International Repatriation Services
When a loved one needs to be brought home, or sent home from Singapore, the process involves embalming, coffin preparation, embassy authorisation and airline logistics — all within tight timeframes. We manage every step so your family, or your organisation, isn't left to navigate unfamiliar paperwork alone.
At a glance
- Pricing basis
- Depends on destination country
- Documentation
- Fully handled by our team
- Embassy liaison
- Included
- Response time
- Within ~1 hour (normal traffic)
- Directions
- Into Singapore, or out to any country
Compare all our funeral packages →
Bringing a loved one home, or sending them home from Singapore
International repatriation runs in two directions, and we handle both. If a family member has passed away overseas, we coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Singapore Overseas Mission and the foreign funeral home to bring them back to Singapore. If a loved one has passed away here and the family wishes for them to be returned to their homeland, we prepare the remains and the paperwork needed to export them from Singapore to the destination country.
Every country has its own requirements for embalming, coffin construction, and the documents that must travel with the casket. We confirm these directly with the relevant embassy or consulate before proceeding, so nothing is missed and there are no delays at either end of the journey.
Documentation and embassy work we take care of
Repatriation cannot proceed without the right documents accompanying the casket, and the exact list depends on the destination country. As a general guide, this is what's typically required, and what we prepare or obtain on your behalf:
1Death Certificate
An original, and an English translation if it was issued in another language. It must show the deceased's name as per their passport, nationality, passport number, and date and cause of death.
2Embalming Certificate
Confirms the body has been embalmed to the standard required for international transport, issued by the embalmer or funeral home carrying out the procedure.
3Sealing Certificate
Certifies that the coffin is hermetically sealed and metal-lined, as required for air or sea transport of remains.
4Coffin Export Permit
Issued by the relevant health or port authority in the country the remains are leaving from, authorising the export of the body.
5Coffin Import Permit
Issued by the receiving country's authority — in Singapore, this is arranged through NEA — to allow the casket to clear on arrival.
6Airway Bill
The airline's transport document for the casket, naming the consignee — usually our team or the family's appointed next-of-kin.
7Passport / Identification
The deceased's original passport or ID often needs to accompany the casket, or be produced at clearance, depending on the destination.
8Embassy / Consular Letter
Many countries require a no-objection letter or consular authorisation from their embassy before remains can be exported. We liaise with the embassy directly to obtain this.
Some destinations also call for a non-contagious disease certificate or additional coroner's clearance. Names, passport numbers and dates must match exactly across every document — even a small mismatch can hold the casket at cargo acceptance or customs, which is why we check every detail before the casket travels.
Repatriating a deceased foreign employee
We also work directly with employers who need to arrange the repatriation of a foreign employee who has passed away in Singapore, and support them through both the legal requirements and the practical arrangements.
Under the Employment of Foreign Manpower (Work Passes) Regulations 2012, an employer has a statutory duty to bear the cost of returning a deceased foreign employee's remains to their home country, where that is what the deceased's family wishes. This sits alongside an employer's other obligations following the death of a foreign employee, such as notifying the Ministry of Manpower, cancelling the relevant work pass, and settling any outstanding salary or monies owed to the family.
We work with the employer's HR team from the first call, preparing the documentation, coordinating with the family and the relevant embassy, and managing the logistics of returning the employee home, so the employer can meet this obligation smoothly and respectfully.
Employment of Foreign Manpower (Work Passes) Regulations 2012Why the cost depends on the destination country
There's no fixed headline price for international repatriation, because so much of the cost is set by the destination itself rather than by us. Three factors generally drive the final quote:
Distance & airline cargo rates
Air freight charges for a casket vary widely by route and airline, and are one of the largest components of the total cost.
Destination requirements
Some countries call for additional certificates, consular authorisation or specific coffin specifications, which adds to documentation and preparation time and cost.
Receiving-country coordination
Working with an overseas funeral home or receiving agent to clear the casket on arrival is priced differently depending on the country and its local handling charges.
Because of this, we don't quote a single starting price for repatriation the way we can for a local service. Call or WhatsApp us with the destination country and we'll work through the exact requirements and cost with you.
Why families and employers choose Farewell Funerals
Repatriation involves more moving parts than almost any other funeral arrangement — embassies, airlines, overseas funeral homes and local authorities all need to be coordinated correctly and often quickly. A free, no-obligation conversation with us can help you understand what's involved for your specific destination before you decide anything.
-
✓
Embassy & consular liaison
We contact the relevant embassy or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directly on your behalf, so authorisation and documentation requirements are confirmed early.
-
★
End-to-end documentation
Death certificate, embalming and sealing certificates, export and import permits, and the airway bill — we prepare and check every document so nothing holds up the casket.
-
✓
Overseas network
We coordinate directly with receiving funeral homes and agents at the destination, so the family or employer only has one point of contact throughout.
-
✓
Rapid, discreet response, 24/7
We're reachable any hour of the day and can usually be at your side within about an hour of your call.
A typical timeline
Every destination has its own pace, but here's an honest picture of how the process usually unfolds:
Response & first steps
We can usually arrive within about an hour to assist your family or your HR team, whether the death occurred in Singapore or you need to bring someone home from abroad. We start confirming destination-country requirements immediately.
Embalming & documentation
The body is embalmed and the coffin sealed to the standard required for transport, while we prepare the death certificate, embalming and sealing certificates, and begin the embassy authorisation process.
Export & import permits
Once documentation is in order, we apply for the coffin export permit and coordinate the coffin import permit with the receiving country's authority, along with the airway bill for the flight.
Arrival & clearance
We coordinate with the overseas receiving funeral home, or the local authorities if the remains are arriving in Singapore, so the casket clears smoothly and the family can proceed with the funeral or burial.
What families say
Bringing my father home felt impossible until they took over the embassy calls and paperwork. They handled everything and kept us updated at every stage.
International repatriation FAQs
How much does international repatriation cost?
There is no single fixed price, because repatriation cost depends mainly on the destination country. Distance, airline cargo rates, the destination country's own documentation and quarantine requirements, embalming, coffin specifications, and coordination with a receiving funeral home overseas all affect the final quote. Call or WhatsApp us with the destination country and we can give you an accurate cost breakdown.
What documents are needed to repatriate a body internationally?
Typically an original death certificate, an embalming certificate, a sealing certificate for the coffin, a coffin export permit from the country of departure, a coffin import permit for the receiving country, an airway bill, and the deceased's passport or identification. Some destination countries also require a consular letter or no-objection certificate from their embassy, and a non-contagious disease certificate. Exact requirements vary by destination and we confirm the full list with the relevant embassy before proceeding.
Do you handle the embassy paperwork?
Yes. We liaise directly with the relevant embassy or consulate in Singapore, or with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Singapore Overseas Mission if the death occurred abroad, to confirm documentation requirements and obtain any consular authorisation needed before the remains can be exported.
Is an employer required to repatriate the body of a deceased foreign employee?
Under Singapore's Employment of Foreign Manpower (Work Passes) Regulations 2012, an employer is required to bear the cost of returning a deceased foreign employee's remains to their home country if that is what the deceased's family wishes. We work directly with employers to fulfil this obligation and manage the full repatriation process on their behalf.
Can ashes be sent overseas instead of the body?
Yes. Sending cremated remains is generally simpler and more affordable than repatriating a body, since it does not require embalming or a coffin export permit. The ashes must be placed in a suitable urn and travel with a death certificate and cremation certificate. We can advise whether this is a suitable option for your family's circumstances.
How long does international repatriation take?
Timing depends on how quickly documentation and embassy authorisation can be obtained, as well as flight availability to the destination country. We begin coordinating documents, embalming and embassy liaison immediately so the process moves as quickly as the destination country's requirements allow.
Resources on repatriation & employer obligations
Alongside handling the arrangements ourselves, these official sources may help you or your HR team understand the wider process:
-
Bringing the Body Home — MyLegacy@LifeSG
Government guidance on the documents needed to bring a deceased Singaporean's remains back from overseas.
-
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Singapore
Consular assistance and guidance for Singaporeans who pass away overseas, including liaison with the local Singapore Overseas Mission.
-
Ministry of Manpower (MOM) Singapore
Guidance for employers on obligations following the death of a foreign employee, including work pass cancellation and repatriation of remains.
-
After-Death Facilities & Services — National Environment Agency
Official information on coffin import permits and after-death facilities managed by NEA.
Wherever home is, we can help bring your family together.
Call or WhatsApp us any hour of the day with the destination country, and we'll walk you through the documents, embassy steps and an accurate cost breakdown — no obligation, no pressure.