. |
| Embalmed remains: burial transit permit from the Health Department | Florida funeral director | See What Is a Burial-Transit Permit?. |
| Name, address and contact number of the receiving Philippine funeral company | Family and coordinator | Listed by the embassy. |
| Cremated remains: certificate of cremation attesting the ashes are in a hermetically sealed urn or similar container; passport data page of the person carrying the urn | Crematory | The cremation certificate signatory must differ from the notary’s. |
| Flight itinerary, self-addressed return envelope, and a money order of US$35.00 payable to the Embassy of the Philippines | Family or funeral home | Fees may not be the same today. |
The embassy’s Civil Registration Unit is at 1617 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036 (civilregistration@phembassy-us.org, 202 467 9300). For communicable disease cases, the embassy says the remains should be properly embalmed, in a hermetically sealed metallic casket, enclosed in a wooden case.
Timing and cost factors
We do not publish a fixed price or number of days for the Philippines. The main variables are:
- Mail time to and from the embassy, and its 3 to 5 business day processing.
- The long flight and connections to the Philippines.
- 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 the Philippines repatriation
We coordinate the shipping side: sequencing the documents, translations and apostilles, coordinating with the Florida funeral home and the receiving side in the Philippines, booking transport once the consulate confirms the file, and keeping you updated. We do not have an office in the Philippines, and the funeral and burial there are carried out by the receiving funeral home.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship to the Philippines?
Yes, we coordinate repatriation to the Philippines. We confirm the current requirements and the route on every case.
Which embassy covers Florida?
The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. lists Florida among the states in its jurisdiction.
How early must the application arrive?
The embassy says it should be received at least seven working days before the scheduled flight, and that mail delays are not its responsibility.
What is the Consular Mortuary Certificate?
The embassy issues it for remains transported to the Philippines. Its page lists the supporting documents and a US$35.00 processing fee.
Does the death have to be reported?
For Filipino decedents, the embassy says the death must also be reported through its Report of Death process.
What about quarantine rules in the Philippines?
The embassy page does not address them, so we confirm any requirement for your shipment.
Arrange repatriation to the Philippines
Tell us where your loved one is and where in the Philippines the funeral will be held. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.