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 - Switzerland

Prohibitions (130)

Arms and weapons.

Firing caps and loaded metal cartridges for portable firearms, nonexplosive parts of artillery fuses, flammable films, or articles made of celluloid.

Human remains.

Live plants and animals.

Lottery tickets and advertisements for lotteries.

Mini-spies (miniature wireless transmitters).

Radar detectors.

Restrictions

No list furnished.

Observations

1. An air parcel post item may be addressed to a street address or to a post office box. A local telephone number for the addressee should be provided when the item is addressed to a street address and must be provided when the item is addressed to a post office box.

2. For air parcels, an invoice, in duplicate, is required for all commercial shipments regardless of value and all personal shipments valued at $300 or more. The invoices must be affixed to the outside of the parcel or may be enclosed in
PS Form 2976-E with the customs declaration.

3. A letter or card fully prepaid and bearing the same address as that of the parcel post package may be tied to or otherwise securely attached to the outside of the parcel post package in such manner as to prevent its separation therefrom and not to interfere with the address 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; or, in case of a post card, to the address side of the card, preferably the upper right-hand portion. Parcels post packages to which such letters or cards are attached are treated as parcel post.

4. For mail security reasons, the Swiss postal administration no longer delivers insured parcels (either air or economy) directly to the addressee's delivery address. Instead, a mail hold notice is sent to the intended recipient, which informs him/her that an insured parcel is available for immediate pickup at the local post office.

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
Air Parcel Post:
Maximum length: 60 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches
Economy Parcel Post:
Maximum length: 42 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 79 inches

Postcards and Postal Cards (250) $0.75

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 $0.84 12 $7.95 44 $17.80
2 1.70 16 9.15 48 19.10
3 2.55 20 10.40 52 20.40
4 3.35 24 11.60 56 21.70
5 4.20 28 12.80 60 23.05
6 5.05 32 14.00 64 24.35
7 5.90 36 15.30 blank blank
8 6.75 40 16.55 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 $17.50 25 $91.95 49 $167.85
2 20.05 26 95.10 50 171.00
3 22.90 27 98.30 51 174.15
4 25.80 28 101.45 52 177.35
5 28.70 29 104.60 53 180.50
6 31.90 30 107.75 54 183.65
7 35.05 31 110.95 55 186.80
8 38.20 32 114.10 56 190.00
9 41.35 33 117.25 57 193.15
10 44.55 34 120.40 58 196.30
11 47.70 35 123.60 59 199.45
12 50.85 36 126.75 60 202.65
13 54.00 37 129.90 61 205.80
14 57.20 38 133.05 62 208.95
15 60.35 39 136.25 63 212.10
16 63.50 40 139.40 64 215.30
17 66.65 41 142.55 65 218.45
18 69.85 42 145.70 66 221.60
19 73.00 43 148.90 blank blank
20 76.15 44 152.05 blank blank
21 79.30 45 155.20 blank blank
22 82.50 46 158.35 blank blank
23 85.65 47 161.55 blank blank
24 88.80 48 164.70 blank blank
Weight Limit: 66 lbs.

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. $29.15
Each additional pound or fraction of a pound $2.65

Weight Limit: 66 pounds

Global Priority Mail (GPM) (230)

Flat-Rate Envelope

Small $5.25
Large $9.50

Weight Limit: 4 pounds

Variable Weight Option

Weight Levels and Prices

0.5 lb. $8.50
1.0 lb. 10.50
1.5 lbs. 12.75
2.0 lbs. 15.75
2.5 lbs. $19.00
3.0 lbs. 22.25
3.5 lbs. 24.25
4.0 lbs. 27.50

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 $4.10 36 $7.50 56 $10.75
20 4.85 40 8.15 60 11.40
24 5.55 44 8.80 64 12.05
28 6.20 48 9.45 blank blank
32 6.85 52 10.10 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 $19.25 27 $41.70 49 $61.55
6 20.40 28 42.65 50 62.45
7 21.55 29 43.60 51 63.35
8 22.70 30 44.55 52 64.25
9 23.85 31 45.45 53 65.15
10 25.05 32 46.30 54 66.05
11 26.05 33 47.20 55 66.95
12 27.05 34 48.10 56 67.80
13 28.05 35 49.00 57 68.70
14 29.05 36 49.90 58 69.60
15 30.05 37 50.80 59 70.50
16 31.05 38 51.70 60 71.40
17 32.05 39 52.60 61 72.30
18 33.05 40 53.50 62 73.20
19 34.05 41 54.40 63 74.10
20 35.05 42 55.30 64 75.00
21 36.00 43 56.20 65 75.90
22 36.95 44 57.05 66 76.80
23 37.90 45 57.95 blank blank
24 38.85 46 58.85 blank blank
25 39.80 47 59.75 blank blank
26 40.75 48 60.65 blank blank
Weight Limit: 66 lbs.

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. $17.05
Each additional pound or fraction of a pound $1.55

Books & Sheet Music, Publisher's Periodicals
Weight Not Over 11 lbs. $10.45
Each additional pound or fraction of a pound $0.95

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 $2.80 36 $5.40 56 $7.40
20 3.35 40 5.80 60 7.80
24 3.95 44 6.20 64 8.20
28 4.50 48 6.55 blank blank
32 5.00 52 6.95 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 $0.70 12 $2.10 44 $6.18
2 0.82 16 2.61 48 6.69
3 0.95 20 3.12 52 7.20
4 1.08 24 3.63 56 7.71
5 1.21 28 4.14 60 8.22
6 1.33 32 4.65 64 8.73
7 1.46 36 5.16 blank blank
8 1.59 40 5.67 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)

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

International Money Order (371)
NOT Available

International Reply Coupons (372) Fee: $1.85

Recorded Delivery (360) Fee: $2.40
Available for letter-post mail, postcards and postal
cards, aerogrammes, matter for the blind, and M-bags.

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) Fee: $3.70
Available for registered and recorded delivery
mail with a return receipt.

Endorsements: A remettre en main propre.

Return Receipt (340) Fee: $1.85
Available for registered and recorded delivery mail
and insured economy parcels only.

Global Express Guaranteed (210)

Weight
not over
(lbs.)

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

Document
Service
Non-
Document
Service
0.5 $34.75 blank 36 $217.00 $227.75
1 49.50 $54.75 37 221.25 232.00
2 58.00 63.25 38 225.50 236.00
3 65.25 70.50 39 229.75 240.25
4 71.75 77.00 40 234.00 244.50
5 79.00 84.25 41 238.25 248.75
6 84.25 89.50 42 242.50 253.00
7 90.75 96.00 43 246.75 257.25
8 96.00 101.25 44 250.75 261.50
9 101.25 106.50 45 255.00 265.50
10 107.50 112.75 46 259.25 269.75
11 110.75 118.00 47 263.50 274.00
12 115.00 122.25 48 267.75 278.25
13 119.00 126.50 49 272.00 282.50
14 123.25 130.75 50 278.25 288.75
15 127.50 138.00 51 278.25 291.00
16 131.75 142.25 52 286.75 297.25
17 136.00 146.50 53 291.00 301.50
18 140.25 150.75 54 295.00 305.75
19 144.50 155.00 55 298.25 308.75
20 148.50 159.25 56 303.50 314.00
21 151.75 162.25 57 306.75 317.25
22 156.00 166.50 58 312.00 322.50
23 160.25 170.75 59 315.25 325.75
24 164.50 175.00 60 320.50 331.00
25 168.75 179.25 61 323.50 334.00
26 172.75 183.50 62 330.00 340.50
27 177.00 187.50 63 332.00 342.50
28 181.25 191.75 64 338.25 348.75
29 185.50 196.00 65 340.50 351.00
30 191.75 202.25 66 346.75 357.25
31 196.00 206.50 67 348.75 359.50
32 200.25 210.75 68 355.25 365.75
33 204.50 215.00 69 357.25 367.75
34 208.75 219.25 70 363.75 374.25
35 213.00 223.50 blank blank blank
Weight Limit: 70 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 $24.25 24 $104.15 48 $185.10
1 27.40 25 107.50 49 188.45
2 30.55 26 110.90 50 191.85
3 33.75 27 114.25 51 195.20
4 36.90 28 117.65 52 198.55
5 40.05 29 121.00 53 201.95
6 43.40 30 124.35 54 205.30
7 46.80 31 127.75 55 208.70
8 50.15 32 131.10 56 212.05
9 53.55 33 134.50 57 215.45
10 56.90 34 137.85 58 218.80
11 60.30 35 141.25 59 222.20
12 63.65 36 144.60 60 225.55
13 67.05 37 148.00 61 228.95
14 70.40 38 151.35 62 232.30
15 73.80 39 154.75 63 235.65
16 77.15 40 158.10 64 239.05
17 80.55 41 161.45 65 242.40
18 83.90 42 164.85 66 245.80
19 87.25 43 168.20 blank blank
20 90.65 44 171.60 blank blank
21 94.00 45 174.95 blank blank
22 97.40 46 178.35 blank blank
23 100.75 47 181.70 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 correspondence and commercial papers/documents. No form required. Endorse item clearly next to mailing label as BUSINESS PAPERS.
Merchandise samples without commercial value. PS Form 2976, Customs - CN 22 (Old C 1) and Sender's Declaration (green label).
Merchandise 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. An invoice, in duplicate, is required for all commercial shipments regardless of value and all personal shipments valued at $300 or more. The invoices must be either affixed to the outside of the parcel or enclosed in PS Form 2976-E with the customs declaration.

Size Limits (223.2)
Maximum length: 60 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches

Return Receipt Service (221.4): NOT Available

Notes:

1. An invoice, in duplicate, is required for all commercial shipments regardless of value and for all personal shipments valued at $300 or more. The invoices must be either affixed to the outside of the parcel or enclosed in PS Form 2976-E with the customs declaration.

2. Arms, weapons, and human remains are prohibited.

3. 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 Switzerland.

4. An Express Mail shipment may be addressed to a street address or to a post office box. A local telephone number for the addressee should be provided when the item is addressed to a street address and must be provided when the item is addressed to a post office box.

Reciprocal Service Name: There is no reciprocal service.

Country Code: CH

Areas Served: All points in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

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