USPS ships to roughly 180 countries, so anyone asking does USPS ship internationally can send letters, documents and packages abroad from any Post Office or from a computer at home. Four main services cover it: Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International, First-Class Package International Service and First-Class Mail International.
They differ in speed, weight limit and tracking, so the right one depends on what you are sending. A small group of countries is also suspended right now, which matters before you pay for postage.
Does USPS ship internationally with more than one service?
The short version of does USPS ship internationally is that you get a choice of four services, plus Airmail M-Bags for bulk printed matter. The USPS international services page lists each one, and the table below pulls out the details most senders need.
| Service | Typical delivery | Tracking | Weight limit | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority Mail Express International | 3 to 5 business days | Included | 4 lb in the Flat Rate Envelope, up to 70 lb in a box | $62.70 |
| Priority Mail International | 6 to 10 business days | Included | 4 lb in the Flat Rate Envelope, 20 lb in Flat Rate Boxes, 70 lb priced by weight | $32.65 |
| First-Class Package International Service | Varies by destination | Delivery confirmation to select countries only | 4 lb (64 oz) | $19.40 |
| First-Class Mail International | Varies by destination | None | 1 lb (15.994 oz), documents only | $3.30 |
| Airmail M-Bags (printed matter) | Varies by destination | Included | 11 to 66 lb, customs form required | $84.92 |
The starting prices are “from” figures on the USPS page, not quotes. Your real price depends on the destination country, the weight and the box size. Run your own numbers in the shipping cost comparison tool before you choose.
Which service fits your item when USPS ships internationally?
Match the service to the item. Speed and tracking cost money, and the cheapest options give up both.
Priority Mail Express International
This is the fastest option, with delivery in 3 to 5 business days and tracking included. It also carries the heaviest limit, up to 70 lb in a box. Details on cost and the guarantee are in our guide to Priority Mail Express International.
The service guarantee is currently suspended to Great Britain, Israel, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden and Switzerland. You can still ship there, but a late package is not covered by the guarantee.
Priority Mail International
This is the middle option at 6 to 10 business days, with tracking included. Flat Rate Boxes carry up to 20 lb, and a box priced by weight can go to 70 lb, so it suits most parcels that are not urgent. Our page on Priority Mail International prices and customs rules goes deeper.
Insurance is built into both Priority services up to $200 at no charge. Higher coverage costs $13.85 for $200.01 to $300, and the maximum is $5,000, which varies by country.
First-Class Package International Service
This is the budget package option, capped at 4 lb. Delivery confirmation is offered only to select countries, so many shipments will not give you a full tracking trail. It works for light, low value items where speed does not matter.
First-Class Mail International
This service covers letters, postcards and documents only, with a limit of 1 lb (15.994 oz) and no tracking. Our overview of First-Class Mail International explains what fits in it. If you only need a stamp, the letter table below has the price.
How much does it cost to mail a letter overseas?
Letters are the one category with simple, fixed retail prices. The July 12, 2026 price list shows these First-Class Mail International letter rates by weight and destination group.
| Weight not over | Canada | Mexico | Price groups 3 to 5 | Price groups 6 to 9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 oz | $1.75 | $1.75 | $1.75 | $1.75 |
| 2 oz | $2.35 | $2.60 | $3.50 | $3.50 |
| 3 oz | $2.95 | $3.50 | $5.25 | $5.25 |
| 3.5 oz | $3.50 | $4.15 | $5.75 | $5.75 |
A nonmachinable letter adds a $0.49 surcharge. Postcards cost $1.75 to every country. For Canada rundown, read our guide to shipping to Canada with USPS.
Which countries can USPS not ship to right now?
USPS has suspended mail service to 14 destinations, according to its service alerts page updated on September 25, 2026. The list is Afghanistan, Belarus, Bhutan, Cuba, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Kiribati, Republic of Congo, Seychelles, South Sudan, Sudan, Turkmenistan and Yemen.
The suspension affects all the services above, plus International Priority Airmail and M-Bags. Anything already deposited for these countries comes back marked “Mail Service Suspended, Return to Sender.” You can ask for a refund of the postage and fees.
Suspensions change without much notice. Check the international service alerts page before every shipment to a less common destination.
Do you need a customs form for international USPS mail?
Packages and many other items going abroad need a customs declaration that lists the contents and their value. The exact form and the thresholds depend on the service and the item. We cover the field by field process in our guide on how to fill out a USPS customs form.
Customs delays are the most common reason an international parcel stalls after it leaves the United States. The receiver may also owe duties or taxes, and our international duty estimator gives a rough idea of that cost.
What can you not mail internationally with USPS?
Some items are barred from the mail altogether. The general nonmailable list includes ammunition, explosives, gasoline, liquid mercury, marijuana and air bags. Knowingly mailing hazardous materials carries civil penalties of at least $250 and up to $100,000.
Each destination country adds its own restrictions on top of the federal list. USPS publishes those country by country in the International Mail Manual, and we did not verify individual country lists for this guide. Check the destination before you ship anything food related, liquid, battery powered or made from plants or animals.
What extra services can you add to an international shipment?
Extras are priced separately in the July 12, 2026 price list. They matter most when the contents are valuable or the paperwork has to be provable.
| Extra service | Applies to | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Mail | First-Class Mail International | $25.00 per piece |
| Return Receipt (with Registered Mail) | First-Class Mail International | $7.20 per piece |
| Certificate of Mailing, individual article (PS Form 3817) | First-Class Mail International | $2.55 |
| Certificate of Mailing, individual article (PS Form 3817) | First-Class Package International Service and M-Bags | $2.40 |
| Pickup on Demand | Per stop | $26.50 |
| USPS Tracking Plus, 6 month scan retention | Per package | $2.50 |
Registered Mail is the way to get a signature trail on a letter, since First-Class Mail International has no tracking otherwise. A return receipt must be requested at the time of mailing.
Pickup on Demand sends a carrier to your door for one flat fee per stop. It helps if you have several heavy boxes and no easy way to reach a Post Office.
Who pays duties and taxes on international USPS mail?
The receiving country decides, and the person receiving the parcel is often the one billed. Customs may hold an item until the duty is paid, which is a common reason for delays. A flat fee of $9.35 applies per dutiable item for customs clearance and delivery on inbound mail, which affects anyone who orders from abroad.
USPS also offers Delivered Duty Paid, where the sender pays duties and taxes up front. USPS charges no direct fee for it on Priority Mail International or First-Class Package International Service. If a sender opts into a vendor, the vendor fee and the duties are collected from the sender and passed through.
Paying up front avoids a surprise bill for your customer. It also reduces the chance that a recipient refuses the parcel at the door.
What should you check before you send anything abroad?
- Confirm the destination is not on the suspended list.
- Pick the service that matches your weight, speed and tracking needs.
- Check that the contents are allowed by both the United States and the receiving country.
- Complete the customs declaration with an honest description and value.
- Write the address in the format the destination country expects.
- Decide whether you need insurance, a signature or a certificate of mailing.
Skipping any of these is how simple shipments turn into returns or long customs holds. Ten minutes of checking saves weeks of waiting.
Does USPS deliver internationally to the door, or only to a local post office?
USPS hands every outbound item to the postal service of the destination country. That national carrier then does the final delivery under its own rules and schedule. This is why delivery windows are listed as typical, and why a parcel can sit at the destination for a while.
It also explains the tracking differences. Tracking on the Priority services follows the item through USPS and into the foreign system, but the detail you see depends on what the foreign carrier scans. First-Class Package International Service gives delivery confirmation only to select countries.
What if an international package is delayed or lost?
Start with the tracking page for the item. A few quiet days after export is normal, because the parcel is in transit or waiting on customs. Watch for a longer stall, or a status that mentions a customs hold, a missing form or an address problem.
Insurance is the safety net on the Priority services, which include coverage up to $200. If your item is worth more, buy the extra coverage before you ship, since you cannot add it later. Keep your receipt, the customs form copy and proof of value in case you need to file a claim.
For items with no tracking, such as a plain letter, a certificate of mailing or Registered Mail is the only paper proof you sent it. That is worth the fee for legal or financial documents.
How do you send an international package with USPS?
The process is similar to a domestic shipment, with a customs step added. You choose a service, enter the destination address, declare the contents and pay. You can do this at a Post Office or online through Click N Ship.
International addresses follow the destination country’s format, so see how to address international mail to avoid returns. A wrong or incomplete address is a common reason for a returned parcel.
The bottom line on USPS international shipping
The answer to does USPS ship internationally is yes for most countries, with a service for every budget. Pick Priority Mail Express International for speed and Priority Mail International for balance, and use First-Class options when price matters more than tracking. Confirm your destination is not suspended before you pay.
