1. Repatriation of the body to origin country; 2. Local cremation and repatriation of the ashes.

The one who is entitled to sign authorizations as legal representative and decision maker.

In China, the estate of the decedent shall be inherited in the following order: First in order: Spouse, children, parents. Second in order: Brothers and sisters, paternal grandparents, maternal grand-parents. When succession opens, the successor(s) first in order shall inherit to the exclusion of the successor(s) second in order. The successor(s) second in order shall inherit in default of any successor first in order. 

The costs include items such as removal, coffin, embalming, documentation, transport (air, road...) , coordination (if it applies), as well as such expenses at destination for removal, ceremony amongst others. Normally the payment needs to be done before departure of the deceased from the origin.

Police, if the cause of death is not clear and therefore there is no death certificate. 

Family/the embassy/consulate can also request an autopsy by providing a written request. 

The forensic doctor of the China Public Security Bureau.

Embalming is a conservation treatment. It is required by Chinese legislation to all bodies that enter or leave China. The embalming is performed in most occasions within the funeral home premises by a qualified embalmer.

If the person dies in hospital, the doctor from the hospital shall issue death certificate the same day. The document should contain the cause of death. If the person dies on a public space, the medical department of the Public Security Bureau shall issue the death certificate in 7 to 10 days provided that they determine the cause of death is not suspicious and no autopsy is required. 

Usually within the same day, average 2-3 hours.

Some airlines will allow the cremated remains to be transported as cabin luggage and other will require that it travels as cargo. They must be notified in advance to ensure they allow it. For the cremated ashes that need to be repatriated, there are some procedures and documents need to be fulfilled. 

Foreigners can not be buried in China. Regarding the ashes, burying or scattering ashes of foreigners in China is not allowed. However, in a few cases, the ashes might be buried or scattered in China if the deceased was a well-known person among Chinese and had made a significant contribution to China in his/her life. In such case, the applicant may submit the application to civil affairs department at provincial level or of the central government for approval.

If there is a relative or friend accompanying the deceased, he or she may help identify the deceased. Or the employer or host may do this.  If the above-mentioned persons are not available, the embassy/consulate or China’s authorities may help with the identification. According to Chinese legislation, if a foreigner dies in China and has no family member, friend, host or employer, according to the deceased valid identification documents, the local police station where the death happens shall report to the department of public security of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government.  This department shall notify the embassy, consulates of the dead person in China and asks to provide written opinions on handling the corpse within 30 days upon notice. If there is no feedback or the opinion is not clear the local funeral home will be notified to cremate the corpse.  Upon cremation, ashes will be preserved only for 1 year.

It is not always necessary: If the next of kin is not present, he/she may entrust someone through Power of Attorney. The person/company empowered might be the employer, the insurer, a friend, a member of staff of the consulate, member of staff of a repatriation platform, a funeral home…

The person or company that has been appointed to collect the coffin at the destination airport. If there is a need to change the consignee once the Air Waybill has been issued, an authorization letter from the original consignee to the new consignee can be signed by the authorized person (previous consignee). 

For Chinese, the family or the representative needs to register the death before burial (for urban area) or within one month (for rural area) according the Article 8 of Residence Registration Regulation of People’s Republic of China. For foreigner, the family or representative needs to cancel the passport at the embassy/consulate in China (it may vary depending on different procedures from each embassy/consulate).