Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from Georgia to the United States
For families bringing someone home to the United States. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Need help now?
Send us the detailsKey facts
Repatriation from Georgia to the United States: what to expect
Georgian nationals form a growing diaspora in the United States, concentrated in New York, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. Georgia and the United States have strong bilateral ties, and many Georgians emigrated following the 1990s political and economic challenges, with further migration after the 2008 conflict. Georgian documentation in the Georgian script requires certified English translation for US state and customs requirements. The US Embassy in Tbilisi handles consular matters.
- Key document: Death certificate from Civil Registry Agency (requires certified English translation)
- Documentation takes 5-10 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Death must be registered with the Civil Registry Agency promptly.
- All Georgian-language documentation requires a certified English translation for the United States acceptance.
The process
What happens after a death in Georgia
After a death in Georgia, the family should contact the local emergency services on 112 and have the death formally certified. It is then registered with the Civil Registry Agency, and a local death certificate issued, which usually takes 5-10 days. Where a death is violent, suspicious or unexplained, the Prosecutor's Office takes jurisdiction and may order a post-mortem before the body can be released. Once the paperwork is complete, the body is embalmed, sealed in a zinc-lined coffin, and flown to the United States as air cargo, where a receiving funeral director takes custody. Most cases take 1-2 weeks from the death to arrival in the United States.
Step by step
Timeline: Georgia to the United States
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Contact the embassy or consulate of the person's own country (citizens of the United States: +1 (202) 501-4444).
Family or travel insurer
Death registered. Death certificate from Civil Registry Agency (requires certified English translation) obtained.
Death must be registered with the Civil Registry Agency. Prosecutor's Office may be involved.
Local funeral director and registry
United States Embassy in Tbilisi 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 the United States
Once all documentation complete. United States cargo terminal
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
United States funeral director takes custody. The receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from Georgia to the United States
In a straightforward case, repatriation from Georgia to the United States takes 1-2 weeks. The fastest cases complete in 7-10 days. Complex cases can take 3-6 weeks or longer.
Death must be registered with the Civil Registry Agency promptly.
The core documents are: Death certificate from Civil Registry Agency (certified English translation required), Prosecutor's clearance (for unnatural deaths), Embalming certificate, Export permit, Freedom from infection certificate. Your repatriation coordinator handles obtaining these on your behalf.
The United States Embassy in Tbilisi can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the United States Embassy in Tbilisi as soon as possible after the death.
Violent, suspicious, or unexplained deaths require a post-mortem, which adds time. The body cannot be released until the authorities authorise it.
The US funeral director takes custody at the cargo terminal. US Customs clearance requires the foreign death certificate, transit or burial permit, and embalming certificate. State regulations govern burial or cremation. The receiving funeral director notifies the medical examiner or coroner as required.
Cremation in Georgia is available. Bringing the ashes home to the United States is an option alongside full body repatriation.
In United States
When the body arrives in the United States
The US funeral director takes custody at the cargo terminal. US Customs clearance requires a transit or burial permit, the foreign death certificate, and an embalming certificate. State health department regulations apply and vary by state. The receiving funeral director notifies the medical examiner or coroner as required by state law. (US State Department, Bureau of Consular Affairs, 2025.)
Consular support
US Embassy in Tbilisi can assist US citizens and their families with consular registration of the death and provide a list of local funeral directors. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. State Department emergency line: +1 (888) 407-4747 (within the US) or +1 (202) 501-4444 (from overseas), 24 hours.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in Georgia, 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 the United States.
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 Georgia (gov.uk) · Georgia repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions