At the end of a shipment, someone must be ready to receive the person, complete local procedures and carry out the family’s wishes. That is the receiving funeral home, and its readiness often decides whether the arrival goes smoothly.

Key takeaways

The receiving funeral home clears the shipment, handles local rules and arranges the funeral.
Give it the flight details, documents and family contact before the flight is booked.
Ask how the remains will travel from the airport to the final resting place.

What the receiving home does

Confirms in advance that it will receive the shipment and gets the flight details.
Meets the shipment at the airport or cargo facility.
Completes local formalities, which may include customs, health clearances and local permits.
Prepares for the funeral, viewing, burial or cremation according to the family’s wishes and local law.

What it needs from us

The receiving home needs the flight and airway bill details, the arrival time and airport, copies of the documents, and the name of the family contact. Sending these promptly and accurately avoids delays at arrival.

Choosing a receiving funeral home

Often the family already has a funeral home or a trusted contact at the destination. If not, we can help you identify options, though the family should make the final choice. Ask the home about its experience receiving international shipments, its fees, and its availability on the expected arrival date.

Local rules apply

The receiving country, and often the local municipality, sets rules for burial, cremation and cemetery access. The receiving funeral home knows these and will tell the family what applies. In several of our most common destinations, such as the Caribbean, Central and South America and Europe, practice and timing differ from what families may expect in the United States.

Communicate early

Contact the receiving home before the flight is booked, not after. This way any requirement it raises can be built into the plan. For the full sequence, read How International Repatriation from Florida Works, and for the departure side, see Working With the Originating Funeral Home.

Information the receiving funeral home needs

Item	Why it matters
Name of the deceased	To match the documents.
Flight and airway bill details	To locate the shipment.
Arrival date, time and airport	To plan the pickup.
Copies of documents	For local clearance and records.
Family contact	To arrange the funeral.
Special requests	To honor religious or cultural needs.

Arrival-day tips

Confirm the time with the airline before leaving for the airport.
Bring identification and the original documents requested.
Ask the airline cargo office what the release procedure is.
Keep the family informed of the arrival and next steps.

When the airport is far from the final resting place

In many countries, the arrival airport is not near the town where the burial will take place. The receiving funeral home may arrange a second leg by road. Ask how long it will take and whether any local approvals are required for moving remains within the country.

Before the shipment leaves

Before the flight is booked, the receiving funeral home should confirm that it can receive on the expected date, tell us what documents it needs and share its fees. If the family has special requests, such as a viewing or a service on arrival, they should be discussed at this point so that the timing works.

After arrival

After the shipment is received, the receiving funeral home arranges the funeral or burial according to the family’s wishes and local law. Ask for confirmation of arrival and keep copies of any receipts and records. If the family is traveling, coordinate their schedule with the funeral home.

Questions to ask the receiving funeral home

Are you licensed to receive shipments of this kind in your country?
What documents do you need before the shipment arrives?
What are your fees and what do they include?
How will the shipment be moved from the airport to your facility?
What are the local rules for burial or cremation, and how long do they take?
Whom should the family call on arrival day?

If the family does not speak the local language, ask whether someone at the funeral home speaks yours, or whether a relative can help interpret.

Frequently asked questions

What if we do not know a funeral home at the destination?

Tell us. We can help you find options, though the final choice should be the family’s.

Can a relative receive the shipment instead of a funeral home?

In some countries yes, in others a licensed funeral home is required. Check local rules.

Who pays the receiving funeral home?

The family, typically directly.

Do you speak to the receiving funeral home for us?

Yes, we coordinate with them on logistics.

What happens if the funeral home is not ready on arrival?

That is why we confirm in advance. A late change can cause delay and extra cost.

Who coordinates between the two funeral homes?

We do, so that both are working from the same plan.

What if the family wants a service at the airport?

Ask the receiving funeral home whether it is possible under local rules and airline procedures.

Keep reading

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 funeral home partner services 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.

Working With the Receiving Funeral Home