USPS Homepage Skip NavigationUSPS Home | Postal Explorer Home
 
Go to previous section of document Link to chapter contents    Link to index Go to next section of document

Country Conditions for Mailing - Canada

Prohibitions (130)

An issue of a publication in which more than 5 percent of its total advertising space is primarily directed to a Canadian market and which indicates:

(a) specifically where goods or services may be obtained in Canada, or

(b) specific items or conditions relating to the sale or provision of goods or services in Canada.

All alcoholic beverages including wines, etc.

An issue of a publication that contains an advertisement primarily directed to a Canadian market is a prohibited import if that advertisement does not appear in identical form in all editions of the issue distributed in the country of origin.

Articles so marked as to create the false impression that they were made in Canada, Great Britain or any other British country.

Butane gas lighters and refill cartridges.

Commercial tags of metal.

Firearms, including prohibited and restricted weapons, may not be mailed to Canadian addressees from outside Canada.

Oleomargarine and other butter substitutes, including altered or renovated butter.

Perishable infectious biological substances.

Perishable noninfectious biological substances.

Plumage and skins of wild birds.

Prison-made goods being sold or intended for sale by a person or firm.

Radioactive materials.

Reprints of Canadian or British works copyrighted in Canada.

Reproductions of Canadian postage stamps unless printed in publications in black and white only and with a defacing line drawn across each reproduction.

Shipments bearing caution labels indicating the contents are flammable.

Smoke-making devices for motor vehicles and boats.

Used or secondhand hives or bee supplies.

Restrictions

Coins; banknotes; currency notes; securities payable to bearer; traveler's checks; gold, silver, platinum, manufactured or not; jewelry; and other valuable articles may be sent only in registered letter-post items.

Exceptions:

Coins sent to or from collectors or dealers may be mailed in ordinary (uninsured) parcel post packages.

Drugs and medicines must comply with Canadian law.

Eggs for hatching must be packed in new, clean containers and accompanied by a certificate issued by a veterinarian of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, or one issued by a State veterinarian and endorsed by a veterinarian of that Bureau, stating that to the best of his or her knowledge the eggs come from a flock that is free from Newcastle disease, fowl pest, or fowl typhoid. See 135.3 for method of packing.

Meat and meat food products must be accompanied by an export certificate issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and labeled in accordance with Canadian regulations. Exception to these requirements are:

(1) bona fide sample shipments weighing less than 10 kg;

(2) meat products addressed to a government department or agency;

(3) meat products intended for personal consumption when they enter Canada in the possession of the importer.

Precious stones, set or not set; all items used as dress ornaments and coming under the term "jewelry" including articles of gold or other precious metal for personal use such as cigarette holders, cases, powder cases, card cases, opera glasses, fountain pens, watches, etc., are permitted in insured parcel post packages provided the articles have value not over $5 U.S. A parcel post package containing a number of such articles valued at $5 or less may be insured for the total value of the contents up to a maximum of $200.

Senders are advised to communicate with prospective addressees to assure themselves before mailing that such articles will be admitted.

Veterinary biological products including serums and vaccines must be accompanied by a permit issued by the Veterinary Director General, Ministry of Agriculture of Canada.

Observations

1. Banknotes valued at $100 or more must be put up in a compact package and securely tied with strong twine before wrapping. The wrapper must be linen or other strong, woven material, linen lined paper, or two thicknesses of strong kraft paper. After wrapping, the package must be again securely tied or stitched and sealed at the points of closing.

2. The name of the Canadian province in which the office of destination is located must appear as part of the address.

3. The following must not be accepted for insurance:

Bees, postage stamps (canceled and uncanceled) and albums in which they are mounted, and parcel post packages addressed to CFPOs.

4. Canadian Forces Mail (CFPO) is processed through Canadian military post offices and must be addressed in the following manner:

1. NUMBER, RANK, NAME UNIT
2. CFPO (NUMBER)
3. BELLEVILLE ON K0K 3R0
4. CANADA

Maximum weight limits for mail addressed to members of the Canadian Forces based outside of Canada (CFPO) is: 22 pounds. Parcel post packages for CFPO addresses may not be insured. Direct sacks of printed matter (M-Bags) are not permitted for CFPO addresses.

5. Advertising matter specially prepared to promote the sale of goods or services by Canadian persons or firms is charged with customs duty in Canada when the total weight of articles mailed at one time exceeds one pound. Duty is charged on each individually addressed article. Senders may inquire as to rates of duty and may purchase the duty stamps from the Department of National Revenue, Customs and Excise, Ottawa, Ont., Canada.

6. A letter fully prepaid and bearing the same address as that of a parcel post package may be tied or otherwise securely attached to the outside of the parcel. Stamps to cover postage on the parcel post package must be affixed to the wrapper of the parcel. Stamps to pay postage on the letter must be affixed to the envelope thereof.

7. Certain types of merchandise must be marked to show country of origin in the manner prescribed by the Canadian customs regulations.

8. Goods valued under 20 Canadian dollars are duty and excise tax exempt. Goods over 20 Canadian dollars will be subject to the applicable duties and excise taxes. Gift shipments received by mail that are valued under 60 Canadian dollars are duty and excise tax exempt.

9. For all casual and commercial items valued under 1,200 Canadian dollars, Canada Post will collect the assessed duties and excise taxes and a handling fee of 5 Canadian dollars from the addressee. For EMS items, the handling fee is 8 Canadian dollars. All commercial mail items over 1,200 Canadian dollars will be held by Canada Customs and Excise until proper invoice and accounting documentation is provided by the addressee.

10. The Canada Customs Invoice can be obtained from stationery, office supply, or printing companies. If mailers are unable to obtain the Canada Customs Invoice locally, they should write to the following office that will apply specific names and addresses from which the invoice may be obtained:

REVENUE CANADA, CUSTOMS AND EXCISE
CONNAUGHT BUILDING
OTTAWA ON K1A 0L5
CANADA
Attn: Release and Documentation Systems
Data Control Programmes.

11. Information on Canadian customs regulations may be obtained from the Office of International Marketing/223, Bureau of International Commerce, Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230, or any field office of that Department.

12. (a) Information on Canadian post code directories can be obtained from:

NATIONAL PHILATELIC CENTER
CANADA POST CORPORATION
STATION 1
ANTIGONISH NS B2G 2R8
Telephone: 1-800-565-4362
Fax: 1-902-863-6796

(b) To obtain Canadian post codes for specific addresses, call the General Information line at 1-416-979-8822 or access the Canada Post Corporation web site on the Internet at http://www.canadapost.ca

13. Pursuant to the Canada Customs Act and a need to heighten border security, Canada will deny entry of all postal items (except postcards) that do not bear complete sender and addressee information in roman letters and arabic numerals.

Customs Forms Required (123)
Letter-post: PS Form 2976 or 2976-A (see 123.61)
Parcel Post: PS Form 2976-A inside 2976-E (envelope)

Size Limits
Letter-post: See 243.2
Parcel Post: Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches

Postcards and Postal Cards (250) $0.55

Aerogrammes (250) $0.75 Enclosures NOT permitted

Airmail
Letter-post Rates

Weight
not over
(ozs.)
Letter-
post
Rate
Weight
not over
(ozs.)
Letter-
post
Rate
Weight
not over
(ozs.)
Letter-
post
Rate
1 $0.63 12 $3.25 44 $8.75
2 0.90 16 3.95 48 9.45
3 1.15 20 4.65 52 10.15
4 1.40 24 5.30 56 10.90
5 1.70 28 6.00 60 11.65
6 1.95 32 6.70 64 12.40
7 2.20 36 7.40 blank blank
8 2.50 40 8.05 blank blank
Weight Limit: 64 ounces (4 lbs.)

Airmail
Parcel Post Rates

Weight
not over
(lbs.)
Parcel
Post
Rate
Weight
not over
(lbs.)
Parcel
Post
Rate
Weight
not over
(lbs.)
Parcel
Post
Rate
1 $14.00 25 $40.85 49 $68.65
2 14.00 26 42.00 50 69.85
3 15.00 27 43.15 51 71.00
4 16.35 28 44.30 52 72.15
5 17.65 29 45.50 53 73.30
6 18.80 30 46.65 54 74.45
7 19.95 31 47.80 55 75.60
8 21.15 32 48.95 56 76.80
9 22.30 33 50.10 57 77.95
10 23.45 34 51.30 58 79.10
11 24.60 35 52.45 59 80.25
12 25.75 36 53.60 60 81.40
13 26.95 37 54.75 61 82.60
14 28.10 38 55.90 62 83.75
15 29.25 39 57.05 63 84.90
16 30.40 40 58.25 64 86.05
17 31.55 41 59.40 65 87.20
18 32.75 42 60.55 66 88.40
19 33.90 43 61.70 blank blank
20 35.05 44 62.85 blank blank
21 36.20 45 64.05 blank blank
22 37.35 46 65.20 blank blank
23 38.50 47 66.35 blank blank
24 39.70 48 67.50 blank blank
Weight Limit: Minimum 1 pound.
Maximum 66 lbs. except 22 lbs. to Canadian Forces (CFPOs).
See Observation 4.

Note: Ordinary air parcel post includes indemnity at no cost based on weight. For an item not over 1 pound, the indemnity is $62.84, and the indemnity increases $3.03 per pound or fraction up to a maximum of 70 pounds, which has an indemnity of $271.91. (See 280.)

Airmail
Direct Sack to One Addressee - M-Bags (260)

Weight Not Over 11 lbs. $17.60
Each additional pound or fraction of a pound $1.60

Weight Limit: 66 pounds

Global Priority Mail (GPM) (230)

Flat-Rate Envelope

Small $4.25
Large $7.50

Weight Limit: 4 pounds

Variable Weight Option

Weight Levels and Prices

0.5 lb. $6.25
1.0 lb. 8.50
1.5 lbs. 9.50
2.0 lbs. 11.50
2.5 lbs. $12.75
3.0 lbs. 14.75
3.5 lbs. 16.75
4.0 lbs. 19.00

GPM Weight Limit: 4 pounds

Economy Mail
Letter-post Rates

Weight
not over
(ozs.)
Letter-
post
Rate
Weight
not over
(ozs.)
Letter-
post
Rate
Weight
not over
(ozs.)
Letter-
post
Rate
16 $2.85 36 $6.30 56 $8.45
20 4.25 40 6.75 60 8.85
24 4.80 44 7.15 64 9.30
28 5.30 48 7.60 blank blank
32 5.90 52 8.00 blank blank
Weight Limit: 64 ounces (4 lbs.)

Economy Mail
Parcel Post Rates

Weight
not over
(lbs.)
Parcel
Post
Rate
Weight
not over
(lbs.)
Parcel
Post
Rate
Weight
not over
(lbs.)
Parcel
Post
Rate
5 $16.00 27 $28.05 49 $40.80
6 16.60 28 28.60 50 41.35
7 17.40 29 29.20 51 41.95
8 18.20 30 29.80 52 42.55
9 18.70 31 30.35 53 43.10
10 19.25 32 30.95 54 43.70
11 19.70 33 31.50 55 44.25
12 20.20 34 32.10 56 44.85
13 20.65 35 32.65 57 45.45
14 21.15 36 33.25 58 46.00
15 21.60 37 33.85 59 46.60
16 22.10 38 34.40 60 47.15
17 22.55 39 35.00 61 47.75
18 23.05 40 35.55 62 48.35
19 23.50 41 36.15 63 48.90
20 24.00 42 36.75 64 49.50
21 24.55 43 37.30 65 50.05
22 25.15 44 37.90 66 50.65
23 25.70 45 38.45 blank blank
24 26.30 46 39.05 blank blank
25 26.90 47 39.65 blank blank
26 27.45 48 40.20 blank blank
Weight Limit: Minimum 1 pound.
Maximum 66 lbs. except 22 lbs. to Canadian Forces (CFPOs).
See Observation 4.

Note: Ordinary economy parcel post includes indemnity at no cost based on weight. For an item not over 1 pound, the indemnity is $62.84, and the indemnity increases $3.03 per pound or fraction up to a maximum of 70 pounds, which has an indemnity of $271.91. (See 280.)

Economy Mail
Direct Sack to One Addressee - M-Bags (260)

Regular
Weight Not Over 11 lbs. $14.30
Each additional pound or fraction of a pound $1.30

Books & Sheet Music, Publisher's Periodicals
Weight Not Over 11 lbs. $11.00
Each additional pound or fraction of a pound $1.00

Weight Limit: 66 pounds

Economy Mail
Books and Sheet Music Rates (295)

Weight
not over
(ozs.)


Rate
Weight
not over
(ozs.)


Rate
Weight
not over
(ozs.)


Rate
16 $2.30 36 $4.05 56 $7.30
20 2.50 40 4.95 60 7.55
24 2.70 44 5.85 64 7.85
28 2.90 48 6.75 blank blank
32 3.10 52 7.00 blank blank
Note: This is a bulk mail service that is subject to a minimum entry requirement of 200 pieces or 50 pounds of qualifying contents. See Part 295.
Weight Limit: 64 ounces (4 lbs.)

Matter for the Blind (270)
Free when sent as economy mail. Weight limit: 15 lbs.

Economy Mail
Publishers' Periodicals Rates (294)

Weight
not over
(ozs.)


Rate
Weight
not over
(ozs.)


Rate
Weight
not over
(ozs.)


Rate
1 $0.61 12 $1.55 44 $5.55
2 0.69 16 1.93 48 5.71
3 0.77 20 2.15 52 5.93
4 0.85 24 2.36 56 6.14
5 0.93 28 2.58 60 6.36
6 1.01 32 2.79 64 6.57
7 1.09 36 5.22 blank blank
8 1.17 40 5.39 blank blank
$0.25 per pound discount for drop shipments tendered at the New Jersey International and Bulk Mail Center.
Weight Limit: 64 ounces (4 lbs.)

Special Services

Certificate of Mailing
See 313 for fees

COD and Certified NOT
for International Mail

Insurance (320)
Available for parcel post only (see 324.2 for required markings)

Insured Amount
not over

Fee
$50 $1.35
100 2.30
200 3.35
300 4.40
400 5.45
500 6.50
600 7.55
675 max. 8.60

International Business Reply Service (373)
Fee: Envelopes up to 2 ounces $1.25; Cards $0.85

International Money Order (371)
Use MO Form MP1
Maximum Amount Available:
$700 Fee: $3.45

International Reply Coupons (372) Fee: $1.85

Recorded Delivery (360) NOT Available

Registered Mail (330) Fee: $7.90
Maximum Indemnity: $44.86
Available for letter-post mail, including postcards
and postal cards, aerogrammes, and matter for
the blind. Not applicable to M-bags.

Restricted Delivery (350) NOT Available

Return Receipt (340) Fee: $1.85
Available for registered mail.

Global Express Guaranteed (210)

Weight
not over
(lbs.)

Document
Service
Non-
Document
Service
Weight
not over
(lbs.)

Document
Service
Non-
Document
Service
0.5 $25.25 blank 36 $122.25 $128.50
1 34.75 $38.00 37 124.25 130.75
2 40.00 43.25 38 126.50 132.75
3 42.25 46.50 39 128.50 135.00
4 45.25 49.50 40 130.75 137.00
5 48.50 52.75 41 132.75 139.25
6 50.50 54.75 42 137.00 143.25
7 53.75 58.00 43 139.25 145.50
8 55.75 60.00 44 141.25 147.50
9 58.00 62.25 45 144.50 150.75
10 61.25 65.25 46 146.50 152.75
11 63.25 67.50 47 148.50 155.00
12 65.25 69.50 48 150.75 157.00
13 68.50 72.75 49 154.00 159.25
14 70.50 74.75 50 156.00 160.25
15 72.75 77.00 51 160.25 164.50
16 76.00 80.00 52 162.25 166.50
17 78.00 82.25 53 164.50 168.75
18 80.00 84.25 54 167.50 171.75
19 83.25 87.50 55 168.75 172.75
20 85.25 91.75 56 170.75 175.00
21 87.50 93.75 57 171.75 176.00
22 89.50 96.00 58 172.75 177.00
23 91.75 98.00 59 175.00 179.25
24 94.75 101.25 60 176.00 179.25
25 97.00 103.25 61 178.25 181.25
26 99.00 105.50 62 179.25 182.25
27 101.25 107.50 63 180.25 183.50
28 103.25 109.50 64 181.25 184.50
29 105.50 111.75 65 182.25 185.50
30 108.50 115.00 66 183.50 186.50
31 110.75 117.00 67 184.50 187.50
32 112.75 119.00 68 185.50 188.75
33 115.00 121.25 69 186.50 189.75
34 118.00 124.25 70 187.50 190.75
35 120.25 126.50 blank blank blank
Weight Limit: 66 lbs.

Insurance (215.5)

Insured Amount
not over

Fee
Insured Amount
not over

Fee
$100 No Fee For document reconstruction insurance or non-document insurance coverage above $800, add $0.75 per $100 or fraction thereof, up to a maximum of $2,499 per shipment.
200 $0.75
300 1.50
400 2.25
500 3.00
600 3.75
700 4.50 blank blank
800 5.25 $2,499 max. $18.00

Size Limits (217.4)
An item must be large enough to hold on its face the postage
and the plastic pouch that carries the Global Express
Guaranteed Air Waybill/Shipping Invoice (shipping label).
The shipping label is approximately 5.5 inches high and
9.5 inches long, and the plastic pouch that carries it is
approximately 7 inches high and 12 inches long.
Maximum length: 46 inches
Maximum width: 35 inches
Maximum height: 46 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches

General Conditions for Mailing

See Publication 141, Global Express Guaranteed Service Guide, for information about areas served in the destination country, allowable contents, packaging and labeling requirements, tracking and tracing, service standards, and other conditions for mailing.

Global Express Mail (EMS) (220)

Weight
not over
(lbs.)


Rate
Weight
not over
(lbs.)


Rate
Weight
not over
(lbs.)


Rate
0.5 $16.25 24 $66.65 48 $123.60
1 17.15 25 69.05 49 125.95
2 17.90 26 71.40 50 128.30
3 19.25 27 73.80 51 130.70
4 20.30 28 76.15 52 133.05
5 21.60 29 78.50 53 135.45
6 24.00 30 80.90 54 137.80
7 26.35 31 83.25 55 140.20
8 28.70 32 85.65 56 142.55
9 31.10 33 88.00 57 144.95
10 33.45 34 90.40 58 147.30
11 35.85 35 92.75 59 149.65
12 38.20 36 95.10 60 152.05
13 40.60 37 97.50 61 154.40
14 42.95 38 99.85 62 156.80
15 45.30 39 102.25 63 159.15
16 47.70 40 104.60 64 161.55
17 50.05 41 107.00 65 163.90
18 52.45 42 109.35 66 166.25
19 54.80 43 111.70 blank blank
20 57.20 44 114.10 blank blank
21 59.55 45 116.45 blank blank
22 61.90 46 118.85 blank blank
23 64.30 47 121.20 blank blank
Weight Limit: 66 lbs.

Insurance (221.3)
Available for EMS merchandise shipments only

Insured Amount
not over

Fee
Insured Amount
not over

Fee
$100 No Fee For insurance coverage above $600, add $1.05 for each $100 or fraction thereof, up to a maximum of $5000 per shipment.
200 $1.05
300 2.10
400 3.15
500 4.20
600 5.25 $5000 max. $51.45
Articles Admitted Required Customs
Form/Endorsement
Business papers and commercial documents. PS Form 2976, Customs - CN 22 (Old C 1) and Sender's Declaration (green label).
Merchandise samples and gift shipments (non-commercial parcels). PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note CP 72, inside a PS Form 2976-E, Customs Declaration Envelope CP 91.
Merchandise (commercial shipments) and all articles subject to customs duty. PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note CP 72, inside a PS Form 2976-E, Customs Declaration Envelope CP 91.

Size Limits (223.2)
Maximum length: 42 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 79 inches

Return Receipt Service (221.4): NOT Available

Notes:

1. Gift shipments (non-commercial parcels) require a sales receipt, invoice or other documentation to support the declared value.

2. Coins; banknotes; currency notes, including paper money; securities of any kind payable to bearer; traveler's checks; platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; watches; and other valuable articles are prohibited in EMS shipments to Canada.

3. Express Mail shipments may have a street address or a post office box address. A local telephone number for the addressee MUST be provided for shipments addressed to a post office box address. A local telephone number for the addressee should be provided if possible for shipments to a street address.

Reciprocal Service Name: There is no reciprocal service.

Country Code: CA

Areas Served: All

Go to previous section of document Link to chapter contents    Link to index Go to next section of document