First-Class Mail International cards, letters, and large envelopes (flats) are charged postage for each addressed piece according to its weight and zone. For prices, see Notice 123, Price List.
Other than postcards, First-Class Mail International prices are charged per ounce or fraction thereof; any fraction of an ounce is rounded up to the next whole ounce. For example, if a piece weighs 1.2 ounces, the weight (postage) increment is 2 ounces. The minimum postage per addressed piece, except for postcards, is that for a piece weighing 1 ounce.
Each Individual Country Listing shows the country-specific price group for First-Class Mail International service. For postage prices, see Notice 123, Price List.
First-Class 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.
Mailers may use a permit imprint for mailing identical- or nonidentical-weight First-Class Mail International items. Any of the First-Class Mail International permit imprint formats shown in Exhibit 152.64 is acceptable. Permit imprints must not denote “bulk mail,” “nonprofit,” or other domestic or special mail markings. For items requiring a customs form (First-Class Mail International letter-size and flat-size mailpieces containing nonnegotiable documents controlled by export regulatory agencies, covered in IMM 510–540), mailers must also meet the following requirements:
- Pay for postage with a permit imprint through an advance deposit account.
- For nonidentical-weight items, meet the permit imprint requirements under IMM 152.6 and the manifesting requirements under DMM 604 and DMM 705.
In addition, for items requiring PS Form 2976 (see Exhibit 123.61), mailers must electronically transmit customs declaration information as required under 123.32 by using USPS-produced Global Shipping Software (GSS) or other USPS-approved software. (To request information about either of these software solutions, send an e-mail to globalbusiness-sales@usps.gov.)
First-Class Mail International shipments that are entered by federal agencies and departments are subject to the same standards under 240 as First-Class Mail International shipments that are entered by nongovernmental entities.
First-Class Mail International shipments that are entered by U.S. Postal Service entities are subject to the same standards under 240 as First-Class 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.
