Funeral repatriation route guide
Repatriation from the United States to Italy
For families bringing someone home to Italy. Send the details any time and we will take it from there.
Need help now?
Send us the detailsKey facts
Repatriation from the United States to Italy: what to expect
The United States has one of the world's largest communities of Italian heritage, with an estimated 17 million or more Americans of Italian background, concentrated in the Northeast and in California. Many American-Italian families maintain strong connections to ancestral regions including Sicily, Campania, Calabria, and Veneto. The Italian Embassy in Washington DC is fully operational. When a person with Italian family connections dies in the United States, the death is registered with the state civil records office where the death occurred. The Italian Embassy in Washington DC can advise on documentation requirements for the Ufficio di Stato Civile. Both countries are Hague Apostille Convention members.
- Key document: death certificate (in English)
- Documentation takes 5-10 days. Appoint a specialist on day one.
- Death must be registered with the state civil records office where the death occurred promptly.
- Italy Embassy in Washington DC can advise on documentation. They cannot fund repatriation.
The process
What happens after a death in the United States
Call 911 for emergency services. Death is certified by a physician or medical examiner. The death is registered with the state civil records office where the death occurred. Each US state operates its own civil records system. The coroner or medical examiner takes jurisdiction for violent, sudden, or unexplained deaths, with processes varying by state. The United States is a Hague Apostille Convention member.
Step by step
Timeline: the United States to Italy
Immediate steps after death
Day of death. Call 911 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 civil records office where the death occurred. Violent, sudden, or unexplained deaths (medical examiner or coroner, varies by state) may delay this step.
Local funeral director and registry
Italy Embassy in Washington DC 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 Italy
Once all documentation complete.
Repatriation specialist and airline cargo
Italy funeral director takes custody. Receiving funeral director coordinates with local authorities.
Within 24 hours of arrival.
Receiving funeral director
Common questions
FAQs: repatriation from the United States to Italy
In a straightforward case, repatriation from the United States to Italy 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 civil records office where the death occurred promptly. Violent, sudden, or unexplained deaths (medical examiner or coroner, varies by state) 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 Italy Embassy in Washington DC can assist with document authentication and advise on repatriation requirements. They cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Italy Embassy in Washington DC as soon as possible after the death.
Violent, sudden, or unexplained deaths (medical examiner or coroner, varies by state) may trigger a post-mortem examination. This adds time: the body cannot be released until the authorities authorise it.
The Italian funeral director takes custody at the receiving airport cargo terminal. The Ufficio di Stato Civile within the local Comune registers the death. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified Italian translation (traduzione giurata). The local ASL may require clearance before burial or cremation proceeds. Italy joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1978. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required. The receiving funeral director coordinates with the Comune and the ASL.
Cremation in the United States is widely available in all states. You will need the local death certificate, cremation certificate, and relevant export documentation. Your repatriation specialist can advise on the current position.
In Italy
When the body arrives in Italy
The Italian funeral director takes custody at Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO), Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), or another airport depending on the family's destination. Death registration in Italy is handled by the Comune (municipal administration) via the Ufficio di Stato Civile. Foreign death certificates must be apostilled and accompanied by a certified Italian translation (traduzione giurata) for submission to the Comune. The local Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) may require clearance before burial or cremation proceeds. Italy joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1978; apostille certificates from member states are accepted. An embalming certificate and hermetically sealed coffin are required for international air transport.
Consular support
The Italian Embassy or Consulate in Washington DC can advise on documentation requirements for repatriation to Italy. Italy joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 1978. The Embassy cannot pay for or arrange repatriation. Contact the Ufficio di Stato Civile in the receiving Comune for civil registration queries.
Related guides
More repatriation guidance
We are here to help. Send us the details, any time
If your loved one has died in the United States, 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 Italy.
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 the United States (gov.uk) · the United States repatriation guide · Frequently asked questions