If a person dies far from home — traveling, on vacation, or living part of the year elsewhere — the body must be transported home, and the costs surprise many families:
- Domestic transport typically costs $2,000 – $6,000 (two funeral homes are involved: one on each end, plus transport).
- International transport can cost $10,000 – $20,000, with embassy paperwork and delays.
Ways to plan ahead:
- Travel assurance / travel protection plans are one-time or annual memberships (often $300 – $500 one-time) that cover bringing a person home from anywhere in the world if death occurs a certain distance from home (commonly 75+ miles). If you travel often, spend winters away, or live far from family, this is worth considering.
- Some pre-paid funeral plans and insurance policies include or offer transport protection as a rider — ask.
- Check your travel insurance: some policies include "repatriation of remains" — but often only during the covered trip.
If a death away from home happens without coverage, call the funeral home you plan to use at home FIRST — they will coordinate with a funeral home at the place of death, which can substantially reduce the cost.