FamiliaLista › Guides › How to bring a loved one home to Mexico from the US

By Frank Flores, founder of FamiliaLista · Updated October 19, 2026

How to bring a loved one home to Mexico from the US

To bring a loved one from the US to Mexico, you first hire a US funeral home, which prepares the transfer and the paperwork. Then the Mexican consulate stamps (visa) those documents at no cost: the apostilled death certificate with a Spanish translation, the transit permit, and the embalming certificate (or the cremation certificate for ashes). Each consulate has its own details, so confirm the list with yours.

If this is happening right now, start with our step-by-step guide.

Step 1: How do I choose a funeral home for a transfer to Mexico?

The funeral home handles the transfer and prepares most of the documents. Consulates recommend getting more than one quote before you sign, because funeral services in the US can be very expensive. Some consulates, such as Seattle's, share a list of funeral homes experienced with transfers to Mexico; ask yours for it. Under federal law, a funeral home must give you prices by phone if you ask and a written price list when you visit, and you can buy only what you want. Source: FTC Funeral Rule. Our guide on how much a funeral costs helps you read the price list.

Step 2: Is it better to send the body or the ashes?

It's a family decision, and often a faith decision. The practical side: the Mexican Consulate in Seattle notes that cremation can reduce costs by up to 75%, and ashes don't need an embalming certificate. If your loved one's wish was to rest in their hometown, that wish matters more than any number, which is why it helps to have it written down beforehand.

Step 3: What documents do I need to send remains to Mexico?

What consulates usually ask for, all with an exact and complete Spanish translation:

[ ] US death certificate with an apostille from the Secretary of State of the state that issued it. In Texas, an apostille is $15 per document. See how to get a death certificate in Texas.
[ ] Transit permit for the remains, issued by the health authority. The funeral home gets it.
[ ] Embalming certificate (for burial), on the funeral home's letterhead and signed by the embalmer and the director.
[ ] Certificate of no contagious disease (some consulates ask for it; not for ashes).
[ ] Cremation certificate (for ashes). Some consulates, such as Kansas City's, also want it apostilled.
[ ] A copy of your loved one's birth certificate and photo ID.

The name must match the birth certificate exactly, including both last names. Documents can't have cross-outs or corrections. Sources: Mexican Consulate in Kansas City, Mexican Consulate in Seattle, Mexican Consulate in El Paso, Texas Secretary of State.

Step 4: How does the consulate stamp the documents, and how long does it take?

The consulate's stamp (visado) on the documents is free. It's usually done by the consulate that covers the place of death; the funeral home can tell you which one.

Pick one person to be the contact with the consulate and the funeral home.
Email all the documents first so the consulate can check for mistakes.
Then deliver the originals by mail or in person. It can take up to two business days after the consulate receives them (Kansas City consulate).
Buy flights after the consulate has returned the stamped originals and the Mexican death record.

Step 5: Do I have to register the death in Mexico?

Yes, if your loved one was a Mexican citizen. The Kansas City consulate explains that a Mexican death record is required for Mexican citizens, and the consulate processes it so your loved one can enter Mexico. It asks for:

A certified copy of the US death certificate.
Proof of Mexican nationality: a valid passport, birth certificate, certificate of Mexican nationality, naturalization letter or declaration of nationality.
The name and address of the cemetery in Mexico.

Does the Mexican consulate help pay for the transfer?

Sometimes. The Seattle consulate explains that when a family has no means, it may offer limited, partial financial help, paid directly to the funeral home. Each consulate handles this its own way; ask the Protection department at yours.

What mistakes delay the trip home?

Buying flights before the documents are stamped.
A name on the US certificate that doesn't match the birth certificate.
Documents without a translation or an apostille.
Three relatives calling the consulate and the funeral home with different information.
Nobody knowing what your loved one wanted: burial or cremation, which cemetery, which Mass.

What can I have ready today?

A family that already knows the wish (which town, which cemetery, burial or cremation), where the birth certificate and passport are, and who to call on each side of the border moves through this much faster. See also digital inheritance in Mexico and who to notify when someone dies.

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Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to send a body to Mexico?

It depends on the funeral home, the city, and whether it's burial or cremation. Get several written quotes. The consulate's stamp on the documents is free.

What documents do I need to take ashes to Mexico?

Usually the apostilled, translated death certificate, the translated cremation certificate (some consulates want it apostilled too), and the transit permit, stamped by the consulate. Confirm the list with your consulate.

How long does the Mexican consulate take to stamp the documents?

At the Kansas City consulate, up to two business days after receiving the documents. Other consulates may vary.

Does the consulate pay for the transfer?

Not as a rule. Some consulates offer limited, partial help to families without means, paid directly to the funeral home.

Is this legal advice?

No. It's general information from Mexican consulate websites. Requirements vary by consulate; confirm with yours.

Sources

General information, not legal or financial advice. Rules change; check the official sources above or talk to a licensed professional about your situation.