Funeral Shipping
Shipping Human Remains to Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health lists the written request, forms and certificates needed to bring a body into the country. Here is what it says, and how we help.
The short version
Last reviewed: November 8, 2026.
- Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health handles the entry of a body through the local health area office (Área Rectora de Salud) covering the place of entry.
- It lists a written request from a direct relative (or from the diplomatic mission if the deceased was a foreigner) with copies of both IDs, the date of death, the destination country and the transport route.
- It also lists the death declaration form from the Civil Registry, a sworn statement that the coffin holds only the remains, an embalming certificate, and two stamps (a medical stamp and a Red Cross stamp).
- The page gives no processing time and no fee amounts.
Source: Costa Rica Ministry of Health: Autorización de cadáveres y restos humanos. The page shows no date. Another government source we saw mentions legalized or apostilled certificates and a letter confirming the death was not from a contagious disease, so we confirm exactly what applies to a shipment from Florida. Fees may not be the same today.
How shipping human remains to Costa Rica works
- Choose a licensed funeral home in FloridaIt embalms and prepares the certificates and the Florida permit.
- Prepare the requestA direct relative writes the request giving both parties’ details, the date of death, the destination country and the route, with copies of both IDs.
- Prepare the certificatesThe death declaration form from the Civil Registry, the embalming certificate, and the sworn statement about the coffin. See the table below.
- Present the file at the health area officeThe Ministry of Health says the procedure is handled at the Área Rectora de Salud corresponding to the location.
- Arrange the receiving side in Costa RicaA funeral home or authorized contact receives the remains.
- Book the flight and shipWe confirm the carrier, cargo cut-off and arrival airport.
Documents the government lists
This table follows the Ministry of Health’s page.
| Document or item | Who usually provides it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Written request from a direct relative (or the diplomatic mission, if the deceased is a foreigner) | Family | With copies of both IDs, date of death, destination country and transport route. |
| Death declaration form from the Civil Registry | Civil Registry, via the funeral home | The ministry specifies the official form. |
| Sworn statement that the coffin contains only the remains of the deceased (original and copy) | Family or funeral home | Listed by the ministry. |
| Embalming certificate | Embalmer or funeral home | See Embalming and Shipping. |
| A medical stamp and a Red Cross stamp | Applicant | The page does not give amounts. |
The ministry advises going to the nearest health area office for details. Documents from the United States may need an apostille or legalization, which the page does not specify.
Timing and cost factors
We do not publish a fixed price or number of days for Costa Rica. The main variables are:
- The health area office’s review of the file.
- 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 Costa Rica repatriation
We coordinate the shipping side: sequencing the documents, translations and apostilles, coordinating with the Florida funeral home and the receiving side in Costa Rica, booking transport once the consulate confirms the file, and keeping you updated. We do not have an office in Costa Rica, and the funeral and burial there are carried out by the receiving funeral home.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship to Costa Rica?
Yes, we coordinate repatriation to Costa Rica. We confirm the current requirements and the route on every case.
Who authorizes the entry?
The Ministry of Health says the procedure is handled at the health area office (Área Rectora de Salud) corresponding to the location.
Who can make the request?
A direct relative, or the diplomatic mission if the deceased was a foreigner.
What does the ministry want for the coffin?
A sworn statement that the coffin contains only and exclusively the remains of the deceased.
Is embalming required?
The ministry lists an embalming certificate among the documents.
How long does it take?
The page gives no processing time, so we cannot promise a fixed date.
Arrange repatriation to Costa Rica
Tell us where your loved one is and where in Costa Rica the funeral will be held. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.