Our specialties are the Caribbean, Central and South America and Europe, but we ship to destinations worldwide, including Asia. Long-distance routes such as those to India and the Philippines have their own challenges, which are worth understanding before you decide.
Key takeaways
- We ship worldwide; Asia is outside our core regions but within what we handle.
- Long routes mean more connections, so book and plan early.
- Tell us about religious and cultural requirements at the start.
Longer routes mean more variables
A journey to South or Southeast Asia from Florida involves long flights and almost always at least one connection. More legs mean more handling points and more room for schedule changes. Cargo space for human remains must be confirmed on each leg. Booking the full route early is more important here than on a short regional flight.
Documents
As with any international shipment, a death certificate and burial-transit permit come first. Consular authorization is often required, and translations or additional official statements may be requested. Each country’s consulate sets its own process. We confirm what applies to the specific destination rather than assuming. See Consular Documents for International Repatriation.
Religious and cultural considerations
Families often have specific religious or cultural requirements for handling, timing and funeral rites. Tell us early about requirements that affect preparation, such as cremation preferences, so that they can be built into the plan with the funeral home. Some families choose to cremate before travel and ship the cremated remains; others ship first. See Cremation and Shipping: What Families Should Know.
Receiving arrangements
A receiving funeral home or family contact is essential. For destinations far from the arrival airport, ask how the remains will travel onward, because that leg can add time. Read Working With the Receiving Funeral Home.
Our approach
For destinations outside our most common regions, we work through the same steps: confirm the requirements, identify a workable route and keep everyone informed. We will tell you honestly what is involved and where we need to verify details with the consulate or the airline.
Get started
Tell us the country, the city and the target dates, and we will explain the next steps. Call 786-565-9525 at any hour, or see International Destinations.
Planning a long route
| Factor | Short route | Long route to Asia |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | Often one leg | Usually at least one connection |
| Handling points | Fewer | More |
| Schedule risk | Lower | Higher |
| Booking | Can be flexible | Best done early |
| Arrival logistics | Usually closer to the final place | May require onward travel inside the country |
India and the Philippines: common points
Families preparing for India or the Philippines often ask about documents, religious customs and timing. We do not publish a list of rules for these countries here, because requirements are set by each government and can change. What we can say is that consular authorization and translations are commonly part of the picture for long international routes, and that early contact with the consulate and the receiving funeral home matters.
Religious and cultural customs
Hindu, Muslim, Christian and other traditions each have practices around timing, preparation, cremation and burial. Tell the funeral home and the coordinator which customs are important to your family. Some customs affect the schedule, such as the desire to complete funeral rites within a specific period, and are best raised at the start.
Practical advice for long-distance cases
- Decide the destination city early so the route can be booked.
- Gather identification and documents as soon as possible, since consular processing may add time.
- Identify a receiving funeral home that has handled international arrivals.
- Allow extra margin in the schedule for connections.
- Keep one family member as the main contact to avoid mixed messages.
Support across time zones
Time differences can make it hard to reach the receiving side during our working hours. We help schedule calls at times that work for both ends and send written summaries so that nothing is lost between time zones.
Questions to settle with the receiving side
- Which airport is closest to the final place of rest, and how will the remains travel from there?
- Are there religious or cultural rites that depend on timing?
- Which local documents will the funeral home or family need to show?
- Who will be present when the shipment arrives?
Settling these questions early helps the schedule on both ends. If the family is divided among several countries, choose one person to be the main contact and share their details with us.
Frequently asked questions
Do you really ship to Asia?
Yes. We ship worldwide. Our specialty is the Caribbean, Central and South America and Europe, but we handle other destinations as well.
Can ashes be sent to India or the Philippines?
Rules vary. USPS requires Priority Mail Express International for mailing cremated remains internationally and notes that the destination country must allow them. Confirm with the destination.
Will it take longer than a shipment to Latin America?
It may, because of longer routes and more connections, but there is no fixed rule.
What if the family wants rites at the destination?
Tell us the schedule. We will see what is realistic.
Can you help with consulates?
We coordinate the documents and follow-up; the consulate decides.
Is there a different process for Asia?
The steps are the same: documents, preparation, flight, arrival. The details depend on the country.
Can you help me find a receiving funeral home?
We can help you identify options. The final choice is yours.
For specific destinations, see Shipping Human Remains to India and Shipping Human Remains to the Philippines.
Keep reading
- Repatriation to Europe: General Considerations
- Consular Documents for International Repatriation: What to Expect
- How Airlines Handle Human Remains as Cargo
- Document Translations for Destination Countries
Need help?
Funeral Shipping coordinates domestic and international funeral shipping, including the supporting documents, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Learn more about our international repatriation services, request a quote, or call 786-565-9525.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Requirements vary by destination, carrier and circumstances and can change. Always confirm current rules with the relevant authority, and note that no timing or outcome is guaranteed.