Repatriation of mortal remains to Italy

1) 1 original death certificate “Certified Copy of Registration of Death” (Form 15) accompanied by its full translation into Italian done by one of the translators listed with this Consulate General. Click here for a list of ATIO certified translators (link opens in a new tab). The certificate must be apostilled* by Canadian Authorities.

2) 1 original “Medical Certificate of Death” (Form 16) accompanied by its full translation into Italian done by one of the translators listed with this Consulate General. Click here for a list of ATIO certified translators (link opens in anew tab). The certificate must be apostilled* by Canadian Authorities.

3) 1 original letter from local funeral home (if the deceased is a female, please use the maiden name);

The letter must indicate the following information:
– the body was embalmed as required by law;
– the body was enclosed in a hermetically sealed metal container and this container was placed inside a wooden casket;
– the wooden casket was in turn enclosed in a metal lined wooden shipping shell;

4) The original of the “Certificate for Shipment of a Body Outside of Ontario” for the province of Ontario or equivalent for the provinces of Manitoba and the Northwest Territories;

5) Burial permit in original;

6) Copy of the first 3 or 4 pages of the passport of the deceased (Italian, Canadian or both, if available);

7) Letter from the Funeral Home certifying how the body was embalmed and providing the following information:

– the body was embalmed as required by law;
– the body was enclosed in a hermetically sealed metal container and this container has been placed inside a wooden casket;
– the wooden casket has been enclosed in a metal lined wooden shipping shell.

8) A letter of permission signed by the family specifying the name of the airport/port of entry in Italy, the cemetery, town or city in Italy where the burial is to take place. This letter should also authorize the funeral home to act on the family’s behalf in dealing with this Consulate General;

9) Money order with the exact amount corresponding to the consular fee  for the mortuary passport (article 66H of the consular fee) and, if needed, for the authentication of the translator’s signature (article 69). Please note that the exact amounts are available on the consular fee and are updated every quarter. Therefore, before filling out the money order, please check the exact amount. Furthermore, in the 10 days immediately preceding each quarter change, due to possible variations in the exchange rate, it is recommended not to send files with money order, as the amounts may not be exact at the time of collection.

Documents must be mailed (Canada Xpress Post with tracking number recommended) to:

Consulate General of Italy,
136 Beverley Street,
M5T 1Y5, Toronto, ON,
indicating on the envelope “Repatriation of human remains”.

In the shipping envelope it is necessary to include another pre-stamped and pre-filled envelope which will be used by the Consulate to send the mortuary passport to the recipient (see the following paragraphs), or to return the documentation, if the file is incomplete.

a) A small metal plate must be affixed to the wooden casket and engraved with the following information relating to the deceased: name and surname (maiden name, if applicable), date of birth and date of death. This plate must be secured onto the casket with extra strong glue;
b) The shipping shell container should be secured with 2 metal bands placed lengthwise and 3 or more placed horizontally, so that they crisscross each other (please note that the metal bands must be at least 2 cm wide and no more than 50 cm apart).

Once we receive all the documentation, complete and correct, from the funeral agency, we contact the competent Italian authorities and request authorization for burial in Italy.
Having obtained this authorization, we issue the “mortuary passport” (subject to consular fee art. 66H) , which is sent in the pre-stamped and pre-filled envelope that applicants will have taken care to include inside the envelope containing all the documentation.

In case of urgency, you can contact the address toronto.salmeceneri@esteri.it, making sure to mention in the subject “Urgent human remains repatriation”, to obtain an appointment in order to collect the mortuary passport in person.

The mortuary passport is generally ready on the working day following the one in which the authorization for burial in Italy is received.

To obtain the mortuary passport, you do not have to book an appointment on Prenot@mi.

Please note that in the absence of the above documents, the Consulate cannot request authorization for burial in Italy.

Please note that the payment of the consular fee is always required for the mortuary passport (art. 66H), and for the authentication of the translator’s signature only if needed (Article 69). Please note that the exact amounts are available on the consular fee and are updated every quarter.

Therefore, before filling out the money order, please check the consular fee for the exact amount. In the 10 days immediately preceding each quarter change, due to possible variations in the exchange rate, it is recommended not to send files with money order, as the amounts may not be exact at the time of collection.

Please be advised that we cannot request authorization from Italy until we have all of the above listed documents.

Do not make any flight arrangements until notified.

1) 1 original death certificate “Certified Copy of Registration of Death” (Form 15) accompanied by its full translation into Italian done by one of the translators listed with this Consulate General. Click here for a list of ATIO certified translators (link opens in a new tab). The certificate must be apostilled* by Canadian Authorities.

2) 1 original “Medical Certificate of Death” (Form 16) accompanied by its full translation into Italian done by one of the translators listed with this Consulate General. Click here for a list of ATIO certified translators (link opens in anew tab). The certificate must be apostilled* by Canadian Authorities.

*APOSTILLE: HOW TO OBTAIN IT 

As of January 11, 2024, the Convention of The Hague on the Apostille enters into effect in Canada. This means that Global Affairs Canada and Provincial Authentication Services will no longer authenticate public documents or other notarized private documents. Instead, they will issue an Apostille (a certificate that will accompany the original document it refers to). The Apostille eliminates steps required to get documents accepted in countries where the convention is in effect (including Italy). As an example, if a document carries the apostille, the legalization by the Consulate General of Italy will no longer be required.

a) If a document  has been issued by the Authorities of Manitoba or North West Territories or if it has been notarized by Manitoba or NWT Authorities, the Apostille will be issued by Global Affairs Canada. 
Click here for information on the procedure to apply for an Apostille issued by Global Affairs Canada.

b) If a document has been issued or notarized in Ontario, the request for an Apostille will have to be sent to the Ministry for Public and Business Service Delivery of Ontario.
Click here for information on the procedure to apply for an Apostille issued by MPSBD Ontario.

If a document carries the Apostille, it does not require further legalization by the Consulate.

TRANSLATIONS CARRIED OUT BY ATIO CERTIFIED TRANSLATORS:

During this transitional phase, the Consulate will keep legalizing translations carried out by ATIO certified translators whose signature is on file with this Consulate (list available here).  Please note that a consular fee is due for the legalization of translators’ signature (art. 69 of the Consular Fee).

If you wish to contact a translator not registered with our Consulate, you may do so but, in order for that translation to be used/recognized in Italy:

1. You will have to have the translation notarized by a notary public/lawyer operating in Canada;
2. Following point 1, you will have to apply for the Apostille issued either by Global Affairs Canada or by the Official Documents Service of Ontario, based on where your translation is notarized.

Once your translation is apostilled, no further legalization of the Consulate will be required.

If applicable, the consular fee (Art. 69 above) must be included in the envelope, in the form of a money order/bank draft for the exact amount, in Canadian dollars, made out to the Consulate General of Italy in Toronto. If in doubt with reference to the amount due, kindly reach out to toronto.salmeceneri@esteri.it.

4) 1 original “Certificate of Cremation” issued by the crematorium (if the deceased is a female, please use the maiden name);

5) Burial permit in original;

6) Copy of the first 3 or 4 pages of the passport of the deceased (Italian, Canadian or both, if available);

7) A letter of permission signed by the family specifying the airport/port of entry in Italy, the name of the cemetery and the “Comune” (Municipality in Italy) where the burial is to take place. This letter should also authorize the Funeral Home to act on the family’s behalf in dealing with this Consulate General;

8) Money order with the exact amount corresponding to the consular fee  for the mortuary passport (article 66H of the consular fee) and, if needed, for the authentication of the translator’s signature (article 69). Please note that the exact amounts are available on the consular fee and are updated every quarter. Therefore, before filling out the money order, please check the exact amount. Furthermore, in the 10 days immediately preceding each quarter change, due to possible variations in the exchange rate, it is recommended not to send files with money order, as the amounts may not be exact at the time of collection.

Documents must be mailed (Canada Xpress Post with tracking number recommended) to:

Consulate General of Italy,
136 Beverley Street,
M5T 1Y5, Toronto, ON,
indicating on the envelope “Repatriation of cremated remains”.

In the shipping envelope it is necessary to include another pre-stamped and pre-filled envelope which will be used by the Consulate to send the mortuary passport to the recipient (see the following paragraphs), or to return the documentation, if the file is incomplete.

It is illegal in Italy to scatter ashes without formal authorization from the local city hall. Authorization and regulations to scatter ashes may be obtained from the “Comune” (Municipality) in Italy.

a) The cremated remains must be placed in an approved urn and the urn must in turn be placed in a wooden shipping container;

b) A small metal plate must be affixed to the urn and engraved with the following information relating to the deceased: name and surname (maiden name, if applicable), date of birth and date of death. This plate must be secured onto the urn with extra strong glue;

c) The shipping shell container should be secured with 1 metal band placed lengthwise and another horizontally, so that they crisscross each other (please note that the metal bands must be at least 2 cm wide).

Once we receive all the documentation, complete and correct, from the funeral agency, we contact the competent Italian authorities and request authorization for burial in Italy.

Having obtained this authorization, we issue the “mortuary passport” (subject to consular fee art. 66H) , which is sent in the pre-stamped and pre-filled envelope that applicants will have taken care to include inside the envelope containing all the documentation.

In case of urgency, you can contact the address toronto.salmeceneri@esteri.it, making sure to mention in the subject “Urgent cremated remains repatriation”, to obtain an appointment in order to collect the mortuary passport in person.

The mortuary passport is generally ready on the working day following the one in which the authorization for burial in Italy is received.

To obtain the mortuary passport, you do not have to book an appointment on Prenot@mi.

Please note that in the absence of the above documents, the Consulate cannot request authorization for burial in Italy.

Please note that the payment of the consular fee is always required for the mortuary passport (art. 66H), and for the authentication of the translator’s signature only if needed (Article 69). Please note that the exact amounts are available on the consular fee and are updated every quarter.

Therefore, before filling out the money order, please check the consular fee for the exact amount. In the 10 days immediately preceding each quarter change, due to possible variations in the exchange rate, it is recommended not to send files with money order, as the amounts may not be exact at the time of collection.

Please be advised that we cannot request authorization from Italy until we have all of the above listed documents.

Do not make any flight arrangements until notified.