Repatriation of Bodies, Skeletal Remains and Ashes

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Cross-Border Arrangements Involve Several Departments

Our company handles the entrance and exit of bodies of the deceased/ashes, including handling death certificates, embalming treatment, consular appointments, insect-proof wooden boxes, cargo/passenger aircraft slots , etc. The entire process will be followed up by professionals, please call us for inquiries: (852) 82099774 .

The most troublesome part of this type of case is not that any step is particularly difficult, but that involves too many departments and the order cannot be mistaken - Immigration Department, Department of Health, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), coroner, destination consulate, local civil affairs or funeral department, airlines, any missing link will get stuck. Moreover, family members are often in two places, separated by time differences, and their emotions are at their lowest point.

This page clearly lists the legal requirements, form numbers, responsible departments, addresses and telephone numbers of four common situations ( body of the deceased exiting the country, body of the deceased entering the country, ashes entry and exit, and exhumed remains entry ), so that you at least know the full story of the matter. Tim Fat Funeral is FEHD licensed undertaker , shop address G/F, 26 Baker Street, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong .

Quick comparison of four scenarios

The most common confusion: Many people think that all cross-border funeral matters are under the jurisdiction of FEHD. In fact, the body of the deceased’s entry permit is issued by the Port Health Division of the Department of Health, not FEHD ; while the body of the deceased’s exit permit is issued by the Immigration Department . FEHD is responsible for cremation, burial, niche and exhumed remains licences. Knowing that one department is responsible for another can save a lot of unnecessary mistakes.

Transporting a Body Out of Hong Kong: Form 9 Permit

If you want to arrange for the body of the deceased to leave the country, after completes the death registration , you must apply to the Immigration Department Death Registration Office of the Joint Office for " Permit to Remove the Body from Hong Kong " ( Form 9 ).

1. Complete death registration

   For a death from natural causes, register the death using the Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death (Form 18) to obtain the Certificate of Registration of Death (Form 12, commonly called the “hang gai zi”). Section 14 of the Births and Deaths Registration Ordinance (Cap. 174) requires registration within 24 hours. For an unnatural death, arrangements can proceed only after the Coroner issues Form 11. See our eight-step guide to after-death arrangements.

2. Ask for and fill in SF/BDR/3 at the counter

   Applicants can obtain and fill in the application form SF/BDR/3 at the counter, and provide the personal information of the deceased, the time and place of the proposed removal of the body of the deceased from Hong Kong and other information.

3. Show destination documents (key)

   The applicant must present the original and copy of the "burial permission document" and the "entry document of the body of the deceased" that the body of the deceased intends to move to the local cemetery. That is to say - You have to decide on the destination first, and Hong Kong will be approved first . The order cannot be reversed, and this is also the link that most families get stuck on.

4. Complete destination formalities

   Depending on whether it is shipped to mainland China or overseas, the procedures are different. Please see the next two sections for details.

5. Entrust a licensed undertaker to arrange delivery

   After obtaining the approval and completing the immigration formalities, the applicant must contact the Hong Kong licensed undertaker or funeral parlour to handle the transportation of the body of the deceased - including embalming, burial, outer box, aircraft space and airport delivery. This part is handled by us.

Fee: According to the Immigration Department, after relatives register a natural death, or the Coroner issues Form 11 for an unnatural death, a Permit for Removal of Dead Body from Hong Kong may be obtained free of charge from the relevant Deaths Registry if the body is to be taken out of Hong Kong for burial.

Shipping to Mainland China

According to the FEHD "Instructions for Import and Export Services of the Body of the Deceased", if the body of the deceased is shipped to mainland China, the following two items must be completed:

1. Applicants must bring the deceased's homecoming permit, ID card and " Certificate of Registration of Death " ( Form 12 ) and other documents. According to regulations of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of Mainland China , contact " China Funeral Association International Corpse Transportation Network Service Centre " to complete the required procedures (for details, please visit the website of the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China mca.gov.cn ).
2. You must contact the Hong Kong licensed undertaker or funeral parlour to handle the transportation of the body of the deceased.

In practice, cases of repatriation to neighbouring provinces such as Guangdong and Fujian are relatively common, and the procedures are relatively familiar; however, the requirements for receiving units, funeral parlours, and cemeteries in various provinces and cities may not be consistent, and must still be confirmed one by one. We can help connect with mainland funeral companies and simultaneously handle documents and transportation in Hong Kong.

An alternative: if the family is considering cremation in Hong Kong followed by taking the ashes to the Mainland for burial, the procedures are much simpler. Bringing ashes into or out of Hong Kong currently does not require an application to the Hong Kong Government, although some destinations require a Certificate of Cremation. Before deciding, compare the time, cost and family wishes involved in each option. For cremation and interment arrangements, see our guide to columbaria and cemeteries.

Ship to other places

If the body of the deceased is shipped overseas, the FEHD guidelines specify two items:

1. Pay attention to whether the deceased had a local passport and received entry approval from the local government . Applicants can check with the relevant consulate .
2. After obtaining approval and completing immigration formalities, the applicant must contact the local licensed undertaker or funeral parlour to handle the transportation of the body of the deceased.

Requirements vary greatly from country to country

This point must be made clear: There is no universal set of international standards . Different countries and carriers may have completely different requirements for the following items:

• Embalming treatment - whether it is necessary, which level of personnel performs it, and the format of the certificate.
• Coffin sealing method - Whether metal lining or sealing layer is required.
• Outer box packaging ——Wooden box specifications, markings, and pest control treatment requirements.
• Document Authentication - Whether notarization, authentication or consulate signature is required.
• Translation - Documents must be translated into the local language and stamped by the designated agency.
• Entry quarantine - Inspection and reception arrangements upon arrival.

Therefore, before ordering a coffin, you must first confirm the destination requirements. If you order a coffin first and discover that the specifications are not right, you may have to reprocess it, which is a waste of time and money. For coffin styles and specifications, see and complete coffin purchasing guide .

Bringing a Body into Hong Kong: Import Permit for Human Corpses (DH2437)

When the body of the deceased is transported back to Hong Kong from other places (or re-exported through Hong Kong), it is necessary to obtain Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death, body of the deceased embalming certificate and complete exit procedures locally. The applicant or the entrusted funeral parlour or undertaker must report to Department of Health Port Health Section Apply for " Human Corpse Import Licence ".

The application form is DH2437 and can be downloaded from the Department of Health webpage. This form is applicable to applications for corpses to be brought to Hong Kong for burial or cremation, and applications for corpses to be re-exported in Hong Kong . According to the requirements of the " Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation " ( Chapter 599A ), the body of the deceased entering Hong Kong must possess an import permit issued by the Department of Health.

Three Submission Points, Depending on Transport Method

Timing: Apply as early as possible. Industry guidance indicates that an import permit application should generally be made at least two working days before the planned arrival in Hong Kong. Flights, consular approvals and departure procedures at the place of death all affect the timetable. Notify your licensed undertaker as soon as the itinerary is confirmed so that the documentation can be coordinated, avoiding delays after the body arrives in Hong Kong.

After the remains arrive in Hong Kong, the usual procedures can be followed to arrange a mourning hall and funeral at a funeral parlour, cremation or burial, and interment of the ashes.

Transporting Ashes and Skeletal Remains Across Borders

Ashes: No Hong Kong Government Application Required

At present, ashes may be brought into or out of Hong Kong without a permit from the Hong Kong Government. This often surprises families and is the simplest form of cross-border arrangement.

But there are two things to note:

• Destination requirements - Some countries will require " Cremation Certificate " and " Migration Ashes Permit ", which can be submitted with the application form FEHB 143 and respectively. FEHB 148 , apply to FEHD Hong Kong Island (J, 1 Wong Nai Chung Road, Happy Valley) or Kowloon (G/F, 6 Cheong Hang Road, Hung Hom) Cemetery and Crematorium Office. Cremation certificate fee $140 ; relocation or exhumation of remains permit fee $120 (replacement $140).
• Placement in Hong Kong in the future - If ashes are returned to Hong Kong from overseas and are intended to be placed in a Hong Kong cemetery or columbarium, cremation certificate and proof that the deceased is a Hong Kong resident must be presented. One of the qualifying conditions for the FEHD public niche is that "the person has been a resident of Hong Kong for at least ten of the twenty years immediately preceding death, and the remains were cremated outside Hong Kong." For details, see public columbarium niche application for teaching .

Skeletal Remains: An Import Permit Is Required

Importing skeletal remains recovered through exhumation requires an application to the headquarters of the Department of Health’s Port Health Division for a Permit to Import a Human Corpse, supported by a medical certificate of the cause of death and an export permit issued by the authorities at the place of departure.

ashes ≠ exhumed remains, do not confuse them. No permit is required for the entry of ashes (after cremation); DH2437 is required for the entry of exhumed remains (un-cremated remains). If it involves exhumation, exhumed remains, cremation and reburial in Hong Kong, see exhumation． Cemetery .

Unnatural death cases

If the case involves a coroner's investigation - such as an accident, poisoning, violent death, or the death was not treated by a registered medical practitioner - the process will be significantly different and longer:

1. The police must be called immediately who will notify the coroner to launch an investigation.
2. " Certificate of Order Authorizing Burial/Cremation of the Body " ( Form 11 , commonly known as Burial Order or Cremation Order) is issued by the Coroner.
3. After obtaining Form 11, you can apply for the "Permit to Remove the Corpse from Hong Kong" (Form 9) to the Death Registration Office of the Immigration Department.

In other words, before Form 11, the body of the deceased cannot leave the country . The time required for the investigation depends on the complexity of the case. Family members should allow sufficient time and notify the receiving unit at the destination as early as possible to avoid expiration of local burial arrangements.

Embalming, Pest Treatment of Wooden Cases and Flight Arrangements

Embalming the Deceased

Cross-border transport generally requires embalming. For remains returning to Hong Kong, obtain an embalming certificate at the place of departure. For remains leaving Hong Kong, destination authorities and airlines commonly require embalming and supporting certification. Embalming slows changes to the body and meets long-distance transport and public health requirements. We can arrange treatment and documents alongside dressing the deceased and make-up.

Pest Treatment of Wooden Transport Cases

Coffins transported across the border must generally be placed in outer wooden boxes . Wooden packaging materials are generally subject to phytosanitary regulations during international transportation and must undergo designated pest control treatments and be labeled to prevent pests from spreading across borders with containers or air cargo. Actual requirements depend on destination country and carrier regulations . Our company handles insect-proofing of wooden boxes.

Space on Cargo or Passenger Flights

Air transportation of the body of the deceased must be handled as cargo form , arrange cargo plane or passenger plane slot , and comply with the airline's regulations on coffin size, weight, outer box packaging and accompanying documents . Seats are tight on popular routes and during holidays, so early booking is recommended. Our company handles the arrangement of cargo and passenger aircraft slots, and is responsible for delivering the aircraft and connecting with ground handling and freight forwarders.

The three are intertwined: The embalming certificate is not complete → the airline will not accept it; the wooden box has not been detoxified → the destination customs may confine it; the coffin is oversized → the cabin cannot be booked. Therefore, our approach is to advance the three lines simultaneously . We will not wait for one thing to be completed before doing the next one.

consular appointment

If the body is being sent overseas, or the deceased held a foreign passport, it is often necessary to contact and arrange an appointment with the relevant consulate. FEHD’s guidance also says to check whether the deceased held a passport for the destination and whether entry approval has been obtained from its government; applicants may consult the relevant consulate.

What You Usually Need to Prepare

• the deceased’s passport or identification document
• Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death (Form 18)
• Certificate of Registration of Death (Form 12) or Certified copy of death registration entry (death certificate)
• body of the deceased embalming certificate
• Destination Cemetery or funeral parlour acceptance document / burial permission document
• Proof of relationship between the applicant and the deceased (marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc.)
• Applicant’s identity document
• Some consulates also require documents to be notarised, authenticated or translated.

The appointment system, office hours, required documents and processing time of consulates in various countries vary greatly, and some require waiting. The acting consul of our company arranges an appointment with and assists the family members in sorting and checking the document list.

Document preparation checklist

Family members can first sort out the following information to expedite consular appointments and air travel arrangements. The actual documents required will vary according to the destination country. Please call first to check the list.

Details of the Deceased

• Copy of Hong Kong ID card
• Copy of passport (if any)
• Copy of Home Return Permit (applicable for shipment to the Mainland)
• Birth certificate or other identity document (if applicable)

Death related documents

• Medical Certificate of the Cause of Death ( form 18)
• Medical Certificate (Cremation) ( form 2) (if it is planned to be cremated in Hong Kong)
• Certificate of Registration of Death ( form 12)
• Coroner's Authorization Certificate (Form 11) (unnatural death cases)
• Certified copy of death registration entry (death certificate) - It is recommended that apply for more copies of (local $140/copy, overseas $275/copy)
• body of the deceased embalming certificate

Destination information

• Destination country/province and city
• Name and contact of local cemetery, cemetery or funeral parlour
• Local permitting burial document and body of the deceased entry document (Form 9 must present the original and copy)
• Local recipient’s name, phone number and address
• Intended delivery date and time

Applicant information

• Copy of applicant’s ID card or passport
• Proof of relationship with the deceased
• Contact number, address and email ( must belong to the applicant )

FEHD reminds: Do not sign the blank application form; the applicant on the form must be a relative of the deceased, and the contact number, address and email must belong to the applicant himself. In addition, FEHD has not authorised any funeral director or undertaker to act as an agent for in funeral matters. If anyone claims to be authorised by FEHD to handle the matter, they should report it to FEHD.

Related charges

The above is the government statutory fee . Undertaker's service fees (embalming, enshrinement, coffin, outer box, transportation, airport delivery, consular agency, airport seating) are additional. We will list them in , one list, one clear, one price, . will not charge any miscellaneous fees .

Repatriation of Remains: FAQs

Free Advice: Call Us to Check Your Document List

The biggest fear in cross-border cases is “not knowing what is missing”. You only need to tell a few things on the phone - where the deceased passed away, whether the police or coroner was involved, where he plans to transport it, whether he has a local passport, and who will follow up at the destination - and we can immediately list how many documents you need to process, which department you need to contact, and how long it will take.

Tim Fat Funeral is FEHD licensed undertaker , store address G/F, 26 Baker Street, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong , in the same district as the three funeral parlours of the Universal, International and Global Funeral Parlours, FEHD Kowloon Cemetery and Crematorium Office (Hung Hom The upper ground floor of No. 6 Cheong Hang Road) is also on the same street. It is very convenient to apply for cremation certificates and relocation permits. Serving all districts in Hong Kong and undertaking cross-border cases from the Mainland and overseas. Mr Wu answers calls 24 hours a day.

Official inquiry channel

• FEHD: body of the deceased entrance and exit service instructions
• Immigration Department: Apply for a "Permit to Remove Corpses from Hong Kong"
• Department of Health: Human corpse import application form (DH2437) download
• Immigration Department: Registration of death
• FEHD: Cemeteries and crematoria service charges list
• Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China

Quick tour of related pages

• Overview of posthumous affairs process
• Service scope
• Coffin
• burial clothing
• A Wake at a Funeral Parlour
• Various religious ceremonies
• Taoist and Buddhist Ceremonies
• paper offerings
• List of materials
• Columbarium Niches and Cemeteries
• New Niche Allocation
• Private columbarium niche
• Exhumation and Cemetery Arrangements
• Funeral Assistance for CSSA Recipients
• FAQ
• latest news
• Contact us
• Site Map

The procedures, form numbers and departmental information on this page are compiled from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) "Instructions for Import and Export Services of the Body of the Deceased" and "Instructions for Handling Posthumous Affairs", the Immigration Department "Application for a Permit to Remove the Dead Body from Hong Kong" page, the Department of Health "Application Form for the Import of Human Cadavers" (DH2437) and information from the Port Health Division, as well as the Prevention and Control of Disease Regulation (Chapter 599A). There are no uniform standards for the requirements of various countries and local authorities, and government regulations may be revised from time to time. For actual information, please refer to the latest official announcements and destination authority requirements, or call us for free enquiries. This page was last edited: September 2026.