Repatriation Route

Repatriation from France to the United States

Coordination of the international transfer of a deceased person from France to the United States — documentation, local providers, airline and cargo arrangements, and handover at destination.

Documentation typically involved

  • French death certificate (acte de décès)
  • Mortuary passport (laissez-passer mortuaire) for the international transfer
  • Documentation regarding the preparation of the deceased
  • Documentation required by the United States for entry of the deceased
  • Airline documentation for the shipment, including the air waybill

This is the documentation commonly involved on this route. The actual set is confirmed for each case, and can change depending on the circumstances of the death and the authorities involved.

Route considerations

The mortuary passport is the pivot of the case

On transfers out of France the laissez-passer mortuaire is generally the document everything else waits on. How quickly it is issued shapes the whole timeline, which is why we start it as early as the case allows.

Coffin specification

International transfers out of France are typically carried out in a sealed coffin meeting the specification required for air transport. The exact specification is confirmed with the carrier and the receiving side for each case.

Entry into the United States

The United States has its own requirements for the entry of a deceased person, and the receiving funeral home and state of destination both matter. These are identified during the assessment rather than assumed from the departure side.

How It Works

Five Stages, One Point of Contact

International repatriation involves authorities, documents and providers in at least two countries. This is how we structure it so the family does not have to.

  1. 01

    Case Intake

    We take the details of the case: where the death occurred, where the deceased needs to be transferred, and the circumstances that affect what will be required.

  2. 02

    Operational Assessment

    We review the requirements for that specific route — documentation, authorisations, available providers and flight options — and come back to you with what the case involves.

  3. 03

    Coordination in the Country of Origin

    We coordinate with the local professional providers and the relevant authorities in the country where the death occurred.

  4. 04

    The International Transfer

    Documentation, airline, cargo and the flight itself are coordinated and tracked through to departure.

  5. 05

    Arrival in the Destination Country

    We coordinate the handover to the receiving party in the destination country and the continuation of the arrangements there.

The stages above describe how a case is typically managed. The specific requirements, sequence and timing depend on the countries involved and are confirmed case by case.

Case Intake

Need to Arrange a Repatriation?

Send us the details of the case. The more you can tell us, the faster we can assess the route and what it will require.

The case

Example format: +1 555 000 0000

Add more details Optional — helps us assess the route faster

If this is urgent, contact us directly by phone or WhatsApp.

Available 24/7

Get Immediate Repatriation Assistance

Tell us where the death occurred and where the deceased needs to go. We will assess the route and come back to you.

Call WhatsApp Get Help