Except under 233.12 and 233.13, 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.
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 items paid with a permit imprint through an advance deposit account are eligible for either the commercial base price under 233.222 or the retail price under 233.223.
233.222 Permit Imprint — Commercial Base Prices
Priority Mail International commercial base postage prices are 5 percent below retail prices for all postage paid with a permit imprint and using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS). The commercial base price applies only to the postage portion of Priority Mail International prices. In addition, customers must meet the following requirements:
- Use USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS). (To request information about GSS, send an e-mail to GSSHelp@usps.gov.)
- Pay for postage with a permit imprint through an advance deposit account.
- Meet manifesting and permit imprint requirements under IMM 152.4 and DMM 604 and the manifesting requirements under DMM 705.
Note: When using GSS, no extra services such as insurance are available.
Priority Mail International items paid with a permit imprint through an advance deposit account but not using GSS under 233.222 are charged the applicable retail price. In addition, customers must meet the permit imprint requirements under IMM 152.4 and DMM 604. Mailers sending nonidentical pieces must also meet the manifesting requirements under DMM 705.
For selected destination countries, Priority Mail International items receive a 5-percent discount below retail prices for the following online shipping methods:
- Click-N-Ship service.
- An authorized PC Postage vendor.
The commercial base price is automatically applied to each shipment. 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 Pickup on Demand service, insurance fees, or shipments made under a customized agreement.
For each addressed mailpiece, compute the online postage price as follows:
- Find the retail price by weight and price group of the country in the Individual Country Listings.
- Multiply the retail price by 5 percent to obtain the discount amount.
- Subtract the discount amount (without rounding off) from the retail price, and then round off the result as explained in 152.32.
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.
