Effective November 28, 2024, the Postal Service™ is revising various Individual Country Listings (ICLs) in Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) to add a request that the mailer provide certain contact information and other pertinent information and relevant documentation when mailing certain items.
These ICL revisions are a result of formal requests made by the destination’s designated postal operator through the Universal Postal Union (UPU) via International Bureau Circulars (IBCs) as follows:
n Afghanistan: IBC 139 dated September 16, 2024.
n Azerbaijan: IBC 87 dated May 30, 2023.
n Bahrain: IBC 131 dated August 14, 2023.
n Belarus: IBC 85 dated May 30, 2023.
n Brazil: IBC 73 dated April 24, 2023.
n Cambodia: IBC 185 dated November 20, 2023.
n Cayman Islands: IBC 189 dated November 27, 2023.
n Colombia: IBC 193 dated December 4, 2023.
n Ecuador: IBC 99 dated June 13, 2022.
n Egypt: IBC 64 dated April 17, 2023.
n Hong Kong: IBC 156 dated October 26, 2020.
n India: IBC 46 dated March 18, 2024.
n Iraq: IBC 85 dated May 27, 2024.
n Israel: IBC 30 dated February 12, 2024.
n Kazakhstan: IBC 79 dated May 20, 2024.
n Korea, Republic of (South Korea): IBC 186 dated December 7, 2020.
n Kyrgyzstan: IBC 1 dated January 9, 2023.
n Macao: IBC 176 dated November 7, 2022.
n Mauritius: IBC 35 dated February 27, 2023.
n Moldova: IBC 22 dated January 25, 2020.
n Mongolia: IBC 200 dated December 5, 2022.
n Netherlands: IBC 42 dated March 4, 2024.
n New Zealand: IBC 143 dated August 21, 2023.
n Oman: IBC 44 dated March 13, 2023.
n Qatar: IBC 133 dated September 2, 2024.
n Ukraine: IBC 197 dated December 5, 2022.
n United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: IBC 203 dated December 18, 2023.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM)
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Individual Country Listings
Afghanistan
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Observations
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[Add an entry to read as follows:]
3. Afghan Post requests that the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form. Providing the addressee’s mobile phone number on the customs declaration form will facilitate customs clearance of items containing goods upon arrival, enabling rapid delivery and improving quality of service in Afghanistan.
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Azerbaijan
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Observations
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[Add three entries to read as follows (adding “1” before the first entry):]
2. Azerpost (the designated postal operator of Azerbaijan) requests that the mailer include the following information (if available) on the customs declaration form:
a. The sender’s telephone number.
b. Both the addressee’s telephone number and email address.
3. An item containing goods with missing or inaccurate customs declaration information arriving in Azerbaijan must be manually processed for customs clearance or held until the information is clarified with the addressee. If the addressee cannot be reached or is unable to provide complete and accurate information, the customs authority in Azerbaijan may deem the item inadmissible and return it to the sender.
4. The mailer must attach all necessary or relevant documentation, including invoices, export/import licenses, certificates of origin, health certificates, etc., to the inside or outside of the item to expedite customs clearance of goods mailed to Azerbaijan.
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Bahrain
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Observations
[In the current entry, revise the first sentence to read as follows:]
Bahrain Post (the designated postal operator of Bahrain) requests that the mailer display the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile), if available, on each Registered Mail item, and both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form for each item mailed to Bahrain. ***
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Belarus
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Observations
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[Add three entries to read as follows:]
3. Belpochta (the designated postal operator of Belarus) requests that the mailer include the following information (if available) on the customs declaration form:
a. The sender’s telephone number.
b. Both the addressee’s telephone number and email address.
4. An item containing goods with missing or inaccurate customs declaration information arriving in Belarus must be manually processed for customs clearance or held until the information is clarified with the addressee. If the addressee cannot be reached or is unable to provide complete and accurate information, the customs authority in Belarus may deem the item inadmissible and return it to the sender.
5. The mailer must attach all necessary or relevant documentation, including invoices, export/import licenses, certificates of origin, health certificates, etc., to the inside or outside of the item to expedite customs clearance of goods mailed to Belarus.
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Brazil
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Observations
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[Revise the text of item 5 in its entirety to read as follows:]
5. The mailer must fully and accurately complete the customs declaration form, including providing the addressee’s landline number or mobile phone number and email address, if available, and detailed information concerning the contents and value of the item, such as branded product description, model, serial number, and value of each individual article. ECT immediately returns to the sender an item that does not have a properly completed customs declaration.
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Cambodia
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Observations
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[Add an entry to read as follows (adding “1” before the first entry):]
2. Cambodia Post (the designated postal operator of Cambodia) requests that the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form.
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Cayman Islands
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Observations
[Revise the Observations section in its entirety to read as follows (combining items 1 and 3 to be a revised item 1, keeping item 2, and adding item 3 regarding the issue of this article):]
1. Many types of merchandise require an import permit, which the addressee must obtain. Senders must be assured that the addressee has such a permit or can obtain one if needed.
2. Merchandise valued over 60 USD, whether purchased or received as a gift, should be accompanied by an invoice. Failure to include an invoice could result in delivery delays.
3. Cayman Islands Postal Service (a designated operator of the Overseas Territories of the United Kingdom, specifically for the Cayman Islands) requests that the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form. For an item that is missing the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) or email address, the item must include the addressee’s post office box number, as applicable.
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Colombia
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Observations
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[Add an entry to read as follows:]
9. Servicios Postales Nacionales S.A. 4-72 (the designated postal operator of Colombia) requests that the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form.
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Ecuador
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Observations
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[Add an entry to read as follows:]
4. Empresa Pública Servicios Postales del Ecuador (the designated postal operator of Ecuador) requests that, for items containing goods, the mailer include the National identity number of the addressee, if available, on the customs declaration form.
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Egypt
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Observations
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[Add an entry to read as follows:]
3. Egypt Post (the designated postal operator of Egypt) requests that the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form.
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Hong Kong
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Observations
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[Add an entry to read as follows:]
4. Hongkong Post (the designated postal operator of Hong Kong) requests that the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form. An item that does not contain the addressee’s mobile phone number might be subject to processing delays in Hong Kong.
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India
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Observations
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[Add an entry to read as follows:]
5. India Post (the designated postal operator of India) requests that the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form.
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Iraq
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Observations
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[Add three entries to read as follows (adding “1” before the first entry):]
2. Iraq Post and Savings Company (the designated postal operator of Iraq) requests that the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form.
3. Iraq Post and Savings Company requests that the mailer include the importer’s/addressee’s tax identification number on the customs declaration form.
4. Iraq Post and Savings Company will deem prohibited items and noncomplying restricted items mailed to Iraq as wrongly admitted and will treat them in accordance with Iraq’s national legislation.
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Israel
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Observations
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[Add two entries to read as follows (adding “1” before the first entry):]
2. In accordance with the customs authority of Israel, the mailer must include the importer’s/addressee’s tax identification number for all goods mailed to Israel. For an individual, this number is known as the Israeli identity number, and for a corporation, it is known as the Value Added Tax (VAT) number. Israel Post (the designated postal operator of Israel) recommends placing this number in the importer’s reference field on the customs declaration form. An item mailed via Priority Mail Express International service that does not contain the applicable identification number might be subject to customs clearance delay in Israel.
3. Israel Post requests that the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form. An item containing goods that does not contain the addressee’s mobile phone number might be subject to customs clearance delay in Israel.
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Kazakhstan
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Observations
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[Add two entries to read as follows:]
5. For each item containing a good mailed to Kazakhstan, Kazpost JSC recommends that the mailer include the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) on the customs declaration form. For a Registered Mail item that does not require a customs declaration form, display the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) on the address label. Providing the addressee’s mobile phone number facilitates customs clearance and delivery of the item in Kazakhstan.
6. Kazpost JSC requests that the mailer include the addressee’s email address (if available) on the customs declaration form.
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Korea, Republic of (South Korea)
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Observations
[Revise the Observations section in its entirety to read as follows (keeping item 1, combining items 2, 3 and 4 to be a revised item 2, and adding a new item 3 regarding the issue of this article):]
1. Articles addressed for delivery in Korea should show the name of the addressee, street, district, town, and province in Korea. The address should be shown also in Korean characters, if known.
2. Service is available only to the provinces comprising the Republic of Korea — i.e., provinces south of the 38th parallel of latitude. The following is a list of the provinces comprising the Republic of Korea:
The provinces marked with an asterisk (*) are divided by the 38th parallel of latitude, and it is the responsibility of the mailers to determine that the post offices to which their parcels are addressed are located south of the 38th parallel. Mail addressed to offices north of the 38th parallel will not be forwarded to destination but will be treated as undeliverable.
3. Korea Post (the designated postal operator of the Republic of Korea) requests that the mailer include (if available) both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address on the customs declaration form. An item containing goods that does not contain the addressee’s mobile phone number might be subject to processing delays in the Republic of Korea.
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Kyrgyzstan
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Observations
[Revise the text to read as follows (replacing “None”:]
State Enterprise Kyrgyz Pochtasy (one of the designated postal operators of Kyrgyzstan) requests that the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form.
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Macao
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Observations
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[Revise the text for item 2 in its entirety to read as follows:]
2. Macao Post (a designated postal operator of the People’s Republic of China, specifically for the Macao Special Administrative Region) requests that the mailer display the addressee’s mobile phone number, if available, on each Registered Mail item, and both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form for each item mailed to Macao to facilitate delivery.
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Mauritius
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Observations
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[Add an entry to read as follows (adding “1” before the first entry):]
2. Mauritius Post (the designated postal operator of Mauritius) requests that the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form.
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Moldova
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Observations
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[Add an entry to read as follows:]
3. Posta Moldovei (the designated postal operator of Moldova) requests that the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form.
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Mongolia
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Observations
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[Add an entry to read as follows (adding “1” before the first entry):]
2. Mongol Post (the designated postal operator of Mongolia) requests that the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form.
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Netherlands
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Observations
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[Add an entry to read as follows:]
5. PostNL (the designated postal operator of Netherlands) requests that, for all items containing goods sent to or transiting through the Netherlands, the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form.
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New Zealand
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Observations
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[Add an entry to read as follows:]
4. New Zealand Post (the designated postal operator of New Zealand) requests that the mailer include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form.
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Oman
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Observations
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[In item 2, revise the first two sentences to read as follows:]
2. Oman Post (the designated postal operator of Oman) requests that the mailer display the addressee’s mobile phone number, if available, on each Registered Mail item, and include both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form for each item mailed to Oman. This contact information assists Oman Post In notifying the addressee when the item has arrived. ***
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Qatar
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Observations
[Revise the text to read as follows (replacing “None”):]
Qatar Post (the designated postal operator of Qatar) requests that the mailer include the addressee’s building number, and if available the unit number, and both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address, if available, on the customs declaration form. Providing this information facilitates customs clearance and delivery of the item in Qatar.
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Ukraine
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Observations
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[Add an entry to read as follows:]
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4. Joint Stock Company Ukrposhta (the designated postal operator of Ukraine) requests that the mailer include the addressee’s email address, if available, on the customs declaration form.
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United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
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Observations
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[Add an entry to read as follows:]
9. Royal Mail Group Ltd. requests that the mailer include the following information (if available) on the customs declaration form:
a. Both the addressee’s telephone number (preferably mobile) and email address.
b. The importer’s/addressee’s tax identification number.
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Although effective November 28, 2024, the Postal Service will incorporate these revisions into the next edition of the IMM, which is available via Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 11-28-24
