Funeral Shipping
Shipping Human Remains to Portugal
Portugal’s embassy handles repatriation requests by mail and returns any incomplete request. Here is what the embassy publishes, what it leaves unstated, and how we help.
The short version
Last reviewed: November 8, 2026.
- The Portuguese Embassy’s consular section handles repatriation requests by mail. The permit it issues is called the Alvará de Trasladação.
- It says all listed documents must be submitted “without exception”, and that a request with any missing document is returned immediately.
- The documents include an original, complete death certificate issued within the past year and carrying a Hague Apostille, a cremation certificate or embalming statement, the original transit permit, and a certificate of non-contraband for the casket or ashes.
- If the deceased was a Portuguese citizen, the embassy says the death must be registered in Portugal before the Alvará is issued.
Source: Embassy of Portugal in Washington, D.C., Consular Section: Repatriation of Remains. The page shows no update date, lists no processing time and no fee amount (it refers to article 69 of the consular fee table), so fees may not be the same today. It does not name the states it covers, so we confirm which Portuguese office handles a Florida case.
How shipping human remains to Portugal works
- Choose a licensed funeral home in FloridaIt prepares the remains and the certificates the embassy lists, including the non-contraband certificate for the casket or ashes.
- Register the death in Portugal (Portuguese citizens)The embassy says this is mandatory before the Alvará de Trasladação is issued.
- Gather the originalsIncluding the death certificate issued within the past year with a Hague Apostille. See the table below.
- Mail the requestThe embassy page says the request is submitted by mail, with a money order payable to the Embassy of the Portuguese Republic and a prepaid return envelope.
- Alvará de Trasladação issuedThe embassy issues the permit. The transit permit must accompany the remains for the whole journey.
- Book the flight and shipWe confirm the carrier, cargo cut-off and arrival airport, and coordinate with the funeral home in Portugal.
Documents the Portuguese embassy lists
This table follows the embassy page. It does not list a mailing address, processing time or contact details in the text we reviewed, so we confirm them with the embassy before we quote.
| Document or item | Who usually provides it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Original death certificate, complete full transcript, issued within the past year, with Hague Apostille | Florida funeral home and the vital records office; apostille through Florida authorities | See our Dominican Republic guide for how Florida apostilles work. |
| Original certificate of cremation (ashes) or original statement of embalming (remains), as applicable | Crematory or embalmer | See Embalming and Shipping. |
| Original transit permit for the casket, urn or ashes | Florida funeral director | The embassy says it must accompany the remains for the whole journey. See What Is a Burial-Transit Permit?. |
| Original certificate of non-contraband of the casket or ashes | Funeral home or crematory | Listed by the embassy. |
| Completed and signed repatriation form | Family or funeral home | A downloadable form is on the embassy page. |
| Prepaid return envelope (minimum 23 x 32 cm) and money order | Family or funeral home | The money order is payable to the Embassy of the Portuguese Republic. The fee is under article 69 of the consular fee table. |
| Portuguese citizens: death registered in Portugal first | Family | Mandatory before the Alvará is issued, according to the embassy. |
Timing and cost factors
We do not publish a fixed price or number of days for Portugal. The main variables are:
- Mail time to and from the embassy, and its processing.
- The Florida apostille, and registering a Portuguese citizen’s death in Portugal.
- Flight availability, cargo cut-off and the arrival airport, and the trip onward inside the country.
- Funeral home charges at both ends, consular and document fees, translation 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?. For the wider region see Repatriation to Europe.
How we help families with Portugal repatriation
We coordinate the shipping side: sequencing the documents, translations and apostilles, coordinating with the Florida funeral home and the receiving side in Portugal, booking transport once the consulate confirms the file, and keeping you updated. We do not have an office in Portugal, and the funeral and burial there are carried out by the receiving funeral home.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship to Portugal?
Yes, we coordinate repatriation to Portugal. We confirm the current requirements and the route on every case.
What is the Alvará de Trasladação?
It is the permit for the transfer of remains that the Portuguese Embassy’s consular section issues after receiving the complete request by mail.
What happens if a document is missing?
The embassy says that if any required document is missing, the request is immediately returned to the sender.
How recent must the death certificate be?
The embassy asks for an original, complete death certificate issued within the past year, with a Hague Apostille.
Must the death be registered in Portugal?
For Portuguese citizens, the embassy says registration in Portugal is mandatory before the Alvará is issued.
What about ashes?
The embassy lists an original cremation certificate, an original transit permit for the urn or ashes and a non-contraband certificate. See Cremation and Shipping.
How long does it take?
The embassy page gives no processing time, so we cannot promise a fixed date. The Florida apostille and mail time both add days.
Arrange repatriation to Portugal
Tell us where your loved one is and where in Portugal the funeral will be held. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.