Repatriation of remains between Brazil and Japan
Japan and Brazil have a longstanding connection, with families and communities living across both countries. When someone passes away far from their family, bringing them home can be an important part of the farewell. Arranging this journey requires careful coordination, particularly when dealing with different languages, official procedures and long-distance air transportation.
Homeland International arranges repatriation between Japan and Brazil in both directions. Whether a loved one has died in Japan and needs to return to Brazil, or has passed away in Brazil and is to be brought to Japan, we can help organise the arrangements and guide families through the necessary documentation.
Our Americas Hub in Miami with the support of our team based in South America and our global assistance centre in the UK are well positioned to support with any repatriation in Japan or Brazil.
How does repatriation between Japan and Brazil work?
Repatriation from Japan to Brazil
When someone dies in Japan and their family wishes to bring them back to Brazil, the death must first be registered with the relevant Japanese local authority. The local funeral director will assist with the necessary arrangements, including obtaining the official death documentation and preparing the deceased for international transportation.
For Brazilian nationals, the family may also wish or need to register the death with the Brazilian consulate responsible for the area where the death occurred. The consular office can advise on the documents needed for this process and the transportation of the body or ashes.
Brazil has specific requirements for the arrival of human remains. Before a body can be transported by air, authorisation must be obtained from the administration of the departure airport. The required documents can include the original death record, embalming or preservation certificate, medical certificate confirming the absence of an infectious disease and the original authorisation for removal and transportation.
The receiving funeral director in Brazil must also be prepared to coordinate the arrival, airport clearance and onward transportation.
Repatriation from Brazil to Japan
If a loved one dies in Brazil and the family wishes to return them to Japan, the local funeral director will arrange the registration of the death and obtain the necessary permissions for the release and transportation of the deceased.
Where the death is sudden, unexplained or subject to investigation, the Brazilian medico-legal authorities may need to complete their enquiries before the body can be released.
The Japanese consular authorities can provide guidance to Japanese nationals and their families on local procedures and the documentation required. The Japanese receiving funeral director should also be identified early, so that the arrangements for arrival and onward care can be confirmed.
The export paperwork, airline acceptance and Japanese entry requirements must all be checked before the journey is booked. Documents issued in Brazil may require authentication and Japanese translation for use by the relevant authorities.
What documents are required for repatriation between Japan and Brazil?
The documentation depends on the country where the death occurred, the destination and whether the family is transporting a body or ashes.
For the transportation of a body, documents may include:
Official death certificate or civil death registration.
Passport or identification documents of the deceased.
Medical certificate confirming the cause of death.
Embalming or preservation certificate.
Certificate addressing infectious-disease risk, where required.
Permission for removal and international transportation.
Coffin preparation and sealing documentation.
Consular or destination-country authorisation, where applicable.
Airline cargo documentation and air waybill.
Police or judicial release documentation, where necessary.
Japanese documentation
Deaths in Japan are registered with the relevant municipal authority. The official Japanese death-registration record is an important document for international arrangements.
The Japanese funeral director will help obtain the certificates needed for the chosen method of transportation. Where the deceased was a Brazilian citizen, the Brazilian consulate may also request the Japanese death record, cremation or embalming documentation and identity records when registering the death.
Japanese public documents intended for use in Brazil may need to be authenticated with an Apostille of The Hague. Official translations into Portuguese may also be required for Brazilian authorities.
Brazilian documentation
Brazil requires specific documentation for the international transportation of human remains. For an incoming body, this can include the original death record, embalming or preservation certificate, medical certificate confirming the absence of an infectious disease and the original mortuary transit authorisation.
Airport administration approval is required before the body can be transported by air. Additional requirements may apply depending on the circumstances of the death and the preparation of the coffin.
Our team can help establish the relevant requirements for the route and coordinate the documents with the funeral directors and authorities involved.
Repatriation of ashes between Japan and Brazil
Cremation is a common funeral practice in Japan, and some families may prefer to arrange cremation locally before returning the ashes to Brazil. Families in Brazil may also choose to have a loved one cremated before bringing the ashes to Japan.
The paperwork for ashes is different from that for a body, but it is still important to check the requirements before making travel arrangements.
For ashes travelling from Japan to Brazil, the Brazilian consular process can require:
Japanese death certificate or official death-registration record.
Cremation certificate or cremation permission.
Declaration identifying the deceased and describing the sealed urn.
Consular recognition of the signature on the urn declaration, where required.
Brazil requires ashes to be carried in an impermeable, sealed urn. The relevant consular office and airline should confirm the documents and packaging before departure.
For ashes travelling from Brazil to Japan, the family should obtain the death and cremation certificates and check the Japanese consular and airline requirements. The receiving arrangements should be confirmed before the ashes are dispatched.
Homeland International can help families understand the options and coordinate the appropriate arrangements for either a coffin or ashes.
How much does repatriation between Japan and Brazil cost?
The cost depends on the location of the death, the final destination and the services required. The long distance between the two countries means flight routing, cargo availability and airline charges are important parts of the quotation.
Other costs may include:
Collection and transfer from the place of death.
Local funeral director services and preparation.
International coffin and approved transport arrangements.
Death registration and official documentation.
Apostilles, consular services and translations, where required.
Airline cargo charges and airport handling.
Road transportation to the receiving funeral home.
The final price can also vary depending on whether the destination is a major city such as Tokyo, Osaka, São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, or whether additional road transportation is required.
Homeland International will discuss the circumstances with you and provide a quotation based on the route and arrangements needed.
Which airports can we repatriate to in Japan and Brazil?
Choosing suitable airports is particularly important for a long-distance transfer. The departure and arrival points must have the appropriate cargo facilities and be accepted by the airline carrying the shipment.
Airports in Japan
Potential international gateways include:
Tokyo – Narita International Airport.
Tokyo – Haneda Airport.
Osaka – Kansai International Airport.
Nagoya – Chubu Centrair International Airport.
Fukuoka – Fukuoka Airport.
Airports in Brazil
Potential international gateways include:
São Paulo – São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport.
Rio de Janeiro – Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport.
Brasília – Brasília International Airport.
Curitiba – Afonso Pena International Airport.
Recife – Recife/Guararapes International Airport.
Manaus – Eduardo Gomes International Airport.
These are examples of international gateways, not confirmation that every airport can accept human remains. Cargo handling, airline acceptance, customs procedures and the necessary health clearances must be confirmed for each individual shipment. Depending on the family’s location, onward transportation by road may also be required.
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