There are three known funeral homes in Papua New Guinea providing a full range of funeral services, including embalming and shipment of human remains. These companies may provide services in other areas of Papua New Guinea at additional cost.
Dove Funeral Services Ltd.
PO Box 3017
Boroko, NCD
Papua New Guinea
Phone: (+675) 323-9654 or 7106-8091
Fax: (+675) 7201-1505
Email: info@dovefunerals.com.pg
The Funeral Home
Hubert Murray Hwy Erima
PO Box 6217
Boroko, NCD
Papua New Guinea
Phone: (+675) 325-7793
After hours: (+675) 325-6512
Fax: (+675) 325-8747
Email: ravenpol80@gmail.com
Glenrowen Funeral Home
(With locations in Goroka and Lae. Main office in Goroka.)
PO Box 1253
Goroka
Papua New Guinea
Phone: (+675) 532-1177
-and-
PO Box 66
Lae 411
Morobe Province
Papua New Guinea
Fax: (+675) 532-1911
Email: john.glenrowen@gmail.com
General Conditions
Mortuary services are available in Port Moresby, Goroka and Lae. There are no known services available outside these urban areas. Bodies may need to be transported to these locations for mortuary services. This will involve further costs, which can only be established on a case-by-case basis.
Autopsies are performed for criminal investigation purposes, when the cause of death is unknown, or at the request of the family. Autopsies can be performed either at the hospital or at The Funeral Home of Port Moresby.
Local Circumstances
Due to tropical conditions, burial or embalming should take place soon after death.
Shipment by Air
International airlines will not uplift without the confirmed address of receiver in the United States. Please note that experience has shown that it can be difficult to secure confirmed onward transportation of the casket once it reaches LAX, especially if the ongoing carrier is a small domestic airline. A U.S. based mortuary service provider may need to be engaged to assist with such services from port of entry in the United States to final destination. A casket containing a body or human ashes is treated as ordinary freight. Shipping companies, however, require that the body be placed in a metal or zinc lined casket. Estimated cargo rates on Air Niugini from Port Moresby, depend/varies on the weight and the International destination most often is Los Angeles and the estimated cost is $3,031 and over.
- Local authorities responsible for licensing funeral directors and morticians: None
- Local authorities responsible for making findings regarding the cause of death and for issuing death local certificates: The Registrar General, Registration Officer (Death), National Civil Registry Office, Department of Community Development Religion, PO Box 7354, Boroko 111, National Capital District, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
Although there is no law or regulation requiring burial within a specific period, most decedents are buried within three days of death. In the villages, time before burial may be as short as one day, depending on the cause of death. Funeral homes are not used for most burials in Papua New Guinea.
Embalming Services
Embalming are available in Port Moresby and Lae. Prices can range from: Normal $320 to $2,750, and other $370 to $3,650
Cremation Services
Cremation is uncommon in Papua New Guinea, but is available. Cremation facilities in PNG may not be to the same standard as found in the United States. The cost of cremation is approximately $1,850.
Caskets, Containers and Funeral Service Costs
Casket, Local (Regular) $330 to 1,700 (prices varies),
Casket, Local (Oversize) $1.220 to $2,340 (prices varies)
Casket, Imported $7,580 to 8,490 (metal), and $13, 640 to $10,910 (wooden)
Galvanized zinc liner $31 to $1,070 (dependent on Funeral Home)
Ceramic Urn for cremains $760
Wooden Urn for cremains $304
Cool Room Services $31-304 per night (dependent on Funeral Home)
Transport Services $100-200 (Dependent on vehicle. A hearse is more expensive.)
Funeral Director’s fee $304
Sealing and Certification $304
Administrative fee $190 -460 (dependent on Funeral Home)
Allowance for Contingency $760 (dependent on Funeral Home)
Post Mortem Services $160 -1,070 (dependent on Funeral Home
Professional Handling $70 -760 (dependent on Funeral Home)
After Hours Services $70-304 (dependent on Funeral Home)
Miscellaneous expenses $1,070
Exportation of Human Remains
All human remains repatriated to the United States must be shipped in a leak-proof container and must be accompanied by a death certificate stating the cause of death. For more information, see http://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/human-remains.html . Air carriers will generally require:
- Embalming by US standard method.
- Use of hermetically sealed coffin or casket.
- Use of all wood outer shipping-container – wrapped or packaged, inclusive of absorbent
- material, in either a “custom-made carton”, protective wrapping, felt or foam sheeting and suitably stitched and labelled
- Certified copy of death certificate.
- Locally issued burial and/or transit permit.
- Embalmers (non-contraband) affidavit – to be typed in funeral home letterhead.
- Shipper declaration for dangerous goods – if not embalmed.
- Non-contagious disease letter from local health authority – to be typed on letterhead of local authority or Coroner/Medical Examiner.
- Full flight itinerary, with name/address/phone number of consignee (quarantine clearance cannot be issued without this information).
- Passport or copy of passport.
- Next of kin/contact information in final destination.
Local Burials
Plots at Nine Mile Cemetery outside of Port Moresby can be purchased from the National Capital District Commission (Department of Health) at an approximate cost of $50 (165 PGK) for an adult and $34 (110 PGK) for a child.
All cost estimates are based on an exchange rate on July 12, 2018 of $1.00 USD = 3.30 PNG Kina.
Exhumation
Exhumation is possible. A police officer, a health officer, cemetery personnel and funeral home personnel must attend the exhumation. It is preferable not to disturb the surrounding ground. Apply in writing to the National Capital District Commission: