Embalming and Zinc Casket Requirements for Body Repatriation from the Philippines

Embalming Is Not Optional

Under the Philippine Code on Sanitation, an unembalmed body must be buried or cremated within 48 hours of death. For a straightforward casket-repatriation case, full chemical embalming must be arranged within the applicable sanitation window; an active forensic investigation extends the window to 72 hours, and clearance must come before embalming.

The embalming must be performed by a licensed Philippine embalmer, who then issues an Embalming Certificate. This certificate is one of the documents required for the Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) export permit. Without it, the BOQ will not authorize the body to leave the Philippines.

The embalmer certifies that the body has been chemically preserved and is stable for international transport. The quality of the embalming directly affects the condition of the remains upon arrival in South Korea, so this is not the place to choose the cheapest option.

The Hermetic Casket Standard

International air transport of human remains requires a hermetically sealed container — meaning airtight and waterproof. The Philippine Airlines cargo guidelines and international IATA standards both specify:

• The body goes into a hermetically sealed metal or high-grade wooden casket. Metal caskets (zinc-lined or solid zinc) are the most common for international transport because they provide a reliable seal.
• The sealed casket goes inside an outer wooden crate with six lifting handles for cargo handling. The outer crate must be constructed with sufficient structural rigidity to withstand cargo loading and aircraft turbulence.
• The completed package — casket inside crate — must fit through the cargo door of the aircraft operating the route. This effectively restricts you to wide-body aircraft, which means flights departing from Manila (NAIA) or Cebu (MCIA).

Casket and crating costs vary by supplier and are part of the broader PHP 350,000–650,000+ full-body repatriation benchmark.

The Non-Contagious Disease Certificate

Alongside the embalming certificate, the family (or the funeral director on their behalf) must obtain a Non-Contagious Disease Certificate. This document certifies that the deceased did not die from a communicable disease that could pose a health risk during transport.

Confirm with the funeral director and BOQ which office must issue this certificate for the specific case. If the cause of death is infectious (tuberculosis, COVID-19, certain viral infections), additional quarantine protocols may apply, and the BOQ may impose special containment requirements on the casket.

Bureau of Quarantine Export Clearance

The BOQ is the sole authority that can authorize human remains to leave the Philippines. The export permit application requires:

1. Original PSA death certificate
2. Embalming certificate
3. Non-contagious disease certificate
4. Municipal transfer permit (from the city health office)

The BOQ permit costs PHP 500 and is valid for exactly 5 days from the date of issue. This means you need to have your airline cargo booking confirmed before applying — if the flight is delayed beyond the 5-day window, you will need to apply for a new permit.

The BOQ main office in Manila's Port Area operates Monday to Friday, 08:00–17:00. For weekend emergencies, the BOQ stations at NAIA and Mactan-Cebu airport maintain limited staff.

Airline Cargo Acceptance

PAL Cargo is one carrier for the Philippines-to-Korea route. It requires the completed cargo package and all original documentation delivered to its cargo warehouse at least 5 hours before scheduled departure. Contact PAL Cargo reservations at +63-917-535-6864.

The airline will verify that the casket is properly sealed, the outer crate meets structural standards, and all certificates are original and current. Any missing document may result in refusal or delay in accepting the shipment.

For the complete repatriation workflow from embalming through arrival at Incheon, see our Family Emergency Guide.