Mail addressed to military and diplomatic post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions of mailing regarding content, preparation, and handling. The APO⁄FPO⁄DPO table below outlines these conditions by APO⁄FPO⁄DPO ZIP Codes™ through the use of footnoted mailing restrictions codes (see the Restrictions page following the table).
Acceptance clerks should use the table with the POS ONE terminal to determine which APO⁄FPO⁄DPO ZIP Codes are active and which conditions of mailing apply. Inquiries may be sent to the Military Postal Service Agency at https:⁄⁄amps.usps.gov⁄jy2⁄frm.htm.
The entries under “Changes” appear in bold in the APO⁄FPO⁄DPO table starting below.
Note: Updated definitions for the restrictions are published in this Postal Bulletin. The restriction codes and their assignment to ZIP Codes did not change, but many of the definitions were modified to better describe the nature of the restriction.
We have eliminated “Not Active” entries from the table below to save space and paper.
Restrictions
RESTRICTIONS
LEGEND
PS Form 2976, Customs — CN 22 (Old C 1) and Sender’s Declaration (green label)
PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note
PS Form 2976-B, Priority Mail Express International Shipping Label and Customs Form
ATF = Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
Box C = Department of State (DOS) contractor personnel
Box R = Retired military personnel
DPO = Diplomatic Post Office
MPO = Military Post Office
PACT = Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act
PAL = Parcel Airlift
PMEMS = Priority Mail Express Military Service
PUB 52 = Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail
SAM = Space Available Mail
USDA = United States Department of Agriculture
Note: Mail order catalogs are prohibited as SAM or PAL mail.
A. Securities, currency, or precious metals, including in their raw, unmanufactured state, are prohibited. Official Mail shipments are exempt from this restriction.
A1. Reserved for future use.
A2. Reserved for future use.
B. Regardless of mail class, a customs declaration (PS Form 2976, PS Form 2976-A, or PS Form 2976-B) is required for all items weighing 16 ounces or more or any item (regardless of weight) containing potentially dutiable mail contents (e.g., merchandise or goods) addressed to or from an MPO or DPO ZIP Code. If mailed using Priority Mail Express service, mailpieces requiring a customs form that are addressed to or from an MPO or DPO location must bear a properly completed PS Form 2976-B. No customs form is required for items weighing less than 16 ounces when the contents are not potentially dutiable (e.g., nonnegotiable documents). The surface area of the address side of the mailpiece must be large enough to contain the applicable customs declaration. The following exceptions apply:
n Known mailers are exempt from providing customs documentation on non-dutiable letters or printed matter. (A known mailer is a business mailer who enters volume mailings through a business mail entry unit (BMEU) or other bulk mail acceptance location, pays postage through an advance deposit account, uses a permit imprint for postage payment, and submits a completed postage statement at the time of entry that certifies that the mailpieces contain no dangerous materials that are prohibited by postal regulations.)
n All federal, state, and local government agencies whose mailings are regarded as “Official Mail” are exempt from providing customs documentation on any item addressed to an MPO except for those MPOs to which restriction “B2” applies.
n If mailpiece is endorsed “Contents for Official Use — Exempt from Customs Requirements.”
B2. All federal, state, and local government agencies must complete customs documentation when sending potentially dutiable mail addressed to or from this MPO or DPO.
C. Cigarettes and other tobacco products, including tobacco leaves, chewing and pipe tobacco, snuff, and cigars are prohibited, including those that are authorized in Publication 52 under PACT.
C1. Obscene and horror articles, images, prints, paintings, cards, films, videotapes, comic books, etc., are prohibited.
D. Coffee is prohibited.
E. Medicines (prescription, over-the-counter, vitamins, and supplements) are prohibited when mailed to individuals for human or animal use. This prohibition does not apply when medicines are sent as Official Mail only between specifically designated agencies such as pharmaceutical distributors, hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.
E1. Mailers are responsible to ensure that all medicines and vaccines conform to host nation laws.
E2. Any matter depicting nude or seminude persons, pornographic, or sexual items are prohibited. Non-authorized political materials are prohibited. Religious materials contrary to the Islamic faith are prohibited in bulk quantities, but individual items for the personal use of the addressee are permissible.
E3. Radio transceivers, cordless⁄cellular telephones, global positioning systems, scanners, base stations, and handheld transmitters are prohibited.
F. Firearms of any type are prohibited, except firearms mailed to or by official U.S. government agencies. This restriction does not apply to firearms mailed from this MPO ZIP Code, provided ATF and USPS regulations are met. Antique firearms do not require an ATF form.
F1. Privately owned weapons are prohibited.
F2. Mailing firearms to or from this MPO ZIP Code is restricted to one shotgun and one single shot .22 caliber rifle per individual.
G. Parcels of any class are prohibited.
H. Meats, including preserved meats, bones, skin, hair, feathers, horns or hoofs of hoofed animals, and wool samples whether hermetically sealed or not, are prohibited.
H1. Pork or pork by-products are prohibited.
I. Reserved for future use.
I1. Reserved for future use.
I2. Reserved for future use.
I3. Mail of all classes must fit in a mail sack. Mail may not exceed the following dimensions:
n Maximum length 27 inches.
n Maximum width 14 inches.
n Maximum height 14 inches.
J. Standard Post and Parcel Select parcels may not exceed 108 inches in length and girth combined.
K. Reserved for future use.
L. All Official Mail is prohibited.
M. Fruits, vegetables, live animals, and live plants are prohibited.
N. Registered Mail service is prohibited.
O. Reserved for future use.
P. Official Mail only.
Q. Mail may not exceed 66 pounds, and size is limited to 42 inches maximum length and 72 inches maximum length and girth combined.
R. All alcoholic beverages, including those mailable under Publication 52, Part 421, are prohibited.
R1. Materials used in the production of alcoholic beverages (i.e., distilling material, hops, malts, yeast, etc.) are prohibited.
S. Synthetic cannabinoids used to stimulate the central nervous system commonly known as “synthetic marijuana,” “K2,” or “Spice” are prohibited.
T. Mailings of household shipments and case lots of food to or from an MPO require military transportation office approval prior to mailing. Mailings to or from a DPO require pre-approval from the Diplomatic Pouch and Mail Director.
U. Mail addressed to Retirees (Box R) is limited to 16 ounces and up to a 90-day supply of TRICARE medications. This restriction does not apply to mail endorsed “Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped.”
U1. Mail is limited to First-Class Mail items, including audio and video media, weighing 13 ounces or less. This limitation does not apply to Official Mail.
U2. Retirees (Box R) are not authorized mail service.
U3. Reserved for future use.
U4. Mail addressed to Box C is limited to 2 lbs.
V. PMEMS is not available.
V1. Electronic Delivery status information for Extra Services is not available on USPS.com. Manual record of delivery may be available upon request.
W. Hermetically sealed packages of meat products bearing USDA certification, such as dried beef, salami, and sausage, may be mailed. 200 grams of tobacco per parcel are permitted duty free.
X. Cremated remains are prohibited.
Y. Mail is limited to First-Class Mail and Priority Mail items only. This restriction also applies to Official Mail.
Z. No outside pieces (OSPs).
Z1. The following restriction is applicable only to International Service Centers (ISC)⁄Exchange Offices. An Anti-Pilferage Seal (Item No O817E or O818A) is required on all pouches and sacks.
— International Network Operations,
Global Business, 8-4-16
