How Do You Bring a Body Back to the US After a Death Abroad?

Detailed Explanation

This page covers the U.S. side of bringing someone home after they die in another country: what the State Department does, the federal rules for bringing remains into the country, and what happens once the person arrives in their home state. For the general process that applies whichever country the person is returning to, see how do you repatriate a body after a death overseas.

Two things make the U.S. process distinct. The embassy issues its own record of the death, the Consular Report of Death Abroad. And once the remains are back, rules for the funeral depend on the state, not a single national system.

Reporting the death

Next of kin or the person's legal representative can report the death to the U.S. embassy or consulate in the country where it happened. Often the embassy hears first from local authorities and contacts the family. If the person had travel insurance, call the insurer's emergency line too; many policies include return of remains and the insurer may arrange it.

The local death certificate comes from that country's authorities, following local law. The consular officer is responsible for getting a copy to prepare the U.S. report, usually directly from local authorities or the local funeral home.

What the State Department can and can't do

U.S. embassies and consulates can:

• communicate with local authorities and explain local procedures
• give information about local burial, cremation, and shipping remains home, with cost estimates
• pass the family's instructions to the right local offices
• explain how to send money for the necessary expenses
• prepare the Consular Report of Death Abroad.

The State Department can't pay to return remains or ashes, and the family chooses and pays the funeral homes involved.

A useful and little-known resource: each U.S. embassy is required to publish a disposition of remains report on its website. It describes the country's rules on burial deadlines, embalming, cremation, coffins and exporting remains, along with price ranges in U.S. dollars for each service and estimated shipping costs to U.S. cities. The reports are updated at least every three years, so treat the prices as a rough guide and get current quotes.

The Consular Report of Death Abroad

The Consular Report of Death of a U.S. Citizen Abroad (Form DS-2060, often called a CRODA) is prepared from the local death certificate. It is an administrative report, not a civil death certificate, but it is often used to settle legal and estate matters in the U.S. and gives families an English-language record of the death. If the person received Social Security or other federal benefits, the embassy sends a copy to the agencies concerned.

Copies sent to family when the report is first prepared are free. Certified copies requested later cost $50 each as of 2026; check the current fee with the State Department before ordering.

Federal rules for bringing remains into the US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) sets the federal requirements, in 42 CFR 71.55:

Federal law doesn't require embalming, but in practice the country where the person died, or the airline, usually does. The funeral home abroad handles export paperwork, and the U.S. funeral home handles arrival.

When the person arrives: state rules apply

Once the remains are in the country, burial, cremation and transit permits come under the law of the state where the funeral will be, and requirements vary. Some states, for example, set waiting periods or extra approvals before cremation. The receiving funeral home knows its own state's rules and usually handles these permits. See how cremation works in the US if the family plans a cremation after the person is home.

Paying for it and comparing prices

Without insurance, the family or the estate pays. Get quotes from both ends. The FTC Funeral Rule requires U.S. funeral homes to list prices on their general price list for receiving remains from another funeral home and forwarding remains to another funeral home, if they offer those services, together with what the price includes. That makes the U.S. side of the cost easy to compare between funeral homes. See how to choose a funeral director for what else to ask.

Many families choose cremation abroad and bring the ashes home, which usually costs far less. See can you take ashes overseas.

With relatives often scattered across states and countries, an online memorial gives everyone one place to share memories while the arrangements are made.

Things to Consider

• Read the embassy's disposition of remains report early. It sets out that country's rules and typical prices.
• Order enough copies of the Consular Report of Death Abroad when it's first prepared, since those copies are free and later ones aren't.
• Ask for the "receiving remains" price on U.S. funeral homes' general price lists and compare it.
• Check the destination state's rules with the receiving funeral home before setting a date, especially for cremation.
• Estate matters may cross borders. If the person owned property or accounts abroad, advice from a lawyer familiar with both countries can be worthwhile.

Common Mistakes

• Expecting the State Department to pay or arrange the return. It advises and documents; the family, estate or insurer pays.
• Assuming the CRODA replaces the local death certificate. It's an administrative report based on that certificate; keep both.
• Not asking for itemized prices. The Funeral Rule gives you the right to a general price list; use it to compare.
• Assuming one national rule for the funeral. Permits and cremation rules differ by state.
• Setting the funeral date before the remains are released. Local investigations, paperwork and flights often cause delays.