Funeral Shipping Guide

Becoming a known shipper with airlines is a way for funeral homes to nationally and internationally ship human remains of the deceased. At Bergen Funeral Service Inc., our funeral home is a known shipper in the tri-state area with all of the surrounding airlines.

As known shippers, there are several requirements our funeral directors need to fulfill in order to maintain that status. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) came up with its policy for known shippers in 2004. The policy includes the agreement of the known status of funeral homes as well as the procedures completed to create a low security risk. The policy ensures that funeral homes adhere to the strict security measures that come along with shipping human remains, whether it is the deceased's body or the deceased's cremated remains.

According to the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA), the TSA requires an application process for funeral homes to become known shippers with airlines. The process includes registration with any airlines the funeral home plans to use, as well as an inspection and payment of an inspection fee.

When it comes to international funeral shipping, there are different requirements for each airline and country, but there are general requirements that must be completed before the remains can be shipped.

When a funeral home is going to ship a body from the U.S. to another country, the family of the deceased must provide the name of the funeral home that is located in the country the body is being shipped to, as well as communicate with the funeral home to make sure the funeral home is prepared to receive the body. The funeral directors must embalm the body in compliance with U.S. standards.

Included with the body should be the following:

Communicable Disease Affidavit
Embalmers Affidavit (on funeral home's letterhead)
At least two certified copies of the death certificate
The burial / transfer permit
Authorization forms

Additionally, all original documents must be notarized, the passport of the deceased must be shipped and the name, address and phone number of the receiving funeral home must be supplied. Outer shipping containers must be verified and a complete flight itinerary must be provided. Other considerations when shipping a body include the time that may be taken to complete a consulate inspection if required. Translations of all documents may also be required, depending on the country.

Similar requirements need to be met if a funeral home is going to ship cremated remains of the deceased from the U.S. to a foreign country, such as providing the name of the funeral home and contacting the funeral home in the country that the deceased will be going to, which verifies that the remains are ready to be received.

Once the body is cremated, the urn must be packed into a wooden box, and with it, the following documents are needed:

At least two certified copies of the death certificate
At least two certified copies of the cremation certificate
The non-contraband Affidavit (on funeral home's letterhead)

The complete name, address and phone number must also be provided of the funeral home that will be receiving the cremated remains.

If you have any questions about any of the international funeral shipping services we provide, please don’t hesitate to give Bergen Funeral Service a call at 1-(800) 262-7901.