Funeral Shipping
Shipping Human Remains to Haiti
Repatriation from Florida to Haiti involves a consular step that surprises many families, and flight options that have changed. Here is what we know, what we check on every case, and how to get started.
What to know right now
Last reviewed: November 7, 2026. Conditions affecting Haiti can change quickly, so we confirm routing and requirements again on every case.
- Port-au-Prince: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration restriction on U.S. flights below 10,000 feet in areas around the capital is reported to remain in effect until March 2, 2027.
- Miami to Cap-Haïtien: American Airlines is reported to have resumed daily Miami to Cap-Haïtien flights on November 1, 2026, its first Haiti service since late 2024.
- What this means for a shipment: The airport used for arrival, and how the remains travel onward to the final burial place, must be planned before anything is booked. Whether a given airline accepts remains on a given flight is something we confirm directly with the carrier.
Flight and security conditions are summarized from published reports (for example, Air Data News, November 2, 2026). They are not a guarantee of service. Check the U.S. State Department travel advisory for Haiti before planning any family travel.
How shipping human remains to Haiti works
A shipment from Florida to Haiti combines the usual steps with a requirement specific to Haiti: according to the Embassy of Haiti, the death certificate for transport is issued by a Haitian consul.
- Choose a licensed funeral home in FloridaIt cares for your loved one, embalms, seals the casket and prepares the documents that the Haitian consulate asks for.
- Gather the consular documentsThe Embassy of Haiti lists the documents needed for the consular section to issue the death certificate. They are summarized in the table below.
- Obtain the consular death certificateThe documents are presented to the Haitian consular office, and the fee is paid. The Embassy of Haiti lists a consulate fee of $160, so confirm the current amount with the office you use.
- Plan the route and bookWe confirm which airport and carrier can be used right now, and the cargo cut-off, before booking.
- Arrange the receiving side in HaitiThe consulate asks for the itinerary of the remains and the name and address of the funeral home that will handle the funeral in Haiti.
- Ship and receiveThe remains travel as air cargo and are received by the funeral home in Haiti.
Documents the Haitian consulate asks for
This list comes from the Embassy of Haiti’s published guidance on transporting human remains from the United States. Individual consulates can differ in their details, so we confirm with the office handling your case.
| Document or item | Who usually provides it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Deceased’s passport | Family | The Embassy of Haiti notes it does not need to be current. |
| Burial permit | Florida funeral director | See What Is a Burial-Transit Permit?. |
| Certified copy of the death certificate | Funeral home and the vital records office | See Why Death Certificates Matter. |
| Funeral home’s Department of Health registration and the embalmer’s license (copies) | Funeral home | Listed by the Embassy of Haiti. |
| Copy of the complete funeral bill | Funeral home | Listed by the Embassy of Haiti. |
| Letter from the County Health Office stating no contagious disease | County health office, via the funeral home | Must be signed, notarized and authenticated, according to the Embassy of Haiti. |
| Letter on funeral home letterhead confirming embalming | Funeral home | Must be signed, notarized and authenticated, according to the Embassy of Haiti. |
| Sealed casket, with a wood-base air tray | Funeral home | The Embassy of Haiti lists the sealed casket and says wood-base air trays are acceptable. |
| Flight itinerary; name and address of the funeral home in Haiti | Coordinator and family | Needed so the consulate knows where the remains are going. |
Sources: Embassy of Haiti: Transporting Human Remains from the United States to Haiti and Body Repatriation. These pages do not show an update date, so requirements and fees should be confirmed with the consulate before you rely on them.
The Consulate General of Haiti in Miami is listed at 259 SW 13th St., Miami, FL 33130, telephone (305) 859-2003 (Embassy of Haiti, jurisdiction page). Which consular office serves a particular case should be confirmed with the consulate.
Routing, arrival and onward travel
With Port-au-Prince restricted for U.S. flights and Miami to Cap-Haïtien service only recently resumed, route planning matters more for Haiti than for most destinations. Questions we settle early:
- Which airport is practical for the final burial location, and how far is the onward trip?
- Which carrier will accept the shipment on the date needed, and what is its cut-off time?
- Who meets the shipment at arrival and moves it onward?
- Does the receiving funeral home have the documents it needs before the flight lands?
Some Haitian carriers and routes are not bound by U.S. aviation orders, but availability for human remains varies, and conditions change. We do not assume; we confirm with each carrier. For general background on airline handling, see How Airlines Handle Human Remains as Cargo and Airline-Acceptable Containers.
Timing and cost factors
We do not publish a fixed price or number of days for Haiti, because they depend on factors outside anyone’s control:
- How quickly the death certificate, burial permit and health office letter are in hand.
- Consular appointment availability and processing.
- Available flights, cargo capacity and the arrival airport.
- The onward journey inside Haiti.
- Funeral home charges at both ends, plus the consulate fee 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 Haiti repatriation
We coordinate the shipping side so that your family has one point of contact: confirming the current requirements, checking the documents before they go to the consulate, identifying a workable route, coordinating with the Florida funeral home and the receiving funeral home in Haiti, and keeping you updated. We do not have an office in Haiti, and the funeral and burial there are carried out by the receiving funeral home or your family’s chosen provider.
Haitian names are often written differently across passports, church records and civil records. Please tell us about any spelling differences at the start, because documents must match. See Consular Documents for International Repatriation.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship to Haiti right now?
Yes, we coordinate repatriation to Haiti. Because flight and security conditions have changed, we confirm the route and carrier on every case before making a plan.
Why does Haiti require a consular death certificate?
According to the Embassy of Haiti, a death certificate issued by a Haitian consul is required to transport remains from the United States to Haiti. The consulate sets that rule, not us.
What does the consulate fee cost?
The Embassy of Haiti lists a consulate fee of $160.00, payable by money order or credit card. Fees can change and may differ by office, so confirm with the consulate.
Is embalming required?
The Haitian consular requirements include a letter from the funeral home confirming embalming and a sealed casket. Airlines may have their own requirements as well. See Embalming and Shipping.
Which airport will the remains arrive at?
That depends on the carrier and the conditions at the time. Port-au-Prince is currently restricted for U.S. flights, and Miami to Cap-Haïtien service has resumed. We will tell you the options for your case.
Can cremated remains be sent to Haiti?
Rules for cremated remains are different. Call us with your situation and we will tell you what we can confirm. See Cremation and Shipping.
Do I need a funeral home in Haiti?
The consulate asks for the name and address of the funeral home that will handle the funeral in Haiti, so you should identify one. We can help you think through the questions to ask it.
How long does it take?
We cannot promise a fixed timeline. It depends on documents, consular processing, flights and the onward journey.
Arrange repatriation to Haiti
Tell us where your loved one is and where in Haiti the funeral will be held. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.