International Repatriation: Bringing your
loved one home.
When a death takes place far from home, the practical questions arrive alongside the grief. We handle every document, every embassy, every airport handoff — so your family can focus on the journey that matters.
You don't need someone nearby.
You need someone who has done this before.
International repatriation involves more than ten separate documents, multiple government offices, a foreign embassy, and an airline that won't quote a price until the paperwork is in order. Most funeral homes refer this work out. We handle every step in-house — and we coordinate for families wherever they are located.
- 74+
- years in continuous family service
- 3
- generations of licensed funeral directors
- 24/7
- answered in person, never a voicemail
- 100%
- handled in-house — nothing referred out
We'll walk you through
every detail on the first call.
Every family's situation is a little different — the destination country, the timeline, the paperwork that's already in hand. Call us and we'll give you a clear picture of exactly what the process looks like for your specific case, what it will cost, and how quickly we can start.
☎ Call Us — 410-633-0000Call for pricing.
Available 24 hours a day · A real person answers every call · No obligation to proceed
Families trust us to bring their
loved ones home from anywhere.
The process is the same regardless of destination — and we've handled returns across dozens of countries. Embassy links below help you start gathering what's needed; we guide you through every step.
Don't see your country? We coordinate returns worldwide. Call us and we'll walk you through what your specific destination requires.
Our home has been here
since 1952.
We're not a referral service or a call center. We're a family-owned funeral home with a building, a chapel, and people who answer the phone in person, around the clock.
1201 Dundalk Avenue · Baltimore, MD · Get directions ↗
Licensed, experienced,
and personally accountable.
Every international case is handled by our own licensed funeral directors and embalmers — not contracted out. These are the people you'll speak with.
Third-generation owner. Mortuary science degree from Baltimore County Community College – Catonsville. Has led the funeral home through its growth in international repatriation services.
"What we do here is more than a career. I see it as a calling."
Associate's degree in mortuary science from Catonsville Community College. Has worked in funeral service since high school and brings deep experience to every international arrangement.
Three generations.
One promise kept.
Eleanor and Raymond Kaczorowski opened these doors in 1952. Today, the third generation carries that same commitment forward — not as a corporate policy, but as a personal one.
When documents need to be driven to the state capital or delivered to an airport cargo terminal, we go ourselves. International repatriation is exacting, time-sensitive work — and for over seventy years, families have trusted us to do it right.
"International shipping is relatively the same process for every country — and the quirks that come up along the way are usually taken care of by us, the funeral home, as part of the paperwork process for the family."
— Our team, on how we approach international arrangements
One funeral home.
Every detail handled.
Most funeral homes stop at preparation and refer international coordination elsewhere — leaving families to manage embassies, apostilles, and airline cargo on their own. We handle the entire process in-house: every certificate, every government office, every signature, and the drive to the airport. Whatever country your loved one is returning to, the process is ours to manage.
- ✓Everything handled in-house — no referrals
- ✓We drive documents to the state capital ourselves
- ✓We deliver to the airport personally every time
- ✓Known shipper with all major international carriers
- ✓All-inclusive fee — no surprise add-ons or referral markups
- ✓A real person answers, 24 hours a day
You won't be left wondering
who handles what.
Here's the clearest picture we can give you of how the work is divided.
We handle
- Care of the deceasedBringing your loved one into our care, embalming, and preparation for international transit.
- Death certificateObtained on your behalf.
- Transit permitObtained on your behalf.
- Non-contagious disease letterFrom the municipality where the death occurred.
- Embalming certificate
- Shipper's declarationThe letter airlines require confirming the contents.
- Apostille at the state capitalWe drive the documents ourselves.
- Embassy submissionOn your behalf, when the embassy permits it.
- Airline booking & known-shipper certification
- Delivery to the airportDulles, Philadelphia, Newark, or JFK.
The family provides
- The deceased's passportIt travels with them.
- Embassy permission letterMost embassies require the family to apply directly. We guide you and submit on your behalf when possible.
- Receiving-country acceptance letterWhen required. We'll tell you whether your destination requires this and help you obtain it.
- Final airfare paymentOnce the airline confirms a price — we don't mark it up.
What happens after you call us.
Plan on two to three weeks from your call to departure. We keep you informed at every stage.
Initial call & arrangement
We meet with you in person or by phone, gather everything needed, and confirm the destination. We walk you through the full process and cost on this first call.
Care, preparation & embalming
We bring your loved one into our care, perform the preparation required for international transit, and begin the document workflow in parallel.
Documents we prepare
Death certificate, transit permit, non-contagious disease letter, embalming certificate, and shipper's declaration.
Documents from the family
The deceased's passport and the embassy permission letter. We guide you through the application and submit on your behalf when permitted.
Receiving-country letter
Some countries require confirmation from the destination municipality. We'll tell you upfront if yours does and help coordinate it.
Apostille at the state capital
We drive the completed documents for apostille — the official state verification that embassies and airlines require.
Airline booking
The airline quotes once paperwork is complete. We submit the file, secure the booking, and handle known-shipper certification with any carrier.
Departure
We deliver your loved one to the airport personally — Dulles (IAD), Philadelphia (PHL), Newark (EWR), or JFK.
Two to three weeks, on average.
International repatriation cannot happen overnight. Here's a realistic week-by-week picture so your family can plan.
Arrangement, preparation, and the first round of paperwork to local and state offices.
Documents apostilled at the state capital. Embassy submission. Family secures any required acceptance letter.
Airline booking confirmed once all paperwork is complete. Airfare quoted, payment collected, departure scheduled.
Quick answers, details up front.
How long does international repatriation actually take?+
Plan on two to three weeks. Preparation, paperwork, apostille, embassy permission, and airline booking each take their own time — and the airline cannot price the ticket until our paperwork is complete.
Why can't I get an airfare quote on day one?+
Airlines won't entertain a booking — let alone quote a price — until the paperwork is in order. As soon as we have everything assembled, we submit the file, the airline issues a quote, and we relay it to you for final payment.
Do you serve families who aren't local to your area?+
Yes. We coordinate for families across Maryland, DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and beyond. Distance is rarely a barrier — the paperwork process works the same regardless of where you're located, and we handle it remotely when needed.
What paperwork do you handle versus what the family does?+
We handle the death certificate, transit permit, non-contagious disease letter, embalming certificate, shipper's declaration, apostille, and airline submission. The family provides the deceased's passport and the embassy permission letter — most embassies require the family to apply directly, and we guide you through that every step of the way.
What if the destination country has special requirements?+
Most countries follow the same core process with small variations. We've coordinated returns to dozens of countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America. We know what each destination typically requires and will tell you upfront.
Can we still hold a service here before the flight?+
Yes. Many families gather for a visitation or service before their loved one travels home. We'll work the timing into the paperwork schedule so the two don't conflict.
What families say
“We sent my late mom's body to Nigeria and the funeral home made the whole process seamless and timely. I would recommend Kaczorowski Funeral Home, P.A to anyone, especially if you plan to send your love one's remains internationally.”
“Mike coordinated the transfer of my brother-in-law from South Carolina to Baltimore with a very professional and timely contact with the funeral director in South Carolina.”
Call us, any time —
day, night, weekend, holiday.
The earlier we start, the smoother the journey home.