Effective January 17, 2027, the Postal Service™ will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) section 503.1.4.2 to clarify the extra services available for mail originating from an APO/FPO/DPO, the U.S. territories and possessions, or the Freely Associated States.
Currently, section 503.1.4.2 specifies the eligibility of the extra services listed in Exhibit 1.4.2 for mail destined to an APO/FPO/DPO, the U.S. territories and possessions, or the Freely Associated States. The Postal Service will revise this section to reflect the eligible extra services for both mail destined to and originating from an APO/FPO/DPO, the U.S. territories and possessions, or the Freely Associated States.
Although this clarification will not be published in the DMM until January 17, 2027, it is effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
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500 Additional Mailing Services
503 Extra Services
1.0 Basic Standards for All Extra Services
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1.4 Eligibility for Extra Services
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1.4.2 Eligibility—Other Domestic Mail
[Revise the text of 1.4.2 to read as follows:]
As provided for the classes of mail under 1.4.1, and unless otherwise restricted (also see “Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail” and “Freely Associated States (FAS)” sections of the Postal Bulletin), the extra services listed in Exhibit 1.4.2 are available for mail destined to and originating from an APO/FPO/DPO (also see 703), ZIP Codes in U.S. territories and possessions (also see 608.2.0), or the Freely Associated States (also see 608.2.0), as follows:
Exhibit 1.4.2 Eligibility—Other Domestic Mail
[Add a footnote reference 6 to the Freely Associated States column heading to read as follows:]
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[Revise the “Signature Confirmation” entry under the “APO/FPO/DPO” column by adding a footnote 1 reference to the “Limited” entry and deleting the parenthetical, to read as follows:]
Signature Confirmation Limited1
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[Revise the text of footnote 1 to read as follows:]
1. Only available to or from select APO/FPO/DPO destinations.
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[Revise the text of footnote 3 to read as follows:]
3. If insured for more than $500.00, signature service to an APO/FPO/DPO destination provided only if hardcopy return receipt (form 3811) is also purchased.
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[Add new footnote 6 to read as follows:]
6. This list applies to mail destined for delivery in the Freely Associated States. For information on products and pricing of items originating in the Freely Associated States, customers should contact the applicable country’s postal operator.
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The Postal Service will incorporate this revision into the next update of the online DMM on Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com.
— Product Classification,
Product Solutions, 11-12-26
