Funeral Shipping
Shipping Human Remains to the Bahamas
The Bahamas is a short flight from South Florida, but bringing a loved one home still requires specific documents, embalming and a funeral home on the Bahamian side. Here is what Bahamian authorities publish, and how we help.
The short version
Last reviewed: November 7, 2026.
- The Bahamas High Commission says a body must be properly embalmed and encased in both a casket and an outside shipping box or tray, and that a funeral home in The Bahamas must be notified before shipment.
- Bahamian authorities describe several documents for a body, including a death certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner, a police document, a transit permit and a notarized embalming statement from the mortician.
- For cremated remains, the importer writes a letter of request to the Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health, who then prepares a document for Bahamas Customs.
- On arrival, the receiving undertaker presents the documents to the police in Nassau, and a certificate releasing the body is issued once they are satisfied.
Sources: The Bahamas High Commission (Ottawa): Shipping Human Remains to The Bahamas; and The Bahamas High Commission (London): Regulations for Shipping a Body to The Bahamas. Requirements and fees can change, and fees may not be the same today. These pages are published for families in other countries, so we confirm the current procedure for shipments from Florida.
How shipping human remains to the Bahamas works
- Choose a licensed funeral home in FloridaIt cares for your loved one, embalms, prepares the casket and outer shipping container and provides the notarized embalming statement.
- Identify a funeral home in the BahamasThe Bahamas High Commission says a funeral home there must be notified before shipment. The London High Commission advises the sending mortician to work with a Bahamian mortician, who can obtain the approvals for entry.
- Gather the documentsThe death certificate and its certified copies, the police document, the transit permit and the mortician’s statement. See the table below.
- Confirm the Bahamian approvalsThe London High Commission states that the Minister of Health must give permission for a body to be landed. The Bahamian funeral home normally handles this.
- Book the flightAn airway bill is part of the document list. We confirm the carrier, the cargo cut-off and the arrival airport.
- Arrival and releaseThe receiving undertaker submits the documents to the police in Nassau, who inform the coroner and issue a certificate releasing the body.
Documents and requirements the Bahamas lists
This table summarizes the Bahamas High Commission’s published procedure. Another High Commission page describes a shorter list (a hermetically sealed casket and a certified copy of the death certificate), so we confirm exactly what applies to a shipment from Florida before we quote.
| Document or item | Who usually provides it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Death certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner | Florida funeral home and the vital records office | See Why Death Certificates Matter. |
| Three certified copies of the death certificate, with a health authority statement | Funeral home and the health authority | Listed by the Bahamas High Commission, together with a statement that the death was not from an infectious disease and no epidemic exists at the place of death. |
| Document from the police where the death occurred | Funeral home, arranged with the authorities | A statement of no police objection to the export of the body. If there was an investigation, its outcome must accompany the body. |
| Transit permit | Florida funeral director | See What Is a Burial-Transit Permit?. |
| Notarized statement from the mortician describing the embalming | Embalmer or funeral home | Also confirms that the casket holds only the named deceased and burial clothing, according to the High Commission. |
| Airway bill | Coordinator and airline | Issued when the flight is booked. |
| Casket and outside shipping box or tray | Funeral home | The High Commission says both are required. |
| Cremated remains: death certificate (legible, in English) and cremation certificate | Funeral home or crematory | Plus a letter of request to the Chief Medical Officer naming the carrier and the date and time of arrival. |
The Bahamas Consulate General in Miami is listed at 100 N. Biscayne Blvd, Suite 900, Miami, FL 33132, telephone (305) 373-6295 (Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Consulates General). That page does not list repatriation of remains among its services, so we do not assume the consulate handles it.
Cremated remains and scattering ashes
According to the Bahamas High Commission, someone wishing to import cremated remains provides a legible death certificate in English and a cremation certificate, and writes a letter of request to the Chief Medical Officer at the Ministry of Health. The letter names the carrier and the date and time of arrival. The Office of the Chief Medical Officer then prepares a document for Bahamas Customs.
If the family plans to scatter the ashes in The Bahamas, the same office issues a permit for the scattering, and the letter should state the intended location. See Cremation and Shipping: What Families Should Know for how airlines and the TSA treat cremated remains.
Nassau, Freeport and the Family Islands
Where the funeral and burial will take place changes the plan. The Bahamas High Commission notes that an additional charge applies if remains must be shipped to a Family Island, and that shippers normally pay freight charges, or the fee can be included in the clearing and handling charges at the destination end. Questions we help settle early:
- Is the final place of rest in Nassau, Freeport or a Family Island?
- Which airline serves that airport and will accept the shipment on the date needed?
- Does the Bahamian funeral home have the documents it needs before the flight lands?
- Who handles clearing and handling charges at the destination?
Airline background: How Airlines Handle Human Remains as Cargo.
Timing and cost factors
We do not publish a fixed price or number of days. For the Bahamas the main variables are:
- How quickly the death certificate, police document and transit permit are in hand.
- The Bahamian approvals and the receiving funeral home’s readiness.
- Flight availability, cargo cut-off and the destination island.
- Funeral home charges at both ends, freight, clearing and handling charges and any Family Island surcharge.
Read What Affects the Cost of Funeral Shipping, and How to Keep It Affordable and How Long Does Funeral Shipping Take?.
How we help families with Bahamas repatriation
We coordinate the shipping side: confirming the current requirements, checking the documents, coordinating with the Florida funeral home and the Bahamian funeral home, booking transport and keeping you updated. We do not have an office in The Bahamas, and the funeral and burial there are carried out by the receiving funeral home.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship to the Bahamas?
Yes, we coordinate repatriation to the Bahamas. We confirm the current requirements and the route on every case.
Does the body have to be embalmed?
The Bahamas High Commission says the body must be properly embalmed and encased in both a casket and an outside shipping box or tray, and the list includes a notarized statement from the mortician describing the embalming. See Embalming and Shipping.
Do we need a funeral home in the Bahamas?
Yes. The High Commission says a funeral home in The Bahamas must be notified before shipment, and the receiving undertaker presents the documents to the police on arrival.
What happens when the body arrives?
According to the High Commission, the receiving undertaker submits the documents to the police in Nassau so the coroner can be informed. Once the Commissioner of Police is satisfied, a certificate releasing the body to the undertaker is issued.
What about cremated remains?
The importer provides a death certificate and a cremation certificate and writes to the Chief Medical Officer, who prepares a document for Customs. Scattering ashes needs a separate permit.
Is there a surcharge for the Family Islands?
The High Commission says an additional charge applies when remains must be shipped to a Family Island. Fees may not be the same today, so we confirm them in your quote.
How long does it take?
We cannot promise a fixed timeline. It depends on the documents, the Bahamian approvals and the flights.
Arrange repatriation to the Bahamas
Tell us where your loved one is and where in The Bahamas the funeral will be held. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.