Category: Documentation

Families sometimes hear that embalming is “required by law” and are unsure whether to believe it. The accurate answer is more nuanced, and it matters for both cost and planning.

What the law generally says

According to the Federal Trade Commission, no state law requires routine embalming for every death. Some states require embalming or refrigeration if the body is not buried or cremated within a certain time, and funeral homes often require embalming for public viewing, though this is not required by law in most states.

Why shipping may still call for it

Even where the law does not require embalming, shipping can change the picture. Airlines, destination countries and consulates may require it, or may accept alternatives such as refrigeration or sealing under certain conditions. Requirements depend on the carrier, the route, the destination and the time that will pass before final disposition.

A note on the United States as a destination

For remains entering the United States, the CDC says that no CDC permit is required for remains that are fully cremated or embalmed, while remains of a person who died from an infectious disease generally require a permit unless embalmed. All non-cremated remains must be in a leak-proof container.

What embalming involves

Embalming is a preparation carried out by a licensed funeral professional to temporarily preserve the body. It is the funeral home that performs it and that provides any related certificate that a carrier or consulate requests.

Your rights as a consumer

Under the FTC’s Funeral Rule, a funeral home must give you a General Price List. Ask for the list and ask the funeral home to explain which charges are required for your situation.

What we do

We confirm what the airline and the destination require, and tell the funeral home so that preparation matches. If embalming or an alternative is needed, you will know before it is done. See also Airline-Acceptable Containers and Cremation and Shipping.

Embalming and shipping: what is required by whom

Source of requirement	What it may say	How to confirm
State law	No state law requires routine embalming for every death, but some require embalming or refrigeration if disposition is delayed beyond a set time (FTC).	Funeral home or state board.
Airline	May require embalming or accept alternatives depending on policy and route.	Airline cargo desk or coordinator.
Destination country	May require embalming, sealing or a certificate.	Consulate or receiving funeral home.
Funeral home policy	Often requires embalming for public viewing, which the FTC says is not required by law in most states.	Ask the funeral home.
CDC (entering the U.S.)	Embalmed remains do not need a CDC permit; non-cremated remains need a leak-proof container.	CDC website.

Questions to ask the funeral home

• Is embalming required for this shipment, and by whom?
• What alternatives exist, and are they acceptable to the airline and destination?
• What does it cost on your General Price List?
• Will you provide a certificate that the airline or consulate may request?

Religious considerations

Some faiths discourage or prohibit embalming, and families may have strong feelings about it. If this applies to your family, tell the funeral home and the coordinator at the start. We will find out whether an alternative is acceptable to the airline and the destination, and whether the timeline permits it.

How to decide with confidence

Put the questions to everyone involved: what does the airline require, what does the destination require and what does the funeral home recommend? If the answers differ, ask for the source of each requirement in writing. Often, once you ask for the source, a recommendation turns out to be a preference and not a rule, or the opposite. Either way, you will understand the choice you are making.

Viewing and services

If the family wants a viewing before shipment or after arrival, tell the funeral homes at both ends. Preparation requirements may differ with the viewing plans, and the receiving funeral home may have its own practices.

What to ask the airline and the consulate

• Does the airline require embalming for this route, or accept alternatives?
• Does the destination require embalming, and is a certificate needed?
• Is there a time limit between death and shipment that affects the choice?
• Will the airline accept refrigeration or sealing in place of embalming?

Ask for the answer in writing, or have your coordinator confirm it and tell the funeral home before preparation begins.

Frequently asked questions

Is embalming required by law?

According to the FTC, no state law requires routine embalming for every death, though some states require embalming or refrigeration if disposition is delayed.

Can I refuse embalming for a shipment?

You can ask. The answer depends on the airline, the destination and the timeline.

Is embalming needed for cremated remains?

No. Cremated remains are not embalmed, though other documents are needed.

Does the CDC require embalming?

No. The CDC says no permit is required for embalmed remains, and requires a leak-proof container for non-cremated remains.

What does embalming cost?

Funeral homes list prices on their General Price Lists. Ask for it.

Does refrigeration replace embalming?

In some cases it can be an alternative, if the airline and the destination accept it and the timeline allows.

Who decides if embalming is needed?

The airline and destination set requirements, and the funeral home advises. The family makes the choice within those limits.

Keep reading

• Cremation and Shipping: What Families Should Know
• Airline-Acceptable Containers: What Families Should Know
• How International Repatriation from Florida Works, Step by Step

Sources

• Federal Trade Commission: The FTC Funeral Rule
• CDC: Importation of Human Remains

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 international repatriation 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.

Translation is a small step that can hold up an entire shipment if it is done wrongly or too late. Here is what families should know.

Key takeaways

• Ask the consulate and the receiving funeral home early whether a translation is needed, and in what format.
• Names must be spelled exactly as in the original documents, accents included.
• Translating in parallel with other steps prevents last-minute delays.

When translations are needed

A destination country may require that the death certificate and other documents be translated into its official language before its consulate or customs office will accept them. Not every country does, and requirements can change, so the question to ask is always: what does this specific destination require, and in what form?

Certified translations

In many cases an ordinary translation is not enough. The destination may want a certified translation, which includes a statement from the translator about their qualifications and the accuracy of the work, and sometimes a notarization. Using the wrong format means starting over.

The reverse direction: bringing remains into the United States

When remains are coming into the United States, the CDC requires that a death certificate not written in English include an English translation. The translation must be attested by a person licensed to perform legal acts in the country where the death occurred, such as a notary. See the CDC’s page on importing human remains for the current rules.

Names and spellings

Translators must match the spelling of names exactly as they appear on the original and on other documents, especially when a name includes accents or other characters that are not used in English. A mismatch between the translation and the passport or consular records is a common reason a consulate asks for a correction.

Who arranges the translation

Depending on the case, the family, the funeral home or the shipping coordinator arranges it. We tell you early whether the destination needs one and help you obtain it from a qualified provider, so that it does not become the last-minute problem.

Related reading

Translations are one part of the bigger paperwork picture. See Consular Documents for International Repatriation and Documents Typically Needed to Ship Human Remains.

Translation requirements at a glance

Situation	What is commonly needed	Notes
Shipping to a country that requires its language	Translation of the death certificate and sometimes other documents.	Certification may be required.
Importing remains into the U.S. with a non-English certificate	English translation attested by a person licensed to perform legal acts in the country of death.	CDC rule; a notary is one example.
Consulate requests	Translation in the consulate’s preferred format.	Ask what the consulate accepts.
Receiving funeral home	May ask for translated copies for local procedures.	Tell the coordinator early.

How to choose a translator

• Ask the consulate or the receiving funeral home whether it has format requirements.
• Choose a translator with experience in legal or official documents.
• Ask whether the translation will be certified or notarized.
• Provide clear copies of the originals.
• Ask for a few extra copies.

Time and cost

Translation adds time and cost. The amount depends on the number of documents, the language and the provider. A coordinator can tell you early whether a translation is likely to be needed, so that it can be done in parallel with other steps and not at the end.

Planning translations in parallel

Translation is a good example of a step that can be done in parallel with others if it is identified early. While the funeral home prepares the remains and the permit is being obtained, a translator can work on the death certificate as soon as it is available. The mistake is to wait for the consulate to ask, then start. By then the schedule may already be tight.

Questions to ask a translator

• Have you translated official or legal documents for this country before?
• Will you provide a certificate of accuracy, and is notarization available?
• How long will it take, and is there a rush option?
• Will you preserve the exact spelling of names, including accents?
• Can you provide additional copies?

A sample plan for translation

Day one: ask the consulate and the receiving funeral home whether translation is needed and in what format. As soon as the certified death certificate is available: send a clear copy to the translator, confirm the spelling of every name and ask for the completion date. When the translation arrives: check it against the original line by line, make copies and give them to the coordinator. If something is wrong, ask for a correction immediately. This simple sequence avoids most translation delays, and the family can follow it even without legal knowledge.

Frequently asked questions

Which documents usually need translating?

The death certificate most often, and sometimes the permit and identification documents. It depends on the destination.

Does the translator need to be certified?

Some destinations require a certified translation. Others accept any competent translation. Confirm with the consulate.

Can a bilingual relative do it?

Usually not, for official use. Authorities generally want a professional or certified translator.

What about names with accents?

The translation should preserve the spelling exactly as in the original documents.

Who pays?

Typically the family, as one of the shipping costs.

Can the funeral home arrange the translation?

Some can. Ask, and tell the coordinator so that nothing is done twice.

What if the translation contains an error?

Ask the translator to correct it and reissue it. Check names and dates before submitting.

Keep reading

• Documents Typically Needed to Ship Human Remains
• Why Death Certificates Matter in Funeral Shipping
• Consular Documents for International Repatriation: What to Expect

Sources

• CDC: Importation of Human Remains

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 shipping process and documentation 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.

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

• Florida Statutes section 382.006: Burial-transit permit
• CDC: Importation of Human Remains

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.

If you only collect one document at the start, make it the death certificate. Almost everything that follows, from the burial-transit permit to consular approval, is built on it.

Why it is the foundation

Permits, consular authorizations and airline acceptance all refer back to the death certificate. In Florida, a burial-transit permit 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, according to Florida Statutes section 382.006. For remains entering the United States, the CDC says remains intended for final resting must generally be accompanied by a death certificate stating the cause of death, with exceptions for cremated or embalmed remains.

Accuracy counts

Names, dates and places should match across every document. Even a small spelling difference, a missing middle name or a transposed date can lead a consulate or an airline to ask for a correction, which costs time. Review the certificate carefully as soon as you receive it and tell the funeral home right away if something is wrong.

Certified copies

Different parties may need their own certified copy: the consulate, the airline, the receiving funeral home and sometimes a local authority. Ask the funeral home how many to request at the start, and ask your shipping coordinator whether the destination is likely to need more.

Foreign death certificates

If a person died abroad and is being returned to the United States, the certificate may be in another language. The CDC requires an English translation, attested by a person licensed to perform legal acts in the country where the death occurred, such as a notary. More in Document Translations for Destination Countries.

Who to ask

The funeral home and the office that issues death certificates are the right sources for the certificate itself. Our role is to coordinate how it is used in the rest of the shipping process. For the bigger picture, see Documents Typically Needed to Ship Human Remains.

A short checklist for reviewing the certificate

• Full legal name, including middle names, spelled exactly as on the passport.
• Date of birth and date of death.
• Place of death.
• Sex and other personal details.
• Names of parents, if listed.
• Cause and manner of death sections, which are filled in by the certifier.

If anything is wrong, the funeral home can tell you how to request a correction through the office that issued the certificate. The process and the time it takes depend on the jurisdiction.

Which parties may need a certified copy

Party	Why they ask for it
Local registrar or health department	To issue the burial-transit permit.
Consulate of the destination country	To review and authorize the shipment.
Airline	To check that the shipment is complete and lawful.
Receiving funeral home	To complete local procedures.
Family	For estate, insurance and benefit claims.

Delays tied to the certificate

The medical certification part of the certificate is completed by the certifier. If the case requires further review, the certificate can take longer to complete, and everything downstream waits. Ask the funeral home to tell you if there is any delay in filing.

Correcting a mistake

If you find an error, do not wait. Tell the funeral home right away. Corrections are handled by the office that issued the certificate, and the process depends on the jurisdiction and the type of error. A simple typographical error may be easier to fix than a change to a name or a date. In the meantime, a coordinator can tell you which parts of the process can continue and which should wait, so that the correction does not hold up everything.

Why consistent names matter so much

Airlines, consulates and receiving funeral homes compare documents against each other. If the passport says one thing and the certificate says another, they may stop the process to ask which is correct. This is not carelessness on their part; they are trying to be sure they are dealing with the right person. Giving the funeral home the name exactly as it appears on the passport, and checking the draft certificate, prevents most of these problems.

Frequently asked questions

Who issues the death certificate?

The funeral director typically files it with the local registrar after the medical certifier has completed their part. The registrar or health department issues certified copies.

Does the cause of death appear on the certificate?

Yes. The CDC requires that remains intended for final resting entering the United States be accompanied by a certificate stating the cause of death, with exceptions for cremated or embalmed remains.

What if the certificate is in another language?

It must be translated. The CDC requires an English translation, attested by a person licensed to perform legal acts in the country where the death occurred.

Can the shipment proceed without it?

In nearly every case, no. A death certificate or an official substitute is needed.

How long does it take to receive certified copies?

It varies by jurisdiction. Ask the funeral home for an estimate.

Can the certificate be amended after the shipment starts?

Sometimes, but it can cause delay or require new approvals. It is far better to catch errors beforehand.

What if the person used a different name than the one on official records?

Tell the funeral home and the coordinator. Documents must match official records, and we will explain how to handle the difference.

Keep reading

• Documents Typically Needed to Ship Human Remains
• What Is a Burial-Transit Permit?
• Document Translations for Destination Countries

Sources

• CDC: Importation of Human Remains
• Florida Statutes section 382.006: Burial-transit permit

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 shipping process and documentation 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.

Families often ask for a single list of documents. The honest answer is that it depends on the route, but a few documents come up again and again. This guide explains each one and who normally provides it.

Documents common to most shipments

• Death certificate. The starting point for nearly everything else. See Why Death Certificates Matter in Funeral Shipping.
• Burial-transit permit. Authorizes the movement and final disposition of the remains. In Florida, the funeral director who first takes custody obtains it, as described in What Is a Burial-Transit Permit?.
• Identification. The identity of the deceased and, for some destinations, of the family member making the arrangements.
• Funeral home or embalming records. Many carriers and countries ask for proof of how the remains were prepared.

Additional documents for international shipments

• Consular documents. Many countries ask their consulate to review or authorize documents before remains may enter. See Consular Documents for International Repatriation.
• Translations. Documents may need to be translated into the destination country’s language, and the U.S. rules for imports require an English translation of foreign death certificates. See Document Translations for Destination Countries.
• Airline paperwork. The carrier will have its own acceptance checklist and air waybill requirements.

Documents when remains are brought into the United States

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes its rules for importing human remains. In general, remains for final resting must be accompanied by a death certificate stating the cause of death, with an English translation attested by a person licensed to perform legal acts in the country where the death occurred, though cremated or embalmed remains have different conditions. Read the CDC’s page directly for the current rules, and see Shipping Human Remains Into the United States.

Who provides what

The funeral home and the office that issues death certificates provide the certificate itself and the burial-transit permit. The family usually provides identification and, where needed, proof of relationship. The consulate issues its own authorization. A shipping coordinator tracks all of it, checks that names and dates match across documents, and tells you what is still missing.

A practical tip

Ask the funeral home early how many certified copies of the death certificate to order. Different parties may each need one, and ordering extras at the start is easier than going back later.

A document checklist

Document	Who usually provides it	Notes
Death certificate	Funeral home and the vital records office	Order several certified copies.
Burial-transit permit	Funeral director, issued by the registrar or health department	In Florida, obtained before final disposition and within five days after death.
Identification of the deceased	Family	A passport or other official ID; names must match.
Consular authorization	Consulate of the destination country	Required by many, not all, countries.
Translations	Qualified translator	Format and certification vary by destination.
Embalming or preparation record	Funeral home	Carriers and countries may ask for it.
Certificate of cremation	Crematory	Needed when cremated remains are shipped.
Airline paperwork	Coordinator and the carrier	Air waybill and acceptance checklist.

Common document problems

• Names spelled differently on different documents.
• Dates or places of birth that do not match.
• Documents that are photocopies when originals or certified copies are needed.
• A translation that lacks the required certification.
• Documents delivered to the airline after the cut-off time.

What to do if something is missing

Tell the coordinator right away. Many problems, such as a name error, can be corrected, but corrections take time, so it is better to find them early. If a document is not available at all, there may be an alternative. The CDC, for example, describes a Consular Mortuary Certificate that a U.S. embassy or consulate can provide when a death certificate is not available for remains being imported.

Original, certified copy or photocopy?

Not every document has to be an original. Some parties accept a clear copy, some want a certified copy and a few require the original. When you are asked for a document, ask which form is needed. If you are unsure, keep the originals safe and provide certified copies, which are issued by the office that created the record. Never send an original that you cannot replace without confirming that it will be returned.

Keeping a document folder

Keep every document in one folder, on paper and as scans on your phone. Label each one and note the date you received it. When someone asks, you can find it in seconds. Share scans with your coordinator by a secure method; we can tell you how. A tidy folder saves hours at moments when time is short.

Frequently asked questions

Which document should I get first?

The death certificate. Almost everything else depends on it.

How many copies do I need?

Ask the funeral home. Several parties may each need a certified copy, and ordering extras early is easier than going back.

Does a cremated shipment need fewer documents?

Often, but not none. A certificate of cremation and a death certificate are commonly requested.

Do all countries require consular documents?

No. Many do, and requirements change, which is why we confirm for each destination.

Can you obtain the documents for us?

We coordinate them and tell you who must provide which one. Some, such as the death certificate and the permit, are issued only through the funeral home and the official offices.

Can I send documents by phone photo?

For some steps a clear photo is enough to start, but the official party may later ask for the original or a certified copy. Ask which form is needed.

Who holds the originals during shipping?

Usually they travel with the remains or are provided to the receiving funeral home, depending on the destination. We confirm the arrangement for your case.

Keep reading

• Why Death Certificates Matter in Funeral Shipping
• What Is a Burial-Transit Permit?
• Consular Documents for International Repatriation: What to Expect
• Document Translations for Destination Countries

Sources

• CDC: Importation of Human Remains
• Florida Statutes section 382.006: Burial-transit permit

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 shipping process and documentation 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.