Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Australia to Canada
For families bringing someone home to Canada. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Key facts
Repatriation from Australia to Canada: what to expect
Australia and Canada share strong Anglosphere ties as fellow Commonwealth nations, and there is an active bilateral migration corridor, particularly among young professionals and families relocating between the two countries. Many Australians live and work in Canada, particularly in British Columbia and Ontario. The Canadian High Commission in Canberra is fully operational. When a person with Canadian family connections dies in Australia, the death is registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry. Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention, in force November 2024; Australia is also a Hague member.
- Key document: death certificate (in English)
- Documentation takes 5-10 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Death must be registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry promptly.
- Canada Embassy in Canberra can advise on documentation. They cannot fund repatriation.
The process
What happens after a death in Australia
Call 000 for emergency services. Death is certified by a registered medical practitioner. The death is registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry. The coroner takes jurisdiction for sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths. Australia is a Hague Apostille Convention member. The registration process is straightforward; the coroner's release is the main cause of delay in complex cases.
Step by step
Timeline: Australia to Canada
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Call 000 (police, fire, ambulance) for local emergency services, and contact the embassy or consulate of the person's own country.
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Death certificate obtained.
Death must be registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry. Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may delay this step.
Local funeral director and registry
Canada Embassy in Canberra notified
Simultaneous with Step 1. Embassy provides a list of local funeral directors.
Family or repatriation specialist
Embalming and preparation.
After body released by authorities.
Licensed local funeral director
All export documentation and permits obtained.
Allow 5-10 days. Cannot begin until death certificate issued.
Local funeral director and authorities
Air cargo to Canada
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Canada funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
In Canada
When the body arrives in Canada
The Canadian funeral director takes custody at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL), or another major airport cargo terminal, depending on the family's destination. Death registration in Canada is handled by the provincial civil registration authority in the province where the death is registered: for example, Service Ontario in Ontario, or the Quebec Directeur de l'etat civil. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and, where not in English or French, accompanied by a certified translation. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) clearance is required for all imported human remains. Provincial regulations for burial and cremation vary and are enforced by the receiving funeral director. Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention; it entered into force in November 2024. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for international air transport.
Consular support
The Canadian High Commission or Embassy in Canberra can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to Canada. Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention, in force November 2024. The High Commission cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the relevant provincial civil registration authority for civil registration queries.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Australia to Canada
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Australia to Canada takes 2-4 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 10-14 days. Complex cases can take 4-8 weeks or longer.
Death must be registered with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registry promptly. Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may add time before the body can be released.
The core documents are: death certificate with certified translation where required, embalming certificate, export permit, freedom from infection certificate, and passport of the deceased. Your repatriation coordinator handles obtaining these on your behalf.
The Canada Embassy in Canberra can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Canada Embassy in Canberra as soon as possible after the death.
Sudden, violent, or unexplained deaths (coroner takes jurisdiction) may trigger a post-mortem examination. This adds time: the body cannot be released until the authorities authorise it.
The Canadian funeral director takes custody at the receiving airport cargo terminal. The relevant provincial civil registration authority registers the death. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified translation where not in English or French. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) clearance is required for all imported human remains. Provincial regulations for burial and cremation vary. Canada joined the Hague Apostille Convention; it entered into force in November 2024. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required.
Cremation in Australia is widely available in all states and territories. You will need the local death certificate, cremation certificate, and relevant export documentation. Your repatriation specialist can advise on the current position.
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in Australia, please do not face this alone. Send us the details and we will explain what happens next and prepare a quote for bringing them home to Canada.
Reviewed by the Repatriate Service editorial team. Information sourced from official government and embassy guidance and professional repatriation experience. Facts last checked September 2026; page updated .
Sources: Official guidance on a death in Australia (gov.uk) · Australia repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions