Our team speaks Spanish and can assist with communication, ensuring no detail is overlooked. The decision for burial or cremation is yours, and we’re here to support whichever path you choose, understanding the cultural and emotional significance of these choices.
International Shipping of Remains to the Dominican Republic
Losing a loved one is a profound loss, and when they pass away far from home, the process of bringing them back to the Dominican Republic for their final resting place can feel overwhelming. At Fairhaven Memorial Chapel, we understand the importance of allowing your loved one to rest, surrounded by family and traditions that matter most.
Our team is dedicated to supporting you through every step of shipping remains to the Dominican Republic, handling the process with care, respect, and professionalism. This guide is part of our international shipping services, focusing on the Dominican Republic, offering clarity and comfort based on official Dominican consular guidelines and funeral service standards.
Process & Requirements
The process typically starts with initial arrangements, where we gather necessary information and obtain legal documents like the death certificate. Embalming is usually required to preserve the body for transport, followed by preparing it in a suitable container. Documentation is crucial, including an apostilled death certificate, embalming certificate, and transit permit, with translations into Spanish if required by the consulate. Transportation is often by air, included in our pricing, and we coordinate with the receiving funeral home in the Dominican Republic for final arrangements.
Shipping Remains to the Dominican Republic:
Step-by-step Guidance
Shipping remains to the Dominican Republic involves multiple steps, each requiring careful attention. Here’s how we handle the process, drawing from Dominican consular guidelines and industry practices:
Shipping remains to the Dominican Republic involves multiple steps, each requiring careful attention. Here’s how we handle the process:
- When you notify us of the death, our staff begins by gathering essential information and coordinating with local authorities to secure the death certificate – a key document for international transport.
- We know this is an emotional time, and we’re here to guide you, answer questions, and offer the support you need.
- The body is embalmed to preserve it for transport, a standard requirement for international shipping, typically completed within 24 hours of death per health guidelines.
- We prepare the remains with dignity, dressing them and placing them in a selective sealer casket or container suitable for the process. Honoring your loved one’s memory is our priority.
We assist you in obtaining critical paperwork, including:
- Request government ID of decedent (Passport, driver’s license, or birth certificate)
- Request Birth Certificate &/or Passport of decedent (copy BC & copy passport)
- Need receiving funeral home information and place of burial
- File death certificate, pick up original copy, and print transit permit
- Request health letter from health@cityofpassaicnj.gov by sending a completed abstract
- Need English embalming letter, which must be certified by Paterson city clerk ($5 cash)
- Obtain an embalming certificate confirming proper preparation
- Email all original documents to the Dominican Consulate at traduccionesny@mirex.gob.do; they will email you an appointment date for pick up in NYC ($500)
- Get 3 affidavits notarized by Queens NY County Clerk, then obtain apostille on the following documents:
- Death certificate
- Health letter
- Embalming letter
- Apostilled death certificate, translated into Spanish if required by the Dominican consulate
- Non-contagious disease certificate from a health authority
- Notarized letter from the next of kin authorizing transport
- The deceased’s passport or birth certificate to confirm identity and nationality
- Consular mortuary certificate issued by the Dominican consulate
- All documents must be originals, with Spanish translations notarized by a Dominican notary if needed
- Once the paperwork and apostille are completed, request a flight from Cargo Sales
- Send flight information to receiving funeral home and family
- We arrange transportation, typically by air (airtray and airline fees included), working with carriers experienced in handling human remains to ensure a respectful process.
- Our team coordinates with the receiving funeral home in the Dominican Republic for a seamless handoff, managing logistics based on availability and routes.
- Upon arrival, we confirm the receiving funeral home is ready to handle the remains, preparing them for burial or a funeral as you wish. We stay in touch to keep you updated.
- This process typically takes 1 to 2 weeks, depending on documentation and transport schedules, aligning with industry norms.
Family Responsibilities
What You Need To Provide
While we manage most arrangements, your help with a few items ensures a smooth process:
- Passport or Birth Certificate: Provide an active or canceled passport or birth certificate of the deceased to verify identity and nationality—crucial for consular steps.
- Receiving Funeral Home Details: Share the name, address, phone number, and email of the funeral home in the Dominican Republic receiving the remains for final coordination.
Having these ready early helps avoid delays, and our bilingual staff can assist with communication if needed.
Financial Transparency
Understanding the Costs
Our pricing for shipping remains to the Dominican Republic is all-inclusive, designed to ease your burden. Here’s what’s covered:
- Transfer of Remains
- Embalming
- Basic Funeral Arrangements
- 3 Hour Chapel Services
- Custodial Care Supervision of Staff
- Dress/Casketing
- Hearse
- Selective Sealer Casket
- Airtray
- Airline
- Health Department
- Consulate Charges
- Apostile
Additional services, like extended ceremonies or specific caskets, are extra and can be detailed upon request. Cremation and ash transport are more affordable alternatives—we’re happy to provide separate quotes if that’s your preference with separate quotes available. (International Remains Transport)
Ready to get started?
Frequently Asked Questions
The timeline can vary, typically taking 1 to 2 weeks, depending on documentation availability and transportation schedules. We’ll keep you updated throughout.
If these are unavailable, you may need to provide a declaration stating the relationship and confirming identity. Our team can guide you through this, ensuring compliance with consular requirements.
Yes, we offer various options for caskets and containers. Our staff can assist in selecting the most suitable one based on your preferences and needs, ensuring it meets transport regulations.
The Dominican Government does not typically provide financial aid for repatriation, but we can explore options with you if economic hardship is a concern, such as coordinating with local charities or consulates.
We’ll do our best to accommodate your schedule, but some services may have limited availability during holidays or weekends. Planning ahead is important, and we’ll advise on the best course of action.
Cremation is a more economical option, involving obtaining a cremation certificate and transporting ashes. Airlines or customs may request this certificate, and we can provide a separate quote if needed, ensuring a dignified process.
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