public services

Report of Death Abroad

In order to obtain a Report of Death Abroad, the following documents must be submitted to the Consular Section:

• Autopsy Certificate or Medical Certificate of Death from the attending physician.
• Death Certificate from the Ecuadorian Civil Registry.
• U.S. Passport (and naturalization certificate, if applicable) of the deceased.
• Social Security Number of the deceased.
• Local address of the deceased.
• U.S. address of the deceased.
• Name and address of next of kin.
• Time and place of death.
• Exact place of burial, if applicable.

Upon receipt of the original documents the Embassy will issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad (15 copies).  There is no fee for this service, but there is a fee for additional copies.

TRANSPORTING REMAINS TO THE UNITED STATES

If the body is being transported to the United States for burial, the following are required:

• Autopsy Certificate or Medical Certificate of Death from the attending physician.
• Death Certificate from the Ecuadorian Civil Registry.
• U.S. Passport (and naturalization certificate, if applicable) of the deceased.
• Export Permit from the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health.
• Name, address and phone number of funeral home at place of destination (consignee).
• Flight information and itinerary, including name of airline, flight number(s), date of travel, departure and arrival times, and port of entry.
• Certificate of Embalming.  (Cremation is available in Ecuador.  The requirements to transport cremated remains are the same as the above except that the Certificate of Embalming is replaced by a Certificate of Cremation.)

Upon receipt of these documents the Consulate will prepare the following:

• Consular Report of Death Abroad of a U.S. Citizen (15 copies).
• Affidavit.  To be signed by the funeral home which states that they have prepared the remains for shipment.
• Consular Mortuary Certificate.  This document is required to allow the remains to enter the United States.