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 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 must use the table with the Retail System Software terminal to determine which APO/FPO/DPO ZIP Codes are active and which conditions of mailing apply.
The entries under “Changes” appear in bold in the following APO/FPO/DPO table:
We have eliminated “Not Active” entries from the table below to save space and paper.
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. Other than for PMEMS and the exceptions listed below, a customs declaration PS Form 2976 or PS Form 2976-A is required for all items weighing 16 ounces or more, and for all items (regardless of weight) containing potentially dutiable mail contents (e.g., merchandise or goods) addressed to or from this ZIP Code. Other than the exceptions listed below, all PMEMS mailpieces (regardless of mail contents or weight) addressed to or from this ZIP Code must bear a properly completed PS Form 2976-B. The surface area of the address side of the mailpiece must be large enough to contain the applicable customs declaration. The following exceptions apply to known mailers, who for this purpose are defined as follows:
n Business mailers who enter volume mailings through business mail entry units or other bulk mail acceptance locations, pay postage through advance deposit accounts, use permit imprints for postage payment, and submit completed postage statements at the time of entry that certify that the mailpieces contain no dangerous materials that are prohibited by postal regulations. Such business mailers are exempt from providing customs documentation on non-dutiable letters and printed matter.
n All federal, state, and local government agencies whose mailings are regarded as “Official Mail.” Such agencies are exempt from providing customs documentation, except for any items addressed to an MPO or DPO to which restriction “B2” applies.
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.
C2. E-cigarettes and related products (e.g., nicotine liquids, e-liquids, parts, or supplies) 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. Weapons of any type 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.
F3. Replica weapons and inert explosive devices (such as grenades) and weapons parts are prohibited.
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, 2-25-21
