Funeral Shipping
Shipping Human Remains to Jamaica
Repatriation from Florida to Jamaica is governed by a health permit issued in the parish where the remains will arrive. Here is what Jamaican authorities say is required, the choices that affect your plan, and how we help.
The short version
Last reviewed: November 7, 2026.
- Jamaica admits human remains that are either cremated and in an urn or other impervious container, or properly embalmed and in a suitable container, with a permit.
- The permit comes from the Medical Officer (Health) for the parish where the remains enter Jamaica. The Jamaican guidance says that for a body the applicant, the consignee, is a licensed funeral director.
- Your choice of arrival airport matters, because it decides which health department issues the permit.
- The Jamaican guidance has listed a permit fee of J$10,000, and a January 2026 news report quoted the same amount. Fees may not be the same today, so confirm the current amount before paying.
Sources: Jamaica Ministry of Health and Wellness: Guidelines for the Importation of Human Remains; Jamaica Observer, January 22, 2026; and Jamaica Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade. Government requirements and fees can change, so we confirm them again on every case.
How shipping human remains to Jamaica works
A typical case from Florida follows these stages:
- Choose a licensed funeral home in FloridaIt cares for your loved one, embalms (unless there is a religious reason not to), and prepares the Florida documents and the container.
- Choose a funeral home in JamaicaThe Jamaican government says a funeral home in Jamaica should receive the remains on arrival and arrange the burial. For a body, the Jamaican guidance describes the consignee as a licensed funeral director.
- Choose the port of entryKingston (Norman Manley International) and Montego Bay (Donald Sangster International) are served by different public health departments, so this choice shapes the permit.
- Obtain the Jamaican transit permitThe application goes to the Medical Officer (Health) for the parish of entry, with the death certificate, the embalming certificate and the fee. The Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the permit can be obtained before the remains arrive.
- Book the flight and give notice of arrivalThe Jamaican guidance says the airline or importer should notify the health authorities and the Quarantine Officer at least 24 hours before arrival.
- Arrival and customs clearanceThe permit is presented to Customs. Without it, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns that the remains can be held at the airport.
Documents and requirements Jamaica lists
Different Jamaican pages describe the documents slightly differently, and some are older. This table combines what we found in the Ministry of Health guidance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs page and the most recent report. We confirm the current list with the Jamaican health department for your port of entry.
| Document or item | Who usually provides it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Death certificate stating the cause of death | Florida funeral home and the vital records office | Jamaican guidance requires a copy with the cause of death. Anything not in English needs an English translation. See Why Death Certificates Matter. |
| Embalming certificate | Embalmer or funeral home | Required, except in specific situations where embalming is prohibited for religious reasons, according to the Jamaican guidance. |
| Overseas transit permit | Funeral home; ask which authority issues it for your case | Listed in the January 2026 Jamaica Observer report. See What Is a Burial-Transit Permit?. |
| Non-communicable disease document | Ask the Jamaican health department what form is accepted | Listed in the January 2026 Jamaica Observer report. Ask the Jamaican health department exactly what form it accepts. |
| Copy of the deceased’s identification | Family | Listed in the January 2026 report. |
| Copy of the flight itinerary confirming the port of entry | Coordinator | Listed in the January 2026 report. |
| Cremation certificate (cremated remains) | Crematory | Cremated remains must be in an urn or other impervious container, according to the Ministry of Health guidance. |
| Statement of assurance of a hermetically sealed casket | Funeral home | Required when the cause of death is a quarantinable communicable disease, per the Ministry of Health guidance. |
| Permit fee (listed at J$10,000) | Applicant | Listed in the Ministry of Health guidance (“or as prescribed from time to time”) and in the January 2026 report. Fees may not be the same today; confirm with the health department. |
In the Jamaican government guidance we reviewed, we did not find a requirement for a consular death certificate of the kind Haiti asks for. If you plan to rely on that, please confirm with the Consulate General of Jamaica in Miami. For the consular process in general, see Consular Documents for International Repatriation.
Kingston or Montego Bay: choosing the port of entry
According to the January 2026 Jamaica Observer report, transit permits for remains entering through Donald Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay are prepared by the St James Public Health Department. Permits for remains entering through Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, the Central Sorting Office and the Kingston Sea Port are processed by the Kingston and St Andrew Public Health Department.
That makes the arrival airport a practical decision, not only a travel one. Questions we help families answer:
- Which airport is closer to the funeral home and the burial place in Jamaica?
- Which airline accepts remains on the dates needed, and how does its cargo cut-off compare with the 24-hour notice Jamaica expects?
- Has the Jamaican funeral home applied for the permit with the right parish health department?
- Who will present the permit to Customs at arrival?
For airline background see How Airlines Handle Human Remains as Cargo.
Timing and cost factors
We do not publish a fixed price or number of days, because they depend on several things:
- How quickly the death certificate and embalming certificate are ready.
- Whether the Jamaican funeral home has applied for the permit and the department has issued it.
- Flight availability and cargo cut-off times to the chosen airport.
- Funeral home charges in Florida and in Jamaica, the Jamaican permit fee (which may have changed), airline cargo charges and any translation costs.
- Unclaimed remains: the Jamaican guidance says unclaimed imported remains are stored at a licensed funeral establishment at the consignee’s expense, so the receiving side must be ready.
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 Jamaica repatriation
We coordinate the shipping side: confirming the current requirements, checking the documents before they are submitted, helping you choose a port of entry, coordinating with the Florida funeral home and the Jamaican funeral home, and keeping you informed. We do not have an office in Jamaica. The permit is applied for through the Jamaican health authorities, usually by the receiving funeral director, and the funeral and burial in Jamaica are carried out by the receiving funeral home.
Please tell us about any spelling differences in the person’s name across passports and records at the start, because documents must match. If the family has religious reasons not to embalm, say so early: the Jamaican guidance makes a limited exception, but airlines may have their own requirements. See Embalming and Shipping.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship to Jamaica?
Yes, we coordinate repatriation to Jamaica. We confirm the current requirements and the route on every case.
Is embalming required for Jamaica?
Jamaica’s Ministry of Health guidance says remains are admitted if they are cremated, or if they are properly embalmed and in a suitable container. It makes an exception to the embalming certificate where embalming is prohibited for religious reasons. Airlines may have their own rules.
Who applies for the Jamaican transit permit?
The Jamaican guidance says the consignee applies, and that for a body the consignee is a licensed funeral director. The application goes to the Medical Officer (Health) for the parish of entry.
What does the permit cost?
The Ministry of Health guidance has listed J$10,000, or as prescribed from time to time, and a January 2026 news report quoted the same figure. Fees may not be the same today, so confirm the current amount with the health department before paying.
Can the permit be obtained before the remains arrive?
Yes. The Jamaican Ministry of Foreign Affairs says the permit is obtainable before arrival. Without it, remains can be held by Customs at the airport.
Can cremated remains be sent to Jamaica?
Yes, under Jamaican rules. A transit permit is also required for ashes, according to the January 2026 report, and cremated remains must be in an urn or other impervious container. See Cremation and Shipping.
Does the family need a funeral home in Jamaica?
Yes. The Jamaican government says a funeral home in Jamaica should receive the remains on arrival, and the permit process depends on a licensed funeral director for a body.
How long does it take?
We cannot promise a fixed timeline. It depends on the documents, the permit, the flight and the arrival airport.
Arrange repatriation to Jamaica
Tell us where your loved one is and where in Jamaica the funeral will be held. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.