Repatriation from Singapore to China

The Chinese Embassy in Singapore gave no single national checklist. It asked us to check with the airline, Singapore ICA, China customs and the Civil Affairs Department or Funeral Management Office in the destination locality in China. In practice the destination decides, and its rules can differ from one locality to the next. Whichever embassy covers the deceased's own nationality must also be told.

• The Chinese Embassy in Singapore no longer legalises documents. • Official Singapore documents (such as marriage certificates, birth certificates, court documents and notarised documents) can get an apostille directly from the Singapore Academy of Law. • Private documents issued in Singapore (such as declarations and powers of attorney) must first be notarised by a Singapore notary public, in both Chinese and English, before applying for the apostille. • If a Chinese translation is needed, it is handled by an authoritative translation agency recognised by the document user in China. Ask the receiving side which agency they accept.

The embassy gave no separate steps for a deceased who is not Chinese. Ask the Civil Affairs Department or Funeral Management Office at the destination.

Sending remains: • Death certificate, with the name matching the passport • Embalming certificate • Coffin sealing certificate • NEA coffin export permit (your funeral director applies for it) • Passport or travel document of the deceased • Whatever the Civil Affairs Department or Funeral Management Office at the destination asks for (ask the receiving side in writing before you book)

Sending ashes: • Death certificate • Cremation certificate • Urn sealing certificate • Passport or travel document of the deceased • Whatever the Civil Affairs Department or Funeral Management Office at the destination asks for (ask the receiving side in writing before you book)

Kenneth coordinates the Singapore side: the funeral director, embalming and sealing (for remains), the NEA coffin export permit (for remains), the booking with the airline cargo, and the paperwork above. Delivery is to the arrival airport agreed with the receiving side.

Not included: the journey from the airport to the home town, and any prayers or wake held in Singapore before departure. Those are separate and are paid for by the family. For a Work Permit holder or a domestic helper, Singapore's Ministry of Manpower puts the cost of returning the body on the employer, so the employer arranges it. See Sending a Body or Ashes Overseas for the Singapore side in detail.