How to Repatriate a Body from Argentina

Repatriating an intact body from Argentina to the United States, UK, or any other country is one of the most complex and expensive parts of dealing with a death abroad. The process involves Argentine sanitary authorities, customs, licensed cargo handlers, and international airline regulations — and your funeral home (cochería) manages nearly all of it.

Here's the full process, from body preparation to arrival at your home airport.

Step 1: Hire a Licensed Cochería with Repatriation Experience

Not every Argentine funeral home handles international transport. You need a cochería with "Known Shipper" status — a cargo security designation required to book international air freight. Your travel insurer or embassy can recommend vetted providers.

If your travel or medical insurance covers repatriation, the insurer will often mandate a specific cochería through their global assistance network. Using an unauthorized funeral home could void your coverage entirely.

Step 2: Embalming and Container Preparation

Argentine law requires that internationally shipped remains be:

• Arterially embalmed by a licensed embalmer
• Placed in a hermetically sealed, zinc-lined casket — standard wooden caskets won't pass export inspection
• Packed in an approved transit container that meets international air cargo specifications

The cochería handles all of this. The embalming must be completed before the body can be cleared for export.

Step 3: Border Health Export Permit

The cochería must obtain a Border Health Export Permit (Certificado de Embarque) from Sanidad de Fronteras. This agency operates at Ministro Pistarini International Airport (Ezeiza) and Aeroparque Jorge Newbery.

The permit is issued after a physical inspection of the sealed cargo. This is a sanitary clearance, not a customs form — it certifies the remains are safe for international transport.

Step 4: Customs Documentation

For export, the cochería must file Argentine Customs Form OM-2153-A. This filing requires:

• The legal death certificate (Acta de Defunción)
• A medical certificate confirming the deceased did not have contagious diseases
• The embalming certificate

Air cargo rates are calculated on the total volumetric weight of the casket and transit container.

Step 5: Airline Coordination and Shipping

The cochería books the remains on an international flight through the cargo terminal at Ezeiza. This isn't a passenger booking — it goes through the air cargo system, which requires the Known Shipper designation, advance booking, and compliance with the destination country's import regulations.

The receiving funeral home at the destination airport handles customs clearance and final delivery.

Timeline and Complications

A straightforward repatriation — no autopsy, no judicial investigation — typically takes 2–3 weeks from death to arrival at the destination.

Judicial delays can extend this significantly. If the death triggered a mandatory autopsy (all sudden, accidental, or suspicious deaths), the remains won't be released to the cochería until the forensic team completes the physical examination. Cremation is also blocked during active investigations, so repatriation of a coffin may be the only option during this period.

Local Burial vs. Repatriation: The Decision

Some families choose local burial or cremation in Argentina instead of repatriation. The cost difference is dramatic — repatriation runs $10,000–$20,000 versus $300–$1,500 for cremated remains. Local burial is also an option through municipal cemeteries.

Factors to weigh:

• Insurance coverage: Does the policy cover full body repatriation, or only cremated remains?
• Judicial hold: Is an autopsy investigation blocking the release?
• Religious requirements: Some faiths require burial within specific timeframes or prohibit cremation
• Family preference: Where do the family want the final resting place?

If the family decides on cremation and wants to bring the ashes home, the process is much simpler — a sworn statement at the embassy, the cremation certificate, and the ashes can be carried as cabin baggage or shipped via USPS Priority Mail Express.

The Complete Repatriation Roadmap

The Someone Died in Argentina: English Speaker's Emergency Guide includes a dedicated repatriation chapter with a cost worksheet, airline cargo contacts, and a checklist of every document your cochería needs to clear export.

See more Argentina guides →