Funeral Shipping
Shipping Human Remains to Spain
Spain’s consulate in Miami issues a single transfer document and closes the coffin in front of a consular official. Here is what the consulate and Spain’s Ministry of Health publish, and how we help.
The short version
Last reviewed: November 8, 2026.
- The Spanish consulate in Miami says the Spanish state does not pay for the transfer, and that a funeral agency operating in the United States must be hired. The consulate can give information but cannot recommend a specific agency.
- After reviewing the documents, the consulate registers the death in its civil register and issues the Documento Único de Tramitación de Traslado a España, which certifies that the legal steps for the coffin have been completed. The coffin is closed in the presence of a consular official.
- The consulate lists a medical certificate of cause of death and preservation, an embalming certificate, a literal death certificate from the local civil registry, and a Florida burial transit permit. Documents must be originals and apostilled.
- On arrival in Spain, the funeral company requests entry through Spain’s electronic system, and the health authority at the border reviews the file and issues the entry authorization before Customs clears it.
Sources: Consulate General of Spain in Miami: Traslado de restos mortales; and Spanish Ministry of Health: International transfer of corpses and cadaveric remains. The consulate page states a consular fee of $60 for non-Spanish citizens, which may not be the same today. We confirm the current list with the consulate.
How shipping human remains to Spain works
- Choose a licensed funeral home in FloridaThe consulate says a funeral agency operating in the United States must be hired. The body must be embalmed.
- A relative prepares the fileThe transfer request form and the certificates listed below, in original and apostilled, plus any authorization from the local judicial authority if the death is being investigated.
- Consulate review and registrationThe consulate reviews the file, registers the death in the consular civil register and issues the Documento Único de Tramitación de Traslado a España.
- Closing the coffinThe consulate states that the coffin is closed in the presence of a consular official.
- Entry request in SpainThe funeral company requests entry through Spain’s electronic system SISAEX, addressed to the health authority at the point of entry.
- Entry authorization and CustomsThe Spanish health authority at the border reviews the file and issues the entry authorization, which is presented to Customs for final clearance.
Documents the Spanish consulate lists
This table follows the Miami consulate’s page and the Ministry of Health’s description of how remains enter Spain. The Ministry of Health describes a different route for countries that are party to certain European agreements, so we confirm which applies to a shipment from Florida.
| Document or item | Who usually provides it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer request form | Relative | A PDF form is on the consulate page. |
| Medical certificate of the cause of death and method of preservation | Physician or funeral home | The consulate says the body must be embalmed. |
| Embalming certificate | Embalmer or funeral home | See Embalming and Shipping. |
| Literal death certificate from the local civil registry | Florida funeral home and the vital records office | The consulate says every document supporting the death must be an original and apostilled. See our Dominican Republic guide for how Florida apostilles work. |
| Authorization of the local judicial authority, if the death is under investigation | Court or medical examiner, via the funeral home | Only where an investigation is open. |
| Burial transit permit (Florida form DH-326-E) | Florida funeral director | See What Is a Burial-Transit Permit?. |
| Flight, itinerary and destination information | Coordinator | Provided to the consulate. |
| Consular fee: $60 for non-Spanish citizens | Applicant | Stated on the consulate page; fees may not be the same today. |
| Ashes: death certificate, cremation certificate, burial transit permit, flight information | Funeral home or crematory | Entry of an ashes container into Spain is not subject to health requirements; the container must show the deceased’s name on the outside. |
The consulate page does not list a phone or email in the text we reviewed, and asks families to see its contact section and appointment system. The consulate also says it cannot speed up procedures that belong to local authorities.
Timing and cost factors
We do not publish a fixed price or number of days for Spain. The main variables are:
- Consular review, registration and the coffin-closing appointment.
- Any open investigation into the death, which can delay the file.
- 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 Spain repatriation
We coordinate the shipping side: sequencing the documents, translations and apostilles, coordinating with the Florida funeral home and the receiving side in Spain, booking transport once the consulate confirms the file, and keeping you updated. We do not have an office in Spain, and the funeral and burial there are carried out by the receiving funeral home.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship to Spain?
Yes, we coordinate repatriation to Spain. We confirm the current requirements and the route on every case.
Does the Spanish government pay for the transfer?
No. The Miami consulate states that the Spanish public administration does not cover the costs of the transfer in any case. It advises travel insurance that includes repatriation.
What is the Documento Único?
The consulate says it issues the Documento Único de Tramitación de Traslado a España to certify that the legal steps for the coffin have been completed. The Ministry of Health says it must be presented on arrival in Spain.
Must the body be embalmed?
The consulate says the body must be embalmed and asks for an embalming certificate.
Who closes the coffin?
The consulate says the coffin is closed in the presence of a consular official, so the funeral home and the consulate must coordinate this step.
What about ashes?
The consulate lists the death certificate, cremation certificate, burial transit permit and flight information, and the Ministry of Health says ashes are not subject to health requirements. Ask the airline whether the container may travel in the cabin. See Cremation and Shipping.
How long does it take?
The consulate gives no fixed timeline and says procedures can take longer than usual, especially if an investigation is open. We cannot promise a fixed date.
Arrange repatriation to Spain
Tell us where your loved one is and where in Spain the funeral will be held. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.