China Customs and Quarantine Rules for Importing Human Remains

Full-Body Shipments Go Through Health and Quarantine Inspection

When full human remains arrive at a Chinese port of entry in a hermetically sealed casket, China Customs conducts a health and quarantine inspection before releasing them for domestic transport. Cremated ashes carried by a family member must instead be declared to China Customs on arrival. The full-body process is governed by GACC (General Administration of Customs of China) Order No. 24, the Administrative Measures on the Quarantine of Entry-Exit Corpses and Skeletons.

The inspection is not a formality. Customs officers review all documentation, verify the cause of death, and confirm that the remains meet biosecurity standards. If any required document is missing or the cause of death raises quarantine concerns, the remains can be held at the port while the issue is resolved.

The Documentation Must Be Submitted Before Departure

The importing party — either a licensed logistics agent or the family's designated representative — must submit an electronic sanitary declaration to China Customs before the remains leave the United States. This pre-arrival declaration includes:

• The certified death certificate showing the cause of death, with the state-level Hague Apostille (post-November 2023, this is the only authentication required)
• The Embalming and Casket Sealing Certificate (for full-body shipments)
• The Burial Transit Permit issued by the US health department
• A customs health declaration form
• Flight details and the Air Waybill number

For cremated remains carried as hand luggage, the documentation requirements are lighter: the death certificate with Apostille, the cremation certificate, the deceased's cancelled Chinese passport, and the accompanying relative's valid passport. The family member declares the ashes to customs upon landing and presents the documents at the inspection counter.

The Infectious Disease Prohibition Is Absolute

If the cause of death is determined to be a quarantinable communicable disease — including cholera, plague, anthrax, and other diseases on China's quarantine list — entry of the intact body is strictly prohibited under the cited quarantine rules. The remains must be cremated locally in the US, and only the ashes may be brought to China.

This prohibition is not overcome by professional embalming or hermetic sealing.

Families should verify the cause of death against the GACC restricted list before committing to full-body repatriation. If the death was caused by a restricted disease, spending $15,000 to $25,000 on repatriation logistics will end with the casket being refused at the Chinese port and mandatory cremation on arrival — at the family's additional expense.

Only Designated Funeral Homes Handle International Remains Inside China

Once the remains clear customs, they cannot be transported to just any funeral home. The Chinese Funeral Association (中国殡葬协会) restricts the domestic handling of internationally imported remains to designated state-run funeral homes. These facilities have specialized equipment, trained staff, and direct coordination channels with customs and quarantine offices.

The designated funeral home varies by province and port of entry. For example, Wuchang Funeral Home (武昌殡仪馆) is the sole authorized hub for international remains in Hubei province. Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou each have their own designated facilities.

The family or their logistics agent must arrange with the designated funeral home in advance. The funeral home will coordinate pickup from the customs bonded area, handle the domestic transit permit, and manage the final disposition — whether burial, cremation, or interment in a columbarium.

Entry Ports Matter

Not all Chinese airports have quarantine facilities equipped to process human remains. The three main ports of entry for international remains are:

• Shanghai Pudong (PVG) — serves eastern China (Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian)
• Beijing Capital (PEK) — serves northern China (Hebei, Shandong, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia)
• Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) — serves southern China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hainan)

The family's US funeral home should book air cargo to the port closest to the deceased's hometown or family home in China. Routing through the wrong port adds domestic freight costs and transfer delays.

The Cost Difference on Arrival

Families who have already spent $15,000 to $25,000 on international shipping are often surprised by how affordable the domestic side is. Chinese municipal funeral services are heavily subsidized. Beijing's public funeral program provides a basic package for 950 RMB (approximately $135), and municipal ashes storage costs between 20 and 200 RMB per year. This stark contrast reinforces why families should understand the full cost picture — from US funeral home to Chinese columbarium — before committing to a repatriation path.

The Chinese Dies in the US — Family Emergency Guide includes a complete repatriation logistics section covering US-side preparation, airline cargo booking, China Customs requirements, and domestic transfer coordination.