Except under 233.14 and 233.15, Priority Mail International shipments are charged postage for each addressed piece according to its weight and zone. See the Individual Country Listings for countries that offer Priority Mail International service.
A mailer who pays postage with a permit imprint under 233.222, or with the online methods described in 233.231, qualifies for the Priority Mail International Commercial Base prices, which are generally less than Priority Mail International retail prices. See Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price.
An approved mailer who pays postage with a permit imprint under 233.222, or through a registered end-user of a USPS-approved PC Postage product, qualifies for the Priority Mail International Commercial Plus prices, which are generally less than Priority Mail International Commercial Base prices. See Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price.
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 233.131 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.
Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes are charged at a flat rate. The price does not depend on the weight of the item, but the weight cannot exceed the 4-pound weight limit. Postage is required for each piece (see Notice 123, Price List). A domestic Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope with prepaid postage may also be used for a Priority Mail International item provided that appropriate additional postage is added before mailing.
The Priority Mail International Medium and Large Flat Rate Boxes are charged at a flat rate. The price does not depend on the weight of the item, but the weight cannot exceed the 20-pound weight limit. Postage is required for each piece (see Notice 123, Price List).
Prices for parcels not using Flat Rate packaging vary by weight and country price group. See the Individual Country Listings.
Priority Mail International items may be paid with postage stamps, postage validation imprinter (PVI) labels, postage meter stamps, information-based indicia (IBI), PC Postage service, or permit imprint.
Priority 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 233.222) are followed. Postage paid with a permit imprint is subject to the general conditions in IMM and in DMM 604 and 705.
233.222 Permit Imprint — Commercial Base or Commercial Plus Prices
A mailer who pays postage with a permit imprint qualifies for the Priority Mail International Commercial Base or Commercial Plus prices, which are generally less than Priority Mail International retail prices. See Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable price. The Commercial Base price applies only to the postage portion of Priority 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.
For selected destination countries, Priority 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 an authorized PC Postage vendor.
- Commercial Plus Price: Registered end-users of an authorized PC Postage vendor.
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 Priority 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.
Priority 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.
Priority Mail International shipments that are entered by federal agencies and departments are subject to the same standards under 230 as Priority Mail International shipments that are entered by nongovernmental entities.
Priority Mail International shipments that are entered by U.S. Postal Service entities are subject to the same standards under 230 as Priority 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.
