Rye Hunt's body handed back to family

Rye Hunt's family has taken possession of his body and is making an application to have him cremated and returned to Australia.

Brazilian authorities have handed Rye Hunt's body back to his Australian family. (AAP)

Rye Hunt's "heartbroken" family is preparing to cremate his body in Rio de Janeiro and bring it back to Australia.

Brazilian authorities on Monday officially handed Mr Hunt's body over to his family and it was taken to a local funeral home while his girlfriend and uncle prepare to bring it back to Tasmania.

The 25-year-old backpacker went missing on May 21 after he became separated from his travelling companion Mitchell Sheppard at the Rio airport.

They had an argument after the two took what is suspected to be a highly potent hallucinogen known as NBOMe.

Clinical tests have confirmed a body that washed ashore at Marica on June 8 was Mr Hunt.

His uncle Michael Wholohan, who has been searching for him in Rio for the past two weeks, lodged an application with a Rio court to have his remains cremated and repatriated.

"Rye has previously made clear his wish to be cremated and for his ashes to be scattered in his home state of Tasmania," the family said in a statement on Monday.

If the application is granted, Mr Wholohan and Mr Hunt's girlfriend Bonnie Cuthbert will bring his remains to Australia on June 15.