Death of An American Citizen

When a U.S. Citizen Dies in French Polynesia:

WHAT HAPPENS FIRST.  French law requires no specific minimum time within which interment must be made, however, the normal time is as quickly as possible in order to avoid deterioration of remains.   City hall asks that the person discovering the body immediately contact a doctor who will issue a medical certificate.

INITIAL DEATH CERTIFICATE (DOCTOR'S CERTIFICATE).  Regardless of where the death occurs, a doctor needs to certify the death and its cause.  This certification will be required for burial or shipment to take place.  If the death occurs in a hospital, the attending physician will provide the certification.  An autopsy is required if the cause of death cannot be certified by a physicial or the death occurs under suspicious circumstances such as suicide or homicide. An autopsy normally takes between one to three workdays. In all cases as soon as possible a local funeral agent should be contacted and given the certification of death.  The agent can provide guidance and prepare the required French documents.

Note:  When the doctor prepares the medical certificate of death, he will include the cause of death only on the certificate he hands to the next-of-kin in a sealed envelope.  The U.S. Embassy will need a copy of the certificate with the cause of death included in order to prepare the Consular Report of Death Abroad of an American citizen.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.  Using the medical death certificate, an official death certificate showing the time, date, and place of death and the name of the doctor in charge will be obtained (usually by the funeral agent) from city hall. 

HOW LONG DOES THIS PROCESS TAKE?  Two workdays is the absolute minimum for shipment abroad.   Most cases require three to four working days.   Delays sometimes result from funeral homes waiting to receive confirmation of coverage for all expenses.   Local funeral homes are familiar with the procedures and documents needed for exportation of remains.     

MAXIMUM PERIOD BEFORE BURIAL.  French law stipulates that cremation or burial take place within two months.  Exceptions may be requested.

EMBALMING.  Embalming facilities exists in French Polynesia.  The law does not prescribe embalming except in case of shipment of remains abroad or when appropriate local sanitary storage facilities do not exist.  Embalming may not be done until a death certificate, attested by a physician, is issued, which generally involves a lapse of at least twenty-four hours.  The method used is injection of formalin into the aorta. 

CREMATION.  No cremation is available in French Polynesia, but cremation can be arranged in New Zealand.

CASKETS AND CONTAINERS.  Different types of caskets are available in French Polynesia.  For any air transport, the body must be embalmed and encased in a hermetically-sealed zinc casket.

EXPORTATION OF REMAINS.  The same documents are required to ship bodies or ashes and are usually obtained by the funeral agencies.  Local requirements for the exportation of human remains are as follows:

1) Embalmment of the remains.

2) Enclosure of the remains as described under caskets and containers above.

3) Consular Mortuary Certificate (with the assistance of the Consular Agent)

4) Mortician’s Certificate of embalming

5) French Death certificate

6) French Transit permit

7) Certificate of non contagion

EXHUMATION AND SHIPMENT.  French authorities permit disinterment only with court orders.

APPROXIMATE COSTS.  Please note that costs can vary widely.  The family in the U.S. or their representative should be given a firm estimate of costs before authorizing payment.

1) Interment of remains in local cemetary: $3000.00

2) Preparation and air shipment to the U.S.

Approximate Costs

Sample cost sheet from Bora Bora to Tahiti

Funeral home agent flown from Papeete	$800
Taxiboat from/to Bora Airport	$600
Air Archipel charter flight	$4,250
Total	$5,650

 

From Tahiti to the US

Funeral Home services	$4,000-$6,000
Air freight to the US	$3,700-$4200 depending on destination
Translation of documents	$400
Air Tahiti transport fee (airport)	$30
Europ Assistance processing fee (if applicable)	$675
Total	$8800-11,500

 

FUNERAL HOMES AND/OR LOCAL OFFICIALS WHO CAN ASSIST WITH ARRANGEMENTS:

FUNERAIRE HAPIPI 
PK 20,2 c/mont, Paea, Tel : 689-45-42-20

FUNERAIRES MIN CHIU 
PK 4,5 c/mer, Arue, Tel: 689-41-38-38

FUNERAIRES VAXELAIRE
Tel:  689-42-77-79
Papeete