24/7 Transportation Coordination Desk: Whether a death occurred across the state, across the country, or overseas, our dedicated transportation team manages every permit, document, and logistical detail from first call to final arrival. Reach us anytime at 951 251 1474.
Overview
Seamless, Dignified Transport — Any Distance
When a loved one passes away outside of their home area — across state lines or internationally — coordinating transportation is one of the most complex and emotionally taxing processes a family can face. It involves layered legal requirements, multiple government agencies, airline and customs regulations, and strict timing. Eternal Rest Memorial's Corpse Transportation & Repatriation service exists to remove that burden entirely from your shoulders. We are affiliated with a nationwide and international network of funeral homes, mortuary shipping agents, consulates, and airline cargo divisions, allowing us to manage transfers from virtually any origin to any destination.
Types of Transportation We Provide
1. Local & Regional Transport
Removal from place of death (residence, hospital, hospice, or care facility) and transport to our preparation facility, within the metro area or surrounding counties.
2. Domestic Interstate Transport
Coordinated ground or air transportation of the deceased between U.S. states, including transfer to a receiving funeral home in the destination state, full documentation, and compliance with each state's specific transit requirements.
3. International Repatriation (Sending Abroad)
Full preparation, embalming, casketing or cremation, and shipment of remains to a foreign country, including coordination with the destination country's consulate, customs authorities, and receiving funeral home.
4. International Repatriation (Bringing Home)
Coordination with a foreign funeral home, mortuary shipping agent, and the relevant U.S. Embassy or Consulate to bring a loved one who passed away abroad back to the United States for burial, cremation, or memorial services.
Required Documentation
Every transport — domestic or international — requires specific paperwork. Our staff prepares, files, and tracks each of the following on your behalf:
| Document | Required For | Who Issues It |
|---|
| Certified Death Certificate | All transports | Attending physician / county registrar |
| Burial-Transit Permit | All interstate & international transports | County or state vital records office |
| Embalming / Non-Decomposition Certificate | Most international transports | Licensed embalmer |
| Consular Mortuary Certificate | International repatriation | Destination country's consulate |
| Airline Acceptance / Cargo Manifest | Air transport | Contracted airline cargo division |
| Customs Declaration | International transports | U.S. Customs & Border Protection / foreign customs |
| Affidavit of Identity | International transports | Funeral director / next of kin |
| Certificate of Cremation | Cremated remains transport | Crematory operator |
Packaging & Container Requirements
✓Domestic ground transport: Standard casket or alternative container in a company transport vehicle; no hermetic sealing required in most states.
✓Domestic air transport: Combination shipping unit (casket enclosed in a corrugated air tray) per airline cargo regulations.
✓International air transport: Hermetically sealed (zinc-lined or equivalent) casket, per IATA and most destination-country requirements, enclosed in an approved shipping container.
✓Cremated remains: Sealed urn or temporary container, accompanied by the certificate of cremation; generally exempt from embalming and hermetic-sealing requirements.
Our Step-By-Step Process
Hour 1
Initial Call & Case Opening
You call us, or a receiving/originating funeral home contacts us. We open a case file and assign a dedicated transportation coordinator.
Hours 1–6
Documentation Gathering
We request the death certificate, identification, and next-of-kin authorization, and begin filing for the burial-transit permit.
Day 1–2
Preparation
Embalming or refrigeration is performed according to destination requirements. The appropriate casket or container is selected and prepared.
Day 2–3
Consular & Customs Filing (International Only)
We submit the mortuary certificate application to the relevant consulate and prepare customs paperwork for both departure and arrival countries.
Day 3–5
Booking & Transport
We book cargo space with our contracted airline or arrange ground transport, and personally escort the shipment to the carrier.
On Arrival
Receiving & Hand-Off
The receiving funeral home, family, or consulate confirms receipt. We provide tracking confirmation and all final documentation to your family.
Typical timelines above are estimates. International cases can range from 3 to 10 business days depending on the destination country's consular processing times and flight availability.
Our Policies
Chain of Custody: Your loved one remains under the continuous, documented care of a licensed funeral professional from the moment of removal until hand-off is confirmed at the destination. Every transfer point is logged and time-stamped.
Insurance & Liability: All transports are covered under our professional liability policy. International shipments are additionally insured through our contracted cargo carrier for the duration of transit.
Cost Transparency: Before any transport begins, we provide a written, itemized quote covering preparation, container, permits, consular fees, and carrier charges, in accordance with the FTC Funeral Rule. There are no undisclosed fees added after the fact.
Family Communication: Your assigned coordinator provides status updates at each major milestone — case opening, preparation complete, documentation filed, departure, and arrival — by phone, text, or email, your choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does international repatriation take?
Most cases are completed within 3–10 business days, depending on how quickly the destination consulate processes the mortuary certificate and how frequently flights are available on the route.
Does the body have to be embalmed for international transport?
Most countries require embalming (or an equivalent non-decomposition treatment) for air transport of a body. Some countries accept refrigeration instead. Our team confirms the exact requirement for your specific destination before proceeding.
Can cremated remains be shipped instead?
Yes. Shipping cremated remains is significantly simpler, faster, and less costly, and is accepted by nearly every country and airline with far fewer restrictions than shipping a body.
Who handles the paperwork on the receiving end?
We coordinate directly with a licensed funeral home or consular office at the destination to ensure someone is present to receive the remains and complete any local requirements.
What does corpse transportation cost?
Costs vary significantly by distance, destination, and required documentation. Domestic transports typically range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars; international repatriation can range more widely depending on consular fees and airline cargo rates. We provide a full written quote before any work begins.
