Country Conditions for Mailing — Colombia
Prohibitions (130)
Coins; banknotes; currency notes; securities payable to bearer; traveler’s checks; manufactured and unmanufactured platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; and other valuable articles.
Many types of goods are prohibited or subject to an import license; therefore, the sender should ascertain from the addressee before mailing whether the contents are permitted and whether the necessary documents are held.
Perishable infectious biological substances.
Perishable noninfectious biological substances.
Radioactive materials.
Restrictions
New and used clothing is permitted when mailed as unaccompanied baggage. The words “Equipaje no acompanado” and the owner’s passport number must be shown on the address label and the accompanying documents. Used clothing must have a certificate of disinfection enclosed.
Observations
- First-Class Mail International and First-Class Package International Service items may not contain dutiable articles.
- Books and other printed matter, if valued over $20, require consular invoices, and the addressees must obtain import licenses.
- A commercial invoice, numbered, certified and signed by the sender, must accompany each package containing books and periodicals of a commercial nature. In addition, the value of each item, the number of packages comprising the shipment, and gross weight must be shown on the invoice. One copy of the invoice should be sent to the post office of destination. A note must be made on each package of the number of books contained therein, its weight and the total number of packages comprising the shipment.
- Packages must be addressed directly to the addressee, as the Colombian regulations do not permit customs entry to be effected by anyone except the addressee or an authorized representative.
- Each shipment valued at $20 or less requires two copies of the sender’s commercial invoice, one of which must be enclosed in the parcel and the other sent under separate cover to the addressee. Consular legalization is not needed but the invoice must include a declaration of origin of the merchandise, in Spanish, reading as follows:
“Certificamos bajo juramento que los precios de esta factura son los mismos que cargamos al cliente y que la mercancia a que se refiere esta misma factura es originaria de (Country of Origin). En fe de lo expuesto firmamos la presente declaracion en (City, State) (Day) de (Month) de (Year) (Signature of shipper)”.
(Translation: We certify under oath that the prices in this invoice are the same that we charge our customers, and that the merchandise in this same invoice comes from (Country of origin). In faith of which we sign the present declaration at (City, State), on (Date).
- For shipments valued over $20, the sender must have a copy of his or her commercial invoice legalized by a Colombian Consulate, and must prepare 4 copies of a consular invoice, one of which must be sent direct to the addressee with the legalized commercial invoice.
- The addressees in Colombia are required in most cases to obtain import licenses in order to secure delivery of shipments. For shipments exceeding $20 in value the addressee is required to send a copy of the import license to the sender, who must submit it to the Colombian Consul when obtaining the consular invoice. If a sender receives a copy of a Colombian import license for a parcel whose value does not exceed $20, he or she must return it to the addressee in Colombia.
- Consular invoice forms may be obtained and commercial invoices legalized at Colombian Consulates, which are located in principal cities of the United States.
Global Express Guaranteed (210) Price Group 8
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.
Size Limits (211.22)
The surface area of the address side of the item to be mailed must be large enough to completely contain the Global Express Guaranteed Air Waybill/Shipping Invoice (shipping label), postage, endorsement, and any applicable markings. The shipping label is approximately 5.5 inches high and 9.5 inches long.
Maximum length: 46 inches
Maximum width: 35 inches
Maximum height: 46 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 108 inches
Value Limit (212.1)
The maximum value of a GXG shipment to this country is $2,499 or a lesser amount if limited by content or value.
Insurance (212.5)
Priority Mail Express
International (220) Price Group 9
Priority Mail Express International — Flat Rate Envelopes and Flat Rate Boxes
Size Limits (221.52)
Maximum length: 36 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 79 inches
Insurance (222.8)
Available for Priority Mail Express International merchandise shipments only
Customs Forms Required (123)
Articles Admitted
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Required Customs Form/Endorsement
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Correspondence, business papers, and documents.
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No form required. Endorse item clearly next to mailing label as BUSINESS PAPERS.
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Merchandise samples without commercial value
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PS Form 2976.
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Merchandise and all articles subject to customs duty.
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PS Form 2976-A inside PS Form 2976-E (envelope).
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Note: For mailers completing PS Form 2976-B or other online USPS-produced combined shipping label and customs form, no additional customs form is required (see 222.5).
Notes:
- 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 Priority Mail Express International shipments to Colombia.
- Certain dutiable Priority Mail Express International items will not be delivered to the addressee but must be picked up at the post office. For this reason, all dutiable Priority Mail Express International items to Colombia should include the telephone number of the addressee.
Reciprocal Service Name: Express Service-Rapidissimo
Country Code: CO
Areas Served:
Priority Mail International (230) Price Group 9
Note: Ordinary Priority Mail International includes indemnity at no cost based on weight. (See 230.)
Priority Mail International — Flat Rate
Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes: The maximum weight is 4 pounds. Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the applicable retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.
Flat Rate Boxes — Medium and Large: The maximum weight is 20 pounds, or the limit set by the individual country, whichever is less. Refer to Notice 123, Price List, for the retail, Commercial Base, or Commercial Plus price.
Size Limits (231.22)
Maximum length: 42 inches
Maximum length and girth combined: 79 inches
Insurance (232.92)
Available for Priority Mail International merchandise parcels only (see 323.72 for markings)
Customs Forms Required (123)
Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes:
PS Form 2976 as required (see 123.61)
Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes:
PS Form 2976
Priority Mail International parcels:
PS Form 2976-A inside PS Form 2976-E (envelope)
First-Class Mail International (240) Price Group 9
Size Limits
Letters: See 241.212
Postcards: See 241.221
Large Envelopes (Flats): See 241.232
Customs Form Required (123)
PS Form 2976 as required (see 123.61)
First-Class Package International Service (250) Price Group 9
Size Limits
Packages (Small Packets): See 251.22 and 251.23.
Customs Form Required (123)
PS Form 2976
Airmail M-bags (260) —
Direct Sack to One Addressee Price Group 9
Customs Form Required (123)
PS Form 2976
Matter for the Blind or Other Physically Handicapped Persons (270)
Free when sent as First-Class Mail International, First-Class Package International Service, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes, or Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes. Weight limit: 4 pounds.
Free when sent as Priority Mail International. Weight limit: 15 pounds.
Customs Form Required (123)
First-Class Mail International items, First-Class Package International Service items, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes, and Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes:
PS Form 2976 as required (see 123.61)
Priority Mail International parcels:
PS Form 2976-A inside PS Form 2976-E (envelope)
Certificate of Mailing (313)
Registered Mail (330)
Fee: $12.95
Maximum Indemnity: $46.14
Available only for First-Class Mail International,
including postcards, First-Class Package
International Service, Priority Mail International
Flat Rate Envelopes, Priority Mail International
Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes, and matter for the
blind or other physically handicapped persons.
Return Receipt (340)
Fee: $3.50
Available for Registered Mail only.
Restricted Delivery (350)
NOT Available for International Mail as of January 27, 2013
International Postal Money Order (371)
NOT Available
International Reply Coupons (381)
NOT Available for International Mail as of January 27, 2013
International Business Reply Service (382)
Fee: Envelopes up to 2 ounces $1.75; Cards $1.25