Many families carry ashes to India for immersion in the Ganges or for rites in the family’s home town. The Indian embassy or consulate handles the travel paperwork from the original certificates and does not list an apostille among its requirements. You will want an apostilled death certificate for the legal and financial matters that follow in India.
What the Indian embassy asks for
This list follows the Embassy of India in Washington. The Indian consulates in other U.S. cities publish their own versions.
- Original and one copy of the death certificate
- Original and one copy of the cremation certificate
- Passport of the person who died, original and copy
- The applicant’s passport, proof of U.S. visa status and proof of residence
There is no fee if the person who died held an Indian passport. Otherwise the embassy charges $40 plus a $2 community welfare fund fee, paid by money order or cashier’s check. The embassy says it processes these requests the same day.
If the person was an Indian national, the embassy also registers the death and cancels the passport. The embassy advises checking with your airline too, since carriers can ask for further papers from the funeral home.
When you will need an apostille
India is a member of the Apostille Convention. A U.S. death certificate carrying an apostille can be presented to Indian authorities without further embassy attestation. Families commonly need one to:
- transfer property or update land records
- close bank accounts and claim deposits
- claim life insurance or pension benefits
- apply for a succession or legal heir certificate
Indian banks and registrars usually want to keep an original, so one copy is rarely enough.
How the process runs
- Order several certified copies of the death certificate.
- Take the originals to the embassy or consulate for its attestation.
- Have the extra copies apostilled by the Secretary of State where the death was recorded.
- Confirm the airline’s rules and carry the documents with the urn.
How we can help
We obtain apostilles for death certificates from all 50 states for use in India. Our service starts at $195. Standard processing takes about 10 business days, and same-day or next-day service is available for qualifying Oregon, Washington, Texas and Virginia documents. We ship completed documents internationally, and we quote the shipping cost once you provide the delivery address. Call Apostille Authentications at (971) 514-3743 or request a quote.
Requirements change. Confirm the current checklist with your Indian embassy or consulate before you travel. See our main guide to taking ashes abroad for the general process.