Funeral Shipping
Shipping Human Remains to Colombia
Colombia published new national rules for handling and transferring bodies in April 2026, including how a body must be prepared and packed for air transport. Here is what the Colombian Ministry of Health says, what we confirm on each case, and how to get started.
The short version
Last reviewed: November 7, 2026.
- Colombia’s Ministry of Health issued Resolución 717 on April 21, 2026, which regulates the sanitary handling of bodies, including air transfers and international transfers. It took effect on publication and gives those it covers 12 months to comply.
- It says any body to be moved by air must undergo preservation (tanatopraxia), and the funeral service provider must coordinate air-safety requirements with the airline in advance.
- It sets packing rules for air transport: a first non-reusable, impermeable, hermetically closed coffin, absorbent material with an antiseptic, an optional second hermetic coffin depending on airline requirements, and an outer covering that meets the international phytosanitary standard for wood packaging (ISPM 15).
- For international transfers, the funeral company issues a preservation, packing and transfer record that must be shown to the health authorities at ports and airports, and the health authority issues the entry or exit authorization after a document check.
Source: Colombia Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Resolución 717 of April 21, 2026 (articles 21, 22, 26, 27, 49, 50, 53 and 54). The resolution is written mainly for Colombian health and funeral entities, so we confirm exactly how it applies to a shipment arriving from Florida. Fees may not be the same today.
How shipping human remains to Colombia works
- Choose a licensed funeral home in FloridaIt cares for your loved one and carries out the preservation (embalming) that Colombia’s resolution requires for any body moving by air.
- Confirm the current requirementsWe ask the Colombian consular and health authorities what applies to your shipment, including the documents and any consular authorization.
- Pack to the airline and Colombian standardThe container must meet the airline’s rules and the packing elements the resolution describes. We pass those requirements to the funeral home before the container is prepared.
- Prepare the preservation, packing and transfer recordColombia’s resolution requires this record for international transfers and says it must be shown to health authorities at ports and airports.
- Arrange the receiving side in ColombiaA funeral home or authorized contact must receive the remains. At the point of entry, the health authority reviews the documents.
- Book the flight and shipWe confirm the carrier, cargo cut-off and arrival airport.
What Colombia’s April 2026 resolution requires
This table summarizes the parts of Resolución 717 that bear on air and international transfers. Anything beyond it, including the Florida-side documents and any consular steps, we confirm case by case.
| Element | What the resolution says | Why it matters for your shipment |
|---|---|---|
| Preservation | Any body moved by air must undergo tanatopraxia (article 26). | Plan embalming early. See Embalming and Shipping. |
| First coffin | Non-reusable, impermeable, leak- and odor-proof, with a hermetic closure (article 27.1). | The funeral home prepares it to the airline’s requirements. |
| Absorbent material | Must absorb body fluids and be sprayed with an antiseptic (article 27.2). | Part of standard air packing. |
| Second coffin | A hermetic coffin for added protection; optional, depending on air transport requirements (article 27.3). | Ask the airline whether it is needed. |
| Final covering | Must meet the international phytosanitary standard for wood packaging, ISPM 15 (article 27.4). | Wood used in the outer packing may need to be compliant. |
| Preservation, packing and transfer record | Issued by the funeral company; presented to health authorities at ports and airports for international transfers (articles 22.3 and 49). | A key document in the file. |
| Entry or exit authorization | The health authority signs a document-review form for bodies entering or leaving the country (article 50). | The receiving side must be ready to present the file. |
| Cremated remains | Air transport of ashes has no sanitary requirement beyond an urn, in the cabin or in cargo, with airline packaging; the contents are shown with the cremation certificate from the crematory (article 26). | See Cremation and Shipping. |
Documents and consular steps
We do not present a Florida-side checklist for Colombia here, because we were not able to confirm one from a current official source. Guidance we have seen mentions a death certificate, sanitary permits and a transport authorization, and says the Colombian consulate can guide families on the documents. We treat those as items to confirm. Contact the Consulate of Colombia in Miami for the current list, fees and appointments.
Help for families without resources. Colombia’s foreign ministry describes consular assistance that can include guidance, follow-up with local authorities and accompaniment, and says it may offer to repatriate ashes of nationals who die abroad when the family lacks the means. Ask the consulate about eligibility before signing a contract with a funeral home.
For the general paperwork picture, see Consular Documents for International Repatriation and Document Translations for Destination Countries.
Timing and cost factors
We do not publish a fixed price or number of days for Colombia, because they depend on:
- The preservation and the packing the airline and Colombian rules require.
- Consular steps and any apostille or translation.
- Flight availability, cargo cut-off and the arrival airport.
- The health authority’s review at the point of entry.
- Funeral home charges at both ends 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?.
How we help families with Colombia repatriation
We coordinate the shipping side: confirming the current requirements, passing the Colombian packing and preservation standards and the airline’s rules to the Florida funeral home, checking the file before it travels, coordinating with the receiving funeral home in Colombia, booking transport and keeping you updated. We do not have an office in Colombia, and the funeral and burial there are carried out by the receiving funeral home.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship to Colombia?
Yes, we coordinate repatriation to Colombia. We confirm the current requirements and the route on every case.
Is embalming required for Colombia?
Colombia’s April 2026 resolution says any body moved by air must undergo preservation (tanatopraxia). Airlines may have their own rules as well.
What packing does Colombia require?
The resolution describes a first non-reusable impermeable hermetic coffin, absorbent material with an antiseptic, an optional second hermetic coffin depending on the airline, and an outer covering that meets the ISPM 15 wood-packaging standard.
What is the preservation, packing and transfer record?
A record the funeral company completes for international transfers, which the resolution says must be shown to the health authorities at ports and airports.
Can cremated remains be sent to Colombia?
The resolution says air transport of ashes has no sanitary requirement beyond an urn that meets the airline’s packaging rules, with the cremation certificate used to show the contents. We confirm the other documents. See Cremation and Shipping.
Can the Colombian government help pay?
Colombia’s foreign ministry describes consular assistance and, in some cases, repatriating ashes when a family lacks the means. Ask the consulate before you sign with a funeral home.
How long does it take?
We cannot promise a fixed timeline. It depends on the preparation, consular steps, flights and the health authority’s review.
Arrange repatriation to Colombia
Tell us where your loved one is and where in Colombia the funeral will be held. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.