Death of a U.S. Citizen in Costa Rica 

One of the most important services we provide is our assistance to the relatives of U.S. citizens who have passed away abroad.  We provide information, and, with the written authorization of the next-of-kin, we serve as a liaison with local authorities regarding the disposition of the remains and the belongings of the deceased. 

 How to reach us:  For more information, please contact us at 506-519-2000, extension 2453, Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.  On weekends, holidays, or after regular work hours, we may be reached via the Embassy’s emergency duty officer, at (506) 519-2280, (506) 519-2279 or (506)220-3127.  We may also be contacted at:  consularsanjose@state.gov

 Legal requirement to deposit funds:  We can provide you with the information we have, and seek out further information for you, free of charge. By law, however, we cannot carry out your instructions for disposition of the remains or the belongings of the deceased until funds have been provided by the next-of-kin.  To facilitate the transfer of those funds, the Department of State provides a means whereby you may wire money to the American Embassy in San Jose.  Upon receipt of the funds, we will follow the instructions of the next-of-kin as quickly as we can. 

 Estimated costs:  The cost for local burial in San Jose is about $500 without embalming, and approximately $1600 with embalming.  That cost does not include the cemetery plot, which will vary according to the cemetery (costs vary between approximately $1300 and $3500).  Cremation is available for about $2,200, including preparation and temporary storage of the remains.  Shipping the ashes to the U.S. costs approximately $500.  Should the next-of-kin prefer to have the remains returned to the U.S. for burial, the costs would be substantially greater, due to the high cost of airfreight and embalming.  The total approximate cost for preparation and air shipment is between $3500 to $5200.

 Funeral homes in the San Jose area:  The following are three funeral homes in San Jose which have experience with shipping remains internationally.  (The U.S. Embassy does not recommend one service over another):

 JARDINES DEL RECUERDO (has own cremation facilities)

Address:  From Pizza Hut Paseo Colon 300 meters South, San Jose, Costa Rica
Contact:  Giovanni Corazzari
Telephone:  (506) 222-90-22
Fax:  (506) 233-3176
English speaking staff:  Yes

MONTESACRO

Address: 50 meters West from the Catholic Church, San Pedro, San Jose, Costa Rica
Contact:  Mrs. Celina Saenz or Ms. Miriam Jorge
Telephone:  (506) 253-8181
Fax:  (506) 234-2247
Email:  celisaenz@hotmail.com
English speaking staff:  Yes

POLINI

Address:  Calle 30, Avenida 6, Barrio Don Bosco, San Jose (100 meters West from Jardines del Recuerdo Funeral Home )
Contact:  Ruben Zamora
Tel. 223-4333 
Cel. 365-3565
Fax. 258-7953
Email:  fpolini@racsa.co.cr
English speaking staff:  Yes