Funeral Shipping
Shipping Human Remains to Trinidad and Tobago
Repatriation to Trinidad and Tobago runs through government approvals that must come before flights are booked. Here is what the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs publishes, what it means for your timeline, and how we help.
The short version
Last reviewed: November 7, 2026.
- The 2026 handbook says approval of the Ministry of Homeland Security and the Ministry of Health is required to bring human remains into Trinidad and Tobago. The Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs obtains these approvals on behalf of the family and the funeral home.
- The handbook says families and funeral homes should not make confirmed flight arrangements before approval, because most airlines require it.
- Documents go through the nearest Trinidad and Tobago overseas mission, which certifies them and sends copies to the Consular Affairs Division in Port of Spain.
- Remains of someone who was not a Trinidad and Tobago national need additional documents and prior approval.
Sources: Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs: Handbook on the Repatriation of Human Remains (2026); and Consulate General of Trinidad and Tobago, New York: Guidelines for Sending Human Remains. Requirements and fees can change, and fees may not be the same today. Each mission may have its own guidelines, so we confirm which mission handles your case.
How shipping human remains to Trinidad and Tobago works
- Choose a licensed funeral home in FloridaThe handbook says the family or importer first contacts a funeral home in the country where the death took place.
- Prepare the original documentsThe funeral home submits them to the nearest accredited Trinidad and Tobago overseas mission. See the table below.
- The mission certifies the documentsAn official stamp is placed on a copy of each document, and the mission sends copies to the Consular Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs in Port of Spain.
- Government approval in Trinidad and TobagoThe ministry secures the approvals of the Ministry of Homeland Security and the Ministry of Health, then issues a letter to the Customs and Excise Division authorizing the import.
- Customs clearance by the local funeral homeThe funeral home in Trinidad and Tobago collects the letter and submits it to Customs, which gives the document indicating there is no objection.
- Book the flight and shipOnly after approval. We confirm the carrier, cargo cut-off and arrival details.
Documents the Trinidad and Tobago government lists
This table is based on the 2026 handbook for deceased nationals. Individual missions publish their own guidelines, and the handbook tells families to check with the relevant mission. If documents are not in English, the handbook requires translation into English by a registered translator in the country of death, and the translations must be apostilled or authenticated.
| Document or item | Who usually provides it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Letter from the competent authority at the place of death stating the documents are authentic | Funeral home, arranged with the authority | Listed in the 2026 handbook as an original. |
| Original death certificate | Florida funeral home and the vital records office | The handbook says it needs to be apostilled or authenticated in the country of origin. See our Dominican Republic guide for how Florida apostilles work. |
| Original letter of non-contagious disease | Health department, coroner, doctor or hospital abroad | Listed in the 2026 handbook. |
| Original permit to dispose of or transport human remains | Florida funeral director | See What Is a Burial-Transit Permit?. |
| Original embalming certificate from the funeral home | Funeral home | Listed in the 2026 handbook. |
| Original Trinidad and Tobago passport of the deceased | Family | An expired passport is accepted with a valid passport, the handbook says. If nationality cannot be tied to Trinidad and Tobago, the case is treated as a non-national. |
| Applicable fee | Family or funeral home | Refer to the processing mission. The New York consulate lists US$37.00 by money order; fees may not be the same today. |
| Name and contact details of the receiving funeral home in Trinidad and Tobago | Family and coordinator | Listed in the New York consulate guidelines. |
The Consular Affairs Division can be reached at Consular@gov.tt or (1868) 623-6894 (2026 handbook). Please confirm which Trinidad and Tobago mission serves Florida cases, because the New York consulate states it only handles cases within its own jurisdiction.
Special situations to plan for
- Cremated remains: The handbook has separate document lists for ashes carried by a traveler and ashes sent unaccompanied: a death certificate, a certificate of cremation, a funeral director’s statement of death, a letter from the funeral home confirming the urn holds only the person’s ashes, and the cancelled passport page. Unaccompanied ashes need the same ministry approvals. A traveler must declare the urn to Customs on arrival.
- Non-nationals: The deceased must have ties to Trinidad and Tobago, and a relative must send a letter to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Homeland Security with the person’s name, nationality, the relative’s relationship and the reasons and ties. Approval must come before travel arrangements are made.
- Burial, not cremation: The New York consulate’s guidelines say the death certificate must state that the body is to be buried, and that Trinidad and Tobago does not allow repatriated human remains to be cremated. We confirm this with the mission before planning.
- Cases needing extra approval: The New York guidelines list situations such as a place of birth outside Trinidad and Tobago, no cause of death on the certificate, a communicable disease, or an inconclusive autopsy, which require prior approval and affect processing time.
Timing and cost factors
We do not publish a fixed price or number of days. For Trinidad and Tobago the key variable is the government approval, which must come before the flight is booked. Other factors:
- Mail or courier time to the mission, and the mission’s processing.
- The approvals of the two ministries in Port of Spain.
- Apostille and translation time.
- Flight availability and cargo cut-off once approval is given.
- Funeral home charges at both ends, mission fees, airline cargo charges and Customs clearance.
Read What Affects the Cost of Funeral Shipping, and How to Keep It Affordable and How Long Does Funeral Shipping Take?.
How we help families with Trinidad and Tobago repatriation
We coordinate the shipping side: identifying the right mission, checking the document set before it is mailed, sequencing the apostille and translation steps, coordinating with the Florida funeral home and the funeral home in Trinidad and Tobago, and holding the flight booking until approval is in hand. We do not have an office in Trinidad and Tobago, and the funeral and burial there are carried out by the receiving funeral home.
Frequently asked questions
Do you ship to Trinidad and Tobago?
Yes, we coordinate repatriation to Trinidad and Tobago. We confirm the current requirements with the relevant mission on every case.
When can we book the flight?
Not before approval. The 2026 handbook says families and funeral homes should refrain from making confirmed flight arrangements without approvals, because most airlines require them.
Who gives the approval?
The handbook says the Ministry of Homeland Security and the Ministry of Health must approve. The Ministry of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs obtains the approvals on behalf of the family and funeral home.
Does the death certificate need an apostille?
The handbook says it is in the family’s best interest to have the death certificate apostilled or authenticated in the country of origin.
Can the person be cremated and sent as ashes?
Ashes can be repatriated under separate rules in the handbook. The New York consulate’s guidelines add that Trinidad and Tobago does not allow repatriated human remains (a body) to be cremated, so decide with the funeral home before cremation.
What if the person was not a Trinidad and Tobago national?
Prior approval is required, based on the person’s ties to Trinidad and Tobago and a letter to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Homeland Security.
How long does it take?
We cannot promise a fixed timeline. It depends on mission processing, the approvals in Port of Spain, the apostille and flights.
Arrange repatriation to Trinidad and Tobago
Tell us where your loved one is and where in Trinidad and Tobago the funeral will be held. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.