Except under 223.14 and 223.15, Express Mail International shipments are charged postage for each addressed piece according to its weight and country price group. For shipments presented in Express Mail pouches under an Express Mail Custom Designed Service agreement, each pouch is considered an addressed piece. See the Individual Country Listings for countries that offer Express Mail International service. Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for applicable Express Mail International prices.
A mailer who pays postage with a permit imprint under 223.222, or with the online methods described in 223.241, qualifies for the Express Mail International Commercial Base prices, which are generally less than Express Mail International retail prices.
An approved mailer who pays postage with a permit imprint under 223.222, or through a registered end-user of a USPS-approved PC Postage product, qualifies for the Express Mail International Commercial Plus prices, which are generally less than Express Mail International Commercial Base prices.
To qualify for Commercial Plus pricing, customers must agree to all terms and conditions in a standardized agreement with the Postal Service and tender at least $100,000 per year of international shipping products. For this purpose, “international shipping products” includes any combination of Global Express Guaranteed, Express Mail International, Priority Mail International, or First-Class Package International Service items.
Mailers meeting the minimum revenue thresholds under 223.131 must complete an agreement with the Postal Service by contacting their account manager, or USPS Global Business via e-mail at globalcpp@usps.gov, for a commitment agreement form or for additional information.
Only USPS-produced Express Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes are eligible for a Flat Rate price regardless of the destination. The maximum weight is 20 pounds. Postage is required for each piece (see Notice 123, Price List). A domestic Express Mail Flat Rate Envelope with prepaid postage may also be used for an Express Mail International item provided that appropriate additional postage is added before mailing.
Only USPS-produced Express Mail International Flat Rate Boxes are eligible for a Flat Rate price regardless of the destination. The maximum weight is 20 pounds. Postage is required for each piece (see Notice 123, Price List).
Express Mail International shipments may be paid with postage stamps, postage validation imprinter (PVI) labels, postage meter stamps, information-based indicia (IBI), PC Postage service, or a permit imprint under 223.22, or through the use of an Express Mail corporate account (EMCA). A written application is required prior to mailing with an Express Mail corporate account (see DMM 414.2).
Payment for Express Mail International shipments paid with a permit imprint through an advance deposit account is permitted only when requirements for Commercial Base prices or Commercial Plus prices (see 223.222) are followed. Postage paid with a permit imprint is subject to the general conditions in IMM and in DMM 604 and 705. See Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable prices.
223.222 Permit Imprint — Commercial Base or Commercial Plus Prices
A mailer who pays postage with a permit imprint qualifies for the Express Mail International Commercial Base or Commercial Plus prices, which are generally less than Express Mail International retail prices. The Commercial Base price applies only to the postage portion of Express Mail International prices. In addition, mailers must meet the following requirements:
- Use USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS) or other USPS-approved software listed at https://ribbs.usps.gov/index.cfm?page=internationalvendors that electronically transmits Customs-related functions. (To request information about either of these software solutions, send an e-mail to globalbusiness-sales@usps.gov.)
- Pay for postage with a permit imprint through an advance deposit account.
- Meet manifesting and permit imprint requirements under IMM and DMM 604 and the manifesting requirements under DMM 705.
Note: When using GSS, no extra services such as insurance are available.
Mailers using an Express Mail corporate account under 223.21 must pay the applicable retail price for each mailpiece.
For selected destination countries, Express Mail International items qualify for discounted prices (equal to the Commercial Base price or Commercial Plus price) when mailers use one of the following online shipping methods:
- Commercial Base Price: Click-N-Ship service; or registered end-users of USPS-approved PC Postage products.
- Commercial Plus Price: Registered end-users of USPS-approved PC Postage products.
The Commercial Base or Commercial Plus price is automatically applied to each shipment when using one of the above postage payment methods. The discount applies only to the postage portion of the Express Mail International price. It does not apply to any other charges or fees, such as fees for Pickup on Demand service, insurance, or shipments made under a customized agreement.
Express Mail International mailpieces claiming the Commercial Base or Commercial Plus price paid with PC Postage must bear the appropriate price marking, printed on the piece or produced as part of the PC Postage indicia. Mailers must place the applicable marking directly above, directly below, or to the left of the postage using one of the following formats:
- Commercial Base Price, Commercial Base Pricing, or ComBasPrice.
- Commercial Plus Price, Commercial Plus Pricing, or ComPlsPrice.
For each addressed mailpiece, refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable Commercial Base or Commercial Plus price.
Express Mail International shipments that are entered by federal agencies and departments are subject to the same standards under 220 as Express Mail International shipments that are entered by nongovernmental entities.
Express Mail International shipments that are entered by U.S. Postal Service entities are subject to the same standards under 220 as Express Mail International shipments that are entered by nongovernmental entities, except that U.S. Postal Service mailings must bear the G-10 permit indicia that are prescribed for all Postal Service official mail. See 142.2.
