Human Remains Repatriation: The 5-Step Process
Repatriation merely involves transporting the deceased person’s body or ashes to another nation in the context of death. Arranging repatriation may appear challenging. However, once you have picked a provider from the many funeral homes offering repatriation services, their team will perform most of the legwork for you. Nevertheless, learn what procedure you should follow for straightforward and successful repatriation.
#1 Speak to Authorities
Get in touch with the Singapore Embassy, Consulate, Singapore Office Mission or Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the nation where the individual died. They will be able to walk you through the rest of the process for human remains repatriation. A representative from the travel company can assist you if you are travelling or on a package trip. If not, you might inquire about how to proceed when you get home.
#2 Death Registration
Register the death in the nation where the person died. The consulate or Mission will advise you on how to proceed with the human remains repatriation process. You must supply the following information about the deceased individual when you register their death:
- Complete Name (Should be in English as written in their Passport)
- Their Birth Date
- Passport Number
- Nationality
- The Passport’s Issuance Date
- Their Cause of Death
- Their Date of Death
- Please provide information about the next-of-kin if it is not you.
The government honours local death certificates. However, you will need a translation if the details are not in English. Moreover, the authentic death certificate should accompany the coffin. If the NOK is not present, guarantee that at least one copy of the death certificate is available in the casket.
#3 Travel Insurance Policy Coverage
Repatriation costs can be too much for the family to handle entirely. However, a travel insurance policy purchased by the deceased may cover a portion, if not all, of the repatriation costs. It is an excellent idea to thoroughly read the policy to understand how the coverage works and how to claim it. The travel company representative can advise you about their insurance policy if they travelled with a tour group or on a package trip.
#4 Locate a Reputable Repatriation Service
You will have to embalm the deceased since it is a primary condition for air repatriation. You may be able to plan a memorial ceremony or cremation in the nation before flying the body back home. However, it depends on your funeral repatriation provider. It is a good idea to research and compare prices before deciding on a repatriation provider.
#5 Plan their Funeral
Following the completion of the repatriation of the human remains, you must carry the local death certificate and its certified English translation to the nearest register office. They can then provide you with the necessary documentation to plan the funeral. If you want, your repatriation provider can arrange the funeral, or you can request that they bring the corpse to a local funeral director after repatriation.
Flying Home has an experienced crew ready to assist and support you in times of challenges and loss in a distant place. They intend to help bereaved families worldwide at a reasonable cost of repatriation by engaging skilled, bilingual professionals. Contact them or visit their website to learn more about their funeral and repatriation services.
