Funeral Shipping
Shipping Human Remains to the Dominican Republic
Repatriation to the Dominican Republic depends on getting the paperwork right: apostilled documents, Spanish translations and a funeral home on the Dominican side. Here is what the Dominican consulate says, what to prepare and how we help.
The short version
Last reviewed: November 7, 2026.
- The Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in Miami says that for remains of a relative the death certificate must be apostilled and translated.
- The consulate also says a funeral home in the Dominican Republic must be contacted so the transfer can be coordinated among the U.S. funeral home, the Dominican funeral home and the airline.
- For cremated remains in an urn, the consulate says the death certificate must be apostilled and translated and the urn must be sealed by the U.S. funeral home.
- Another Dominican consulate lists additional apostilled documents, so the exact list and any fees should be confirmed with the consulate that handles your case.
Sources: Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in Miami, frequently asked questions; and Dominican consulate (West Coast) funeral services page. Consular requirements and fees can change, and fees may not be the same today.
How shipping human remains to the Dominican Republic works
- Choose a licensed funeral home in FloridaIt cares for your loved one, embalms, arranges the container and obtains the Florida death certificate and burial-transit paperwork.
- Identify a funeral home in the Dominican RepublicThe Miami consulate says to contact a funeral home there so the transfer can be coordinated with the U.S. funeral home and the airline.
- Apostille the documentsThe death certificate must be apostilled. An apostille certifies the signature on a document for use in countries that belong to the 1961 Hague Convention, as the Miami consulate explains.
- Translate the documents into SpanishThe consulate states that the death certificate must be translated. Ask the consulate what form of translation it accepts.
- Complete the consular stepsThe documents are presented to the Dominican consulate that handles your case, with any fee it charges.
- Book the flight and shipWe confirm the airline, cargo cut-off and arrival details, and send them to the Dominican funeral home.
Documents the Dominican consulates list
The Miami consulate’s published answers are brief, and another Dominican consulate lists more documents. This table combines both, so we confirm the exact list with the consulate that will handle your case.
| Document or item | Who usually provides it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Death certificate, apostilled and translated | Florida funeral home and the Florida vital records office; apostille through Florida authorities | Required by the Miami consulate. See Why Death Certificates Matter. |
| Letter that the remains are non-contagious, apostilled | Funeral home, arranged with the health authority | Listed by another Dominican consulate (West Coast). Ask the Miami consulate whether it also requires it. |
| Transit permit, apostilled | Florida funeral director | Listed by the same consulate. See What Is a Burial-Transit Permit?. |
| Spanish translation of the documents | Qualified translator | See Document Translations for Destination Countries. |
| Sealed urn and cremation documents (cremated remains) | Funeral home or crematory | The Miami consulate says the urn must be sealed by the U.S. funeral home. |
| Name of the funeral home in the Dominican Republic | Family and coordinator | Needed so the transfer can be coordinated. |
The Miami consulate is listed at 1038 Brickell Avenue, Miami, Florida 33131, telephone +1 (305) 358-3220. Neither consulate page shows an update date.
Apostilles for Florida documents
An apostille is the step families most often underestimate. For a Florida death certificate, the Florida Department of Health explains that, after you receive the certificate from the Bureau of Vital Statistics, it is forwarded to the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, for the apostille, and it offers a dedicated application for this. The Department of State states that a Florida death certificate can be apostilled when it comes from the Bureau of Vital Statistics or a county health department and is signed by the State Registrar.
Practical points:
- Ask the funeral home to order the death certificate in a form that can be apostilled, and tell them early that an apostille will be needed.
- Allow time for the apostille: it is an additional government step with its own processing and fees, which may not be the same today.
- Apostille first, then translate, in the order the consulate asks for.
Sources: Florida Department of Health: apostille certificates; and Florida Department of State: accepted documents for apostille. Confirm current forms, fees and addresses with those offices.
Timing and cost factors
We do not publish a fixed price or number of days. For the Dominican Republic the main variables are:
- How quickly the apostille and the translations are completed.
- Whether the consulate asks for additional documents or fees.
- Flight availability and the airline’s cargo cut-off.
- Funeral home charges in Florida and in the Dominican Republic, apostille and translation costs, consular fees and airline cargo charges.
Read What Affects the Cost of Funeral Shipping and How Long Does Funeral Shipping Take?. For the wider region see Repatriation to the Caribbean.
How we help families with Dominican Republic repatriation
We coordinate the shipping side: confirming the current requirements with the consulate, sequencing the apostille, translation and consular steps, coordinating with the Florida funeral home and the Dominican funeral home, booking transport and keeping you updated. We do not have an office in the Dominican Republic, and the funeral and burial there are carried out by the receiving funeral home.
Please tell us the exact spelling of the person’s name as it appears on their passport and Dominican records. Mismatches between the death certificate, the apostille and the translation are a common cause of delay. See Consular Documents for International Repatriation.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship to the Dominican Republic?
Yes, we coordinate repatriation to the Dominican Republic. We confirm the current consular requirements and the route on every case.
What is an apostille?
The Miami consulate describes it as a certification of the authenticity of a document’s signature, for use in countries that belong to the 1961 Hague Convention. For a Florida death certificate it is obtained through Florida authorities.
Does the death certificate have to be translated?
The Miami consulate says it must be apostilled and translated. Ask the consulate what form of translation it accepts.
Do we need a funeral home in the Dominican Republic?
The Miami consulate says to contact one so the transfer can be coordinated among the funeral homes and the airline.
What about cremated remains?
The Miami consulate says the death certificate must be apostilled and translated and the urn sealed by the U.S. funeral home. See Cremation and Shipping.
What are the consular fees?
The Miami consulate’s published answers do not list fees. Another Dominican consulate lists a fee for its translation service. Fees may not be the same today, so confirm with the consulate that handles your case.
Which documents does the Miami consulate require?
Its FAQ names the apostilled and translated death certificate. Another Dominican consulate also lists an apostilled letter of no contagious diseases and an apostilled transit permit, so we ask the consulate for the full current list.
How long does it take?
We cannot promise a fixed timeline. It depends on the apostille, translation, consular steps and flights.
Arrange repatriation to the Dominican Republic
Tell us where your loved one is and where in the Dominican Republic the funeral will be held. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.