To obtain the authorization to repatriate human remains into Italy, the Funeral Home must submit the following documents to the Italian Consulate:
1) The original or a Certified copy of the Death Certificate authenticated with an APOSTILLE and translated in Italian;
2) The most recent passport of the deceased (Italian, American, or both);
3) One notarized Affidavit from the County Health Department stating that “at the time of the death of Mr/Mrs … there were no epidemic diseases within the County”, that “the remains were embalmed in accordance to the laws of the State in which the Mortuary operates”, and that “the deceased did not die of any contagious disease”. The Affidavit must be authenticated with an APOSTILLE and be translated into Italian;
4) An official letter from the Funeral Home stating the following:
– the body was embalmed as required by law;
– the body was enclosed in a hermetically sealed metal container and this container was placed inside a wooden casket;
– the wooden casket was in turn enclosed in a metal lined wooden shipping shell;
5) A small metal plate must be affixed to the wooden casket and engraved with the following information relating to the deceased: name and last name (maiden name, if applicable), date of birth and date of death;
6) An authorization letter from the family stating the following:
– the name of the Cemetery;
– the burial Municipality;
– the name of the Funeral Home that must act on their behalf in cooperation with this Consular Office;
– the travel information (including the airline) and the first entry port of the body in Italy.
7) A prepaid envelope to mail the official documentation issued from this Consular Office to the Funeral Home. (For picking up the documents at the Consulate, please schedule an appointment first).
8) Money order made out to the Consulate of Italy in Detroit for $200.
The Consulate will request from the proper Italian Authorities the authorization to allow the remains to enter the Italian National Territory for burial (as it is not regulated by this office, we cannot provide the exact time frame for the issuance of the above-mentioned authorization provided by the Municipality).
Please do not make airline reservations until the authorization is received.
For questions or for starting the process, please email the Consulate at detroit.statocivile@esteri.it