9/15/2021 Update: The USPS has temporarily suspended Priority Mail International shipments to Australia as of September 17, 2021. To avoid disruption, use GlobalPost Standard or Priority Mail Express International to ship your packages to Australia. Get more info on GlobalPost Standard

The U.S. Postal Service has TEMPORARILY suspended First Class Package International Service (as of September 3, 2021) and Priority Mail International (as of September 17, 2021) delivery to Australia due to carrier issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Priority Mail Express International delivery is not being impacted and mailpieces will continue to be delivered.

If your First Class Package International Service parcel is already in transit, the international carriers will endorse the items as “Mail Service Suspended — Return to Sender” and then place the package in the mail stream for return. The USPS will provide a full refund of the shipping costs paid when service to the country of destination is suspended.

Alternate Delivery Options to Australia
If you have a shipment you need to send to Australia during this suspension period, we recommend the following options:

• UPS International Shipping – get discounted rates up to 76% off with no peak surcharge

• USPS Priority Mail Express International – get discounted rates up to 7% off Post Office rates

• GlobalPost International Standard – Get door-to-door tracking capabilities to over 200 countries

What is GlobalPost International Standard?
GlobalPost International Standard uses a network of postal carriers which provides a similar service to First Class Package International Service at a lower rate.  If you don’t see GlobalPost International Standard as an option in your Stamps.com shipping software, contact Customer Care at 1-888-434-0055 (open Monday to Friday, 6 am to 6 pm PT) to request access to GlobalPost carrier services. 

What is First Class Package International Service?
First Class Package International Service is the USPS’ most affordable international service for the delivery of small packages to over 190 countries. The maximum weight for this mail class is four pounds, and delivery time varies by destination.

Does USPS Tracking come with First Class Package International Service?
Yes, USPS Tracking is included for free if a package is being delivered to one of the following countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Hungary, Israel, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey.

What is the Estimated Delivery Time for First Class Package International Service?
Deliveries generally take between 7 to 21 days to arrive at its destination, although the USPS does not guarantee delivery dates or times.

Changes to First Class Package International Service in 2016

28% Average Rate Increase for Online Rates (Commercial Base Pricing)
First Class Package International Service rates will start at $9.03 to Canada (previously at $6.39 to Canada) for Stamps.com customers. Rates are increasing by an average of 28% for Commercial Base Pricing.

Rate are Decreasing for 2 lbs Packages for All Country Zones
For packages that weight 2 lbs., shipping rates a decreasing from 2015 prices by as much as $2.41 (Country price group 8) per package in 2016.

Online Rate Discounts
First Class Package International Service now offers Commercial Base discounts of up to 5% off Post Office rates (previously 13%).

On Thursday, June 12, 2014, the USPS temporarily suspended Electronic USPS Delivery Confirmation International™ service to 7 countries — Brazil, Denmark, France, Gibraltar, Italy, Luxembourg, and Portugal. The suspension is due to a recent performance evaluation of each country’s ability to scan packages on delivery at the international delivery address. The USPS determined these country’s local postal organizations did not reach a “satisfactory level” for package scans.

Electronic USPS Delivery Confirmation International tracking was added to these countries in July 2013 and January 2014 for First Class Package International Service, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes.

With Electronic USPS Delivery Confirmation International, shippers could see when a package was delivered to its destination using the package tracking number on the Customs Form.

Starting June 12, 2014 , customers who need tracking information for packages being delivered to these 7 countries should purchase Global Express Guaranteed service, Priority Mail Express International service, or Priority Mail International service.

Important: Packages will continue to include “E-DELCON SERVICE” markings on the shipping label/customs form during the suspension period!  But NO TRACKING will be provided.

For more info, please see the USPS Postal Bulletin (page 46).

The U.S. Postal Service is making operational changes to select shipping services starting Sunday, July 28, 2013.  The changes being made include the following:

IMPORTANT! USPS postage rates are NOT INCREASING on Sunday, July 28, 2013 – these changes are operational only!!!

Express Mail Renamed to Priority Mail Express
Express Mail is being renamed Priority Mail Express and Express Mail International is being renamed Priority Mail Express International. USPS research shows that having two shipping product names is confusing to customers, and so the USPS will simplify everything under the Priority Mail brand name.

Example of the new Priority Mail Express Flat Rate Box

Delivery service for Priority Mail Express will remain the same (overnight for domestic, 3-5 day for international).  Also, older Express Mail boxes can still be used with the newly named Priority Mail Express through January 2014.

Estimated Delivery Date Included on Priority Mail Shipping Labels
The USPS will be printing the estimated delivery date on all Priority Mail shipping labels. The date will be displayed at the top of the shipping label in bold text and will contain either “Priority Mail 1-Day,” “Priority Mail 2-Day” or “Priority Mail 3-Day.”

This is only an estimated delivery date and package shippers will not be able to choose a date-specific delivery service for Priority Mail.  Delivery dates will be determined by where you’re shipping your package from and where you’re sending it.

Example of new Priority Mail shipping label. Note the "Priority Mail 1-Day" in the top section, and the Carrier Route Code next to the delivery address.

Additionally, Priority Mail labels will now include a four-digit Carrier Route Code to help speed up package delivery.  The four-digit code will be printed just to the right of the delivery address.

Electronic Delivery Confirmation Now Available to 14 Countries
Along with Canada (added in January 2013), the USPS will be adding Electronic Delivery Confirmation to 13 additional countries for First Class Package International Service, Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Priority Mail International Small Flat Rate Boxes.  This service will be available for no additional cost.

New countries offering Electronic Delivery Confirmation include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Israel, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain and Switzerland.

Package Insurance is Being Added to Priority Mail
Priority Mail is now going to include $50 of insurance for FREE if you print postage online (Commercial Base Pricing).  If you are approved for Commercial Plus Pricing, you will receive $100 of insurance coverage. This insurance coverage is provided automatically by the USPS and claims will be to protect shippers against loss, damage or missing contents.

Stamps.com Will Automatically Update on July 28, 2013
As a Stamps.com customer, you will not need to do anything — the Stamps.com software and website will automatically be updated with all necessary changes for this USPS update.