Transportation of Human Remains

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GUIDELINES FOR THE IMPORTATION/EXPORTATION OF HUMAN REMAINS TO AND FROM JAMAICA

All arrangements, including the payment of all expenses, for the preparation and transportation of human remains are the responsibility of the family members or representative of the deceased. Only Registered Funeral Homes with a licensed Embalmer will be issued with Transit Permit to Import or Export Human Remains.

The family or representatives must:

  • Make the necessary arrangement with a Funeral Home in the location country to handle all arrangements for transportation of the body, including with the airline for flying the body home;
  • Seek permission in writing from the pertinent authority (e.g. police) in the particular area where death occurred, for the body to be released to the Funeral Home;
  • Make the necessary arrangements with a Funeral Home in Jamaica to receive the body on arrival at the airport and make the necessary arrangements for burial or cremation.

 

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS ARE TO ACCOMPANY THE HUMAN REMAINS TO JAMAICA:

  1.  Official Death Certificate stating cause of death  issued by the pertinent authority; (REQUIRED)
  2.  Free from Infection Certificate: Document from originating country’s Health Authority advising that the death was not due to any communicable disease ;  (REQUIRED)
  3.  Embalming Certificate/Embalmer’s Affidavit issued by the Funeral Home indicating the manner in which the body was prepared and that the coffin  contains only the body in question( REQUIRED)
  1. Form of Acknowledgement by the Coroner or Post Mortem Report (where applicable)
  1. Funeral Director’s Declaration: Statement of Assurance which advises that that the remains have been placed in a hermetically sealed (air tight) casket or a lead coffin, in cases where persons died from communicable diseases;
  1. Copy of identification: a Birth certificate, Death Record or passport
  1. Permit to Dispose of or Transport Human Remains (REQUIRED)

 

The above information must be submitted to the Kingston and St. Andrew Health Department or the St. James Health Department of the Ministry of Health prior to the arrival of the remains. This is to facilitate the issuance of the Transit Permit.

 

 

THE COST OF THE TRANSIT PERMIT FOR IMPORTATION OF HUMAN REMAINS IS AS FOLLOWS:

Remains imported by individuals:                    JA$ 3,000.00

The remains imported by a Funeral Home:    JA$ 6,000.00.

(Please note that Funeral Homes may charge additional administrative fees)

 

CREMATED REMAINS

If the human remains were cremated abroad, the following documents issued by the relevant authorities must accompany the remains to Jamaica:

  1.  Official Death Certificate/post mortem report– (stating name, age and cause of death); (REQUIRED)
  1.  Cremation Certificate completed by the Funeral Home, (Required, but if not available this is usually indicated on the Death Certificate in the “Method of  Disposition”) (REQUIRED)
  1.  Transit Permit.

 

Please be advised that the Transit Permit issued by the Kingston and St. Andrew Health Department, or the St. James Health Department is to be obtained prior to the arrival of the cremated remains.

If the Transit Permit is not obtained prior to arrival, the cremated remains will be examined by Customs and detained at the Airport, until the Permit is obtained. The individual will be directed to the Public Health Office at the airport to make the requisite payment for the transit permit. Once the receipt is presented to Customs, the remains will be released

 

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR EXPORTATION OF HUMAN REMAINS

(Please note only registered Funeral Homes with licensed Embalmers will be issued with Transit Permits for the Export of Human Remains)

The following documents are required to be presented to the Kingston and St. Andrew Health Department, or the St. James Health Department of the issuance of a Transit Permit/Non-Communicable Disease Certificate:

  1.  Death Certificate – with the cause of death ( Required)
  2.  Embalming Certificate ( Required)
  3.  Autopsy Report (where applicable)

 

Fees:                JA$6,000

Contact:
Ms. Andrea Squire
Kingston and St Andrew Health Department,
1A Caledonia Crescent, Kingston 5

Tel:               1-876 -926-1550-2

  

DIASPORA AND CONSULAR AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN TRADE |JAMAICA.

UPDATED 1st MARCH 2016

Please be advised that as of April 1st 2016 the Bereavement Authority of Ontario (BAO) has been authorized to prepare, sign and issue letters of good standing for shipping human remains to funeral establishments and funeral directors. The BAO now has full responsibility for the licensing enforcement activities of the bereavement sector in Ontario. Their contact details are as follows:

100 Sheppard Avenue East,
Suite 505,
Toronto, Ontario M2N 6N5
Tel: 647-483-2645
 Toll Free:1-844-493-6356
Fax: 647-748-2645
Email: [email protected]

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE BELOW

Guidelines for the importation of Human Remains (1)