A burial-transit permit is the official authorization to move a body and to carry out its final disposition, such as burial or cremation. It is one of the documents families hear about first when they arrange a shipment, and it is the one most often misunderstood. This guide explains what it is, how it works in Florida, and what other countries call it.
Key takeaways
- In Florida, the funeral director who first takes custody of the body obtains the burial-transit permit before final disposition and within five days after death (Florida Statutes section 382.006).
- It generally cannot be issued until a complete and satisfactory death certificate has been filed, unless the funeral director gives adequate assurance that it will be registered.
- Other states and other countries use different names, forms and deadlines. Airlines, consulates and receiving funeral homes often ask to see the permit.
- Some destinations also ask for the permit to be notarized or apostilled.
What the permit does
The permit shows that a death has been properly registered and that the remains may be moved for final disposition. It is separate from the death certificate, which records the death. Airlines, funeral homes and, in some cases, foreign consulates ask to see it or a copy of it, and the original often has to travel with the remains.
How it works in Florida
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Who obtains it? | The funeral director who first takes custody of the body. |
| When? | Before final disposition and within five days after death. |
| Who issues it? | The Florida Department of Health, or the local registrar or subregistrar where the death occurred or the body was found. |
| What must exist first? | A complete and satisfactory death certificate, unless the funeral director gives adequate assurance that it will be registered. |
| Can it be electronic? | Yes. The statute allows it to be electronic, generated from the electronic death registration system, or manually produced. |
| Does an out-of-state permit work in Florida? | The statute recognizes a permit issued under another state’s or country’s law as authority for final disposition in Florida. |
| Are there special cases? | A permit may not be issued for certain infectious or communicable disease deaths except under conditions the department sets. |
The Spanish consulate in Miami, for example, refers to the Florida form as the burial transit permit, Form DH-326-E. Your funeral director will know the current form.
What other destinations call it
Every destination asks for some kind of transit or burial permit, but the name, issuer and extra steps differ. Here is what our destination guides found in each government’s own published requirements:
| Destination | How it is described | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Haiti | A burial permit, listed among the documents for the consular death certificate. | Haiti |
| Jamaica | An overseas transit permit, plus a separate Jamaican transit permit from the health department of the parish of entry. | Jamaica |
| Trinidad and Tobago | A permit to dispose of or transport human remains. | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Mexico | A transit permit for the body or ashes, which the Mexican consulate visas. | Mexico |
| Brazil | A “Certificado de traslado do corpo” (transit permit), apostilled. | Brazil |
| Ecuador | A transfer permit with name, age, place and cause of death, issued where the death occurred. | Ecuador |
| Panama | A notarized burial transit permit. | Panama |
| Philippines | A burial transit permit from the Health Department. | Philippines |
| India | A burial or transit permit, among the documents for the No Objection Certificate. | India |
| Spain | The Florida burial transit permit, Form DH-326-E. | Spain |
Common problems
- The death certificate is not yet complete, so the permit cannot be issued.
- A name or date does not match the death certificate or the passport.
- The destination asks for a notarized or apostilled permit, and the family finds out late.
- The original is not with the remains, so the airline or the receiving funeral home cannot clear them.
What families need to do
Usually very little, other than to choose a licensed funeral home early, give accurate information and review the death certificate. The funeral director handles the permit. If you work with a funeral home outside Florida, ask which state’s permit applies and who will obtain it. See Working With the Originating Funeral Home.
Frequently asked questions
Is the burial-transit permit the same as a death certificate?
No. The death certificate records the death. The permit authorizes movement and final disposition.
Who obtains the permit in Florida?
The funeral director who first takes custody of the body, according to Florida Statutes section 382.006.
How long do we have?
In Florida, the permit is obtained before final disposition and within five days after death, according to the statute.
Do I need one for cremation?
A permit or equivalent authorization is generally part of the process. The funeral home or crematory can explain.
Does an international shipment need a different permit?
The destination may ask for its own permit or for the Florida permit to be notarized, apostilled or visaed by a consulate. See our destination guides.
Can a family obtain the permit without a funeral director?
Florida’s rules are specific. For a shipment, we recommend working with a licensed funeral home, and checking with the Florida Department of Health or the local registrar if you have questions.
Keep reading
- /documents-needed-to-ship-human-remains/
- /death-certificates-in-funeral-shipping/
- /how-domestic-human-remains-shipping-works/
Sources
Need help?
Funeral Shipping coordinates domestic and international funeral shipping, including the supporting documents, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Learn more about our domestic human remains shipping services, request a quote, or call 786-565-9525.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by destination, carrier and circumstances and can change. Always confirm current rules with the relevant authority, and note that no timing or outcome is guaranteed.