Repatriation of a body abroad: What procedures?

For some cultures or religions, it is simply inconceivable not to bury a deceased person in their native land. Despite the pain of the death, the family must necessarily undertake steps to repatriate the body abroad.

Administrative procedures for repatriating a body abroad

To repatriate a person who died on French territory to a foreign country, the prefecture or the place where the body was prepared must necessarily issue a written document certifying the authorization to transport the body abroad. It is also necessary to gather some administrative documents, including the deceased's identification document, their birth and death certificates, the burial authorization, and the body transportation agreement provided by the close family in addition to the authorization from the prefect or consulate.

In any case, the best thing to do before repatriating a body is to get closer to the consulate of the destination country to obtain help and more details on the steps to follow.

The repatriation of a body is highly regulated

It is important to understand that the law is very strict on the issue of repatriating a body from abroad or to another country. Whether the family chooses transport by land or air, certain conditions must be met.

The coffin must be equipped with an inner metallic lining. The set must be cold-welded to be completely airtight.

Beyond the legal aspects, airlines also impose their own rules. For some, they require that embalming have been carried out before the coffin is sealed. For others, the coffin must be embedded in a wooden crate.

Given these requirements, some families choose to have a cremation at the place of death, followed by the transport of the urn abroad. Even in this case, institutional procedures must be respected.

And cultural practices vary

Depending on the cultural practices of the deceased or their family, it may be necessary to proceed very quickly with repatriation. This is generally the case for Muslim countries or Israel. Moreover, a ritual cleansing is often mandatory.

On the other hand, some countries require that embalming have been carried out beforehand. It is always useful to contact the embassy or consulate of the country to find out the exact arrangements to be made. We can also inform you about the provisions of each country.

The repatriation of a body is expensive

There is no denying that the cost of repatriating a body to another country or to France can quickly become very expensive. Many expenses are to be expected, starting with the mortuary or ritual cleansing. In addition, the funeral home services, the price of the coffin, and the cost charged by the chosen transport company must also be taken into account.

If the family chooses land transport for the body, the cost is determined based on the duration of the journey. You can find an estimate of the cost of a body repatriating abroad depending on the country on this page.

Insurance for the repatriation of a body

If, during their lifetime, the deceased had taken out insurance, the family receives partial or full assistance from the insurer. Although the conditions vary from one contract to another depending on the required guarantees and the amount of the insured's contribution, the insurance covers more or less the same expenses.

As a general rule, the insurer is responsible for the body's transportation costs from the place of death, such as the hospital, to the starting point for repatriation (the deceased's home, the airport, etc.). Of course, the cost required by the transportation company will be partly or entirely their responsibility, depending on the terms of the contract. Once at the destination, the insurer will cover the transportation costs from the arrival point to the funeral location.

What are the factors that can prevent repatriation?

Non-compliance with any of the legal conditions can prevent the repatriation of the body. When the body has undergone embalming, the medical professional who performed them issues a certificate to be presented to the authorities and airlines.

On the other hand, a deceased person who had a contagious disease (such as HIV) cannot be repatriated, as the doctor will not be able to provide a non-contagious certificate. Similarly, without the written agreement of the immediate family, repatriation cannot take place. More information on the handling of deceased persons with contagious diseases can be found here.

Repatriating a body when the family is abroad

If the deceased has no family at the place of death, their loved ones can prepare for repatriation by collaborating with the family through the consulate. Indeed, the consulate serves as a liaison and provides an agreement to repatriate the body after conducting an interview with the deceased's family in the destination city. As for the cost, it is done through a contract involving the family, the consulate, and the funeral home.