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INternational Repatriation services
International Deceased Transfer
Dealing with death can be one of the most difficult times of most peoples lives, particularly if death occurs away from home. Specialist skills are required in both preparation of the deceased and working through the myriad of documentation and procedures for international repatriation. Based in Melbourne our skilled and qualified staff work with you to coordinate to ensure all laws and statutory requirements are met.
This includes:
- Coroner, Hospitals, Doctors
- Health Department
- Death Registration Departments
- Airlines, and or Agents
- Consulates, embassies
- Churches, Ministers, Priest etc for any religious or cultural requirements
- Most of all we work with you to ensure all your needs are met and the transfer is as smooth and expedient as possible.
We are here to help you 24 hours a day 7 days a week
We send deceased home all corners of the world at Robert Nelson Funerals
What Do I need to send someone overseas?
Identification Documents of the Deceased
For international repatriation overseas the deceased passport is normally required, but may includes other identity documents from the country of destination
Destination Details
Repatriation Overseas requires details of country , state, (province) town of destination, including full name, address and contact details of receiving funeral director or person to collect the deceased at the destination. Including name and address of burial or cremation ground at the final destination.
Are You Accompanying Your Loved One?
International repatriation overseas, can have complex inter connecting flight schedules. While some families prefer to travel on the same aircraft as their loved one from Melbourne , it is not necessary to do so. If you prefer to travel together we can assist in coordinating flights. we suggest you talk to us first.
Details of the Person Organising Repatriation
Details of the next of kin responsible for organising repatriation include Full name, contact details and relationship to the deceased.
Q&A
How long Does it Take to Send Someone Overseas?
You should allow at least 7 - 10 days for international repatriation from Melbourne, however it will always depend on where your loved one is travelling and the country we need to coordinate with.
Payment
Payment in full is required prior to the deceased leaving Melbourne, Australia. International repatriation costs can vary considerably depending on destination, airline, transit, weight and statutory fees
Is Embalming Required?
Yes, it is an international airline and statutory requirement of many countries that the deceased has been properly prepared and sanitised. This prevents the need to keep the deceased in a cooled environment and aids the maintenance of the deceased during their travels.
Can I Have A Funeral Here before Departure?
Yes, many families choose to have service here in Melbourne before overseas departure, to enable relatives and friend to also be part of the funeral process
Requirements for bringing human ashes into Australia or exporting ashes out of Australia
There are no requirements for bringing cremated remains into Australia or taking cremated remains out of Australia. It is important that the urn or container is completely free of contaminant such as soil, containers made from wood must be declared. Most international airlines do allow human ashes to be carried by passengers on international flights. In this case, it is recommended that you contact the airline or shipping line prior to travelling as they may have requirements to be met when human ashes are carried by a passenger or included in luggage. You do not need to declare human ashes on arrival in Australia through the Incoming Passenger Card. We recommend you check with the country the ashes will be brought from for their export requirements. A list of foreign embassies and consulates in Australia can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website. A list of Australian consulates overseas can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
Postage of human ashes into and out of Australia
If the human ashes are to be sent via post, please check with Australia Post for any requirements.While there are no restrictions on the postage of human ashes from a Department of Health perspective, many shipping companies’ internal policies will not allow the postage of human ashes overseas . This will be at the discretion of each individual business.It should be noted that international postage of human ashes will be determined by the regulation of the destination country. We recommend you check with the country the ashes will be posted to or from for their postal requirements. A list of foreign embassies and consulates in Australia can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
Travelling with Cremated Remains
Always check with your international airline prior to arriving at the airport to ensure you are able to travel with cremated remains overseas and establish any specific requirements before arriving at the airport. The container used to hold the ashes must be free from contaminants such as soil. The container and packaging for the ashes may be inspected or examined. Passengers travelling with human ashes require an official document from the crematorium confirming contents, in Melbourne the crematorium will issue this document, many do it as standard practice. Weight cannot exceed 7kg and the container must be sealed properly to stop any leakage. It is often best left in the crematorium packaging as it is usually very secure and not made of metal. Please note the container will need to be screened.