The time of a loved one’s death is always difficult; when it is overseas or interstate it only complicates matters further. Most people find repatriation an overwhelming notion, however, it is not as difficult as one might imagine. Whether international or interstate, repatriation is almost exactly the same, with a few minor variations in regards to paperwork. To help you understand what is involved, below is a step by step guide to the process using an example:
- Your loved one has passed away in Perth and would like to be buried in Canada where they were originally from. We, the funeral home, would take the deceased into our care, and then meet with the family.
- At the arrangement, we would proceed to collect family details and information for the death certificate. We would also need to collect the passport, as well as decide which funeral director you would like to use in Canada.
- We would arrange for embalming to take place, as it is required by law, and apply for a death certificate from the registry office. We would also book a flight and begin collecting all the necessary paperwork needed for the flight.
- Depending on the destination and the various paperwork required, it takes between 1-2 weeks from the time of the arrangement to the flight.
- Once the flight has departed, our involvement comes to an end and the funeral director in Canada takes over.
If the situation is reversed, and a loved one has passed away overseas and needs to come home to Perth, then what has been described above will occur, but we will take over from the time the flight lands. We would collect your loved one from the airport and take them into our care. From there, we would make a time to make the funeral arrangements with the family and the standard funeral process would begin.
Interstate works very similarly, however, there is less paperwork involved and embalming is not compulsory.