Sanctioned Country License Exceptions

The following list shows some of the limited types of shipments that may be allowed under U.S. law without the need for an export license. However, you are responsible for ensuring whether additional U.S. or foreign conditions or requirements apply. Please note, for example, that when sending allowable goods to Iran, Sudan, or Syria, you must still complete the mandatory filing via the Census Bureau’s AES Direct website to obtain an ITN for such goods.

It is recommended that you check with BIS and/or OFAC before mailing your shipment to any of the countries listed here.

Cuba

• Personal gifts up to $400 in value, limited to 1 per month for each sender/recipient pair.

Exception: The frequency and value limits do not apply to food donated in gift parcels.

• Humanitarian donations by U.S. charitable organizations intended to serve basic human needs.
• Donated consumer communications devices, computers, and software.
• Informational materials in any medium, including publications, films, photographs, music, and artwork.

Iran

• Personal gifts up to $100 in value.
• Humanitarian donations to relieve human suffering.
• Informational materials in any medium, including publications, films, photographs, music, and artwork.
• Commercial sales of food for people or animals, including vitamins, food additives, nutritional supplements, and bottled water.
• Commercial sales of many medicines and basic medical supplies.
• Computers, mobile phones, smart phones, modems, peripherals, radio equipment, home satellite equipment, anti-virus software, and other personal communications hardware and software.

North Korea

Note: Currently, no goods may be mailed to North Korea.

Sudan

• Personal gifts up to $100 in value.
• Humanitarian donations to relieve human suffering.
• Informational materials in any medium, including publications, films, photographs, music, and artwork.
• Commercial sales of food for people or animals, including vitamins, food additives, nutritional supplements, and bottled water.

Syria

• Food, including vitamins, food additives, and nutritional supplements.
• Medicine.
• Informational materials in any medium, including publications, films, photographs, music, and artwork.

When shipping goods as a humanitarian donation, be sure to check the “Humanitarian Donation” box in the content description section of PS Form 2976, in block 5 of PS Form 2976-A, or in block 2 of PS Form 2976-B. Please see the following page for images of those forms and the applicable blocks.

PS Form 2976, Content Description Section

PS Form 2976-A, Block 5

PS Form 2976-B, Block 2

Additional information on current sanction programs and specific information on what items can be mailed to sanctioned countries is available at www.treasury.gov/ofac and www.bis.doc.gov/index.htm.