Mexican national who died in the US: consular death record and transfer of remains

When a Mexican national dies in the United States, the family may deal with two separate procedures with Mexico: registering the death at a Mexican consulate, so that a Mexican death record (acta de defunción) exists, and — if they decide to take the body or ashes to Mexico — the transfer of remains, in which the consulate visas the documents that Mexican health authorities will require. According to the Mexican consulate in Los Angeles, death registration is free; each certified copy is US$20.00 (2026 fee tables of the Los Angeles and Chicago consulates, checked October 3, 2026). The transfer visas carry no fee by law, and the Government of Mexico may provide partial financial support when the family proves it cannot pay.

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Costs at a glance

ItemCostSource
Registering the death at the consulateFreeLos Angeles consulate, “Actas de defunción” page
Certified copy of the Mexican death recordUS$20.00 each2026 tables from Los Angeles and Chicago, checked October 3, 2026
Death registration and its certified copies in consular protection casesNo feeLey Federal de Derechos, art. 24, section IV
Visa on the transit permit and embalming certificateNo feeLey Federal de Derechos, art. 24, section V; Los Angeles: “El trámite es gratuito”
Funeral services and transportSet by the funeral homeAtlanta (2025): basic service of 5,000 to 6,000 dollars from Georgia or Tennessee

The Los Angeles death-record page still shows a pre-2026 copy price; the 2026 tables are the current ones.

Part 1: registering the death at the consulate

Documents

The Los Angeles consulate’s “Actas de defunción” page asks for:

  • The original US death certificate, issued by the Department of Health (Department of Health Services). If you need to order one, see vital records by state.
  • The original proof of the deceased’s Mexican nationality, which can be: birth certificate, valid Mexican passport, Declaratoria de Nacionalidad Mexicana por Nacimiento, or Carta de Naturalización Mexicana.
  • The original valid official ID of the informant or relative doing the procedure.

Two notes from the same page:

  • No apostille is required on the US death certificate for this registration.
  • The name must match: the deceased’s name must be written on the US death certificate exactly as on their birth certificate. If it does not match, Los Angeles says to request an amendment from the Los Angeles Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk.

Step by step (two stages)

  1. Document-review appointment. In Los Angeles it is scheduled by email or at (213) 351-6800 ext. 2204. On the day of the appointment, the informant or relative presents the documents and fills out the application; that same day they receive the appointment for stage two.
  2. Signing the record. At stage two, the informant or relative returns with valid official ID and signs the death record. Copies are paid at this stage.
  3. Picking up the record. Anyone can pick it up by presenting the payment receipt.

Other consulates may organize appointments differently. Find yours in the Mexican consulate directory or the list by state.

Part 2: transferring remains or ashes to Mexico

How it works

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) leaflet “Traslado de restos de una persona a México” explains that the embassy or consulate offers the family guidance, advice and support with the paperwork. Key points from the leaflet:

  • The decision belongs to the immediate family: transfer the body or cremate. Cremation and transfer of ashes is the less costly option.
  • Two funeral homes: one where the death occurred handles embalming or cremation and the transfer paperwork; another in Mexico receives the remains.
  • If the family asks, the consulate can provide information about funeral homes experienced in international transfers.
  • Consulates cannot influence the pickup and delivery times set by the funeral home.
  • People in the United States or Canada can call the Center for Information and Assistance to Mexicans (CIAM) for more information.

Transfer documents

DocumentDetail
Death certificateLos Angeles: must state the cause of death and the correct final destination, and must be apostilled. If the cause is pending or deferred, the Los Angeles page asks for the coroner’s letter certifying whether the death was caused by a contagious disease. The SRE leaflet asks for an apostille or legalization
Embalming or cremation certificateSigned by the embalmer or crematory with its license number. The leaflet notes the cremation certificate is not always necessary, but airlines or customs sometimes ask for it
Transit permit for the body or ashesLos Angeles: a Department of Health permit naming the receiving funeral home or place of final disposition
Additional documents by cause of deathLos Angeles: if one of the causes of death is COVID-19, the embalming technique and the Department of Health letter are added to the file; if the cause is deferred, the medical examiner’s letter is added
TranslationLos Angeles: original plus one photocopy, with a simple Spanish translation on the funeral home’s letterhead

With the documents that apply to the case (including the additional letters above when the cause of death is deferred or involves COVID-19), the family or funeral home goes to the consulate to obtain two visas: one on the transit permit for the body or ashes and one on the embalming or cremation certificate. Los Angeles asks that the person’s name appear, at least in the “aka” section, as on their Mexican birth certificate (given name, paternal surname and maternal surname).

The Mexican death record and Mexico City

The SRE leaflet recommends always requesting the Mexican death record from the consulate, and says it is necessary if the remains are going to Mexico City and its metropolitan area. The Los Angeles page requires it if the final destination is Mexico City or the State of Mexico. In those cases, the Mexican record from Part 1 is needed before the transfer leaves.

Financial support from the Government of Mexico

According to the SRE leaflet:

  • In cases of proven economic insolvency, the viability of the Government of Mexico granting economic support to partially cover transfer costs will be determined, under the criteria in force.
  • Support is paid directly to the companies providing the service, not to the family.
  • It only covers basic transfer and embalming or cremation services. Ceremonies and funeral services are the family’s responsibility.

What the consulate does not do

  • It does not pay the full transfer: support, when granted, is partial.
  • It does not control the funeral home’s timelines.
  • It does not issue the US death certificate or the transit permit: those come from US state and health authorities.

Your US immigration status

The requirements published by the Los Angeles consulate ask for the deceased’s documents and the informant’s or relative’s ID; they do not ask for US immigration documents.

Official sources

Last verified: 2026-10-03. General procedural information for educational purposes. Death-registration and remains-transfer requirements depend on the consulate, the state where the death occurred and Mexico’s health authorities, and they change. Verify directly with the Mexican consulate that serves you. Not legal advice.