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With the coronavirus COVID-19 emergency continuing to spread around the globe, mail and small parcel operations are impacted worldwide.
Between a shortage of commercial passenger airlines to carry the mail and local authorities and transit/destination postal services shutting down or restricting services, sending international packages with the U.S. Postal Service will almost certainly result in longer transit times than normal.
The United States Postal Service also made a general announcement regarding its Priority Mail Express International Service:
“Due to airline travel restrictions and cancellations, the U.S. Postal Service has temporarily suspended the guarantee on Priority Mail Express International destined to China, France, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. These suspensions will be in effect until further notice. The Postal Service is taking all reasonable measures to minimize impact to our customers.”
Here is the latest update from the U.S. Postal Service regarding international shipments for key export for U.S. online merchants.
The countries listed below are popular export countries for U.S. online merchants and are divided into sections:
- North America
- Europe (incl. EuroAsia)
- South America
- Asia
- Australia/Oceania.
Next to each country is the date of the last guidance the U.S. Postal Service has for that country. We will update this post as new information becomes available.
Canada – 3/25/2020
Canada Post advises that additional measures are being taken in response to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). In order to eliminate interaction with customers at their doorstep and in accordance with physical distancing requirements, Canada Post has implemented revised delivery procedures.
Inbound items from the U.S. requiring payment of customs duties and taxes will be sent from our depots to a retail post office for collection.
Customers will receive a delivery notice card telling them which post office is holding their item. All other items that would ordinarily require a signature will be left in a safe location without obtaining a signature from the recipient.
This change eliminates the need for signature at the doorstep and greatly reduces the number of parcels sent to Canada Post offices for collection.
Canada Post will continue to monitor the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation and will actively follow the guidance and safety recommendations issued by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Mexico – 3/20/2020
Mexico’s post advises that it is facing significant disruption to operations due to the cancellation of international flights from Mexico to South America and to other continents, including Africa, Asia, and Europe.
This disruption will have a direct impact on the quality of service in relation to both inbound and outbound mail.
Consequently, Mexico is declaring a situation of force majeure in relation to all international mail consignments as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its effects on services worldwide.
Until further notice, only services to Canada and the United States will be maintained.
Europe
Austria – 3/20/2020
Austria’s post advises that it is currently unable to send letters and parcels to a constantly increasing number of countries both inside and outside the European Union due to the suspension of outbound flights.
It will stop accepting mail for destinations where no transport capacities are available. Additionally, signature on delivery for inbound items will be suspended in order to avoid human contact.
All items that require the addressee’s signature are now deposited in their mailbox or in a secure location with signature by the postal employee on their portable device.
If delivered to the recipient in person, the employee will likewise sign on the recipient’s behalf. A situation of force majeure regarding the quality of service has been declared until the situation has returned to normal.
Belgium – 3/20/2020
Belgium’s post advises that it will continue to operate normally as far as possible. However, several measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of both customers and staff.
Post offices will remain open in general but will be closed on Saturdays. For domestic and inbound international items that would normally require a signature, the mail carrier will sign for a delivery in place of the customer (in the customer’s presence).
The post is no longer able to guarantee delivery times, standard rules for signature on delivery, or availability of tracking data for shipments.
Furthermore, given the diminishing number of flights and reduced capacity, the post is temporarily unable to send outbound international mail and parcels to destinations outside Europe.
France – 3/27/2020
La Poste advises that it is taking steps that affect its parcel operations only. These are in addition to previously communicated measures taken in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic aimed at limiting the spread of the virus and safeguarding the health and safety of La Poste’s staff.
These steps include closing certain offices of exchange on March 30-31 and April 4. Beginning March 30, only items weighing less than 15 kg and with a maximum package size of 32 cm x 24 cm x 24 cm will be delivered by its commercial network.
Every effort will be made to provide service but delivery standards will not be guaranteed. All other packages will be subject to delayed service. This measure will remain in effect until further notice.
Germany – 3/27/2020
Deutsche Post advises it is currently unable to transport mail to a growing number of countries due to a lack of transport capacity following the cancellation of numerous international flights as part of measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Therefore, acceptance of postal items destined for affected countries is suspended.
The post says the list of affected destination countries is likely to change every day with information available at https://www.deutschepost.de/en/c/coronavirus.html. Suspensions will apply until sufficient transport capacities become available.
In addition to measures announced previously, Deutsche Post is taking steps to reduce direct interaction with customers at their doorstep.
Inbound items requiring payment by the recipient, such as cash-on-delivery or payment of customs duties and taxes, will be directed to a postal outlet for collection.
Greece – 3/23/2020
Greece’s post is currently unable to transport mail to many countries because of measures to limit transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19). It will only be able to send — with delays expected due to limited capacity — letters and parcels destined to:
- Europe (EU and non-EU countries), except Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Serbia, and Slovenia.
- Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, Georgia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United States, and Venezuela.
The above list is subject to change on a daily basis. A situation of force majeure is declared and the acceptance of letters and parcels destined to all other countries is suspended until sufficient transport capacity becomes available.
Transit mail will not be accepted to any destination country unless bilaterally agreed upon.
Ireland – 3/19/2020
An Post advises that it has suspended signature on delivery for inbound items to reduce the risk of spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and keep staff and customers safe. Delivery will be conducted via methods that limit direct contact.
The post is no longer able to meet all of its contractual obligations, in particular quality delivery standards, to a number of international destinations due to the suspension of airline flights.
Therefore, all contractually agreed sanctions, especially those concerning penalty payments, are suspended until these flights return to their normal operating schedule.
Italy – 3/12/2020
Effective March 10, Italy’s Post advises customers that the entire Italian territory is subject to a number of extraordinary measures so as to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and protect Poste Italiane staff and customers
Due to a reduction of logistics and supply chain workforce that will affect postal sorting and delivery, customers should expect major impacts on operations and inbound/outbound service (letter post, parcels and EMS) until April 3 or further notice.
A situation of force majeure has been declared and service delivery standards cannot be guaranteed until the situation returns to normal. Consequently, restrictions are in place for the following items:
- Parcels and registered and insured items subject to signature upon delivery that would ordinarily require the addressee’s signature can, with the addressee’s consent, be deposited in the addressee’s mailbox or in a secure location on their premises, with signature by the postman/woman on their portable devices.
- If the addressee is absent or wishes to collect the item from a post office, a special notice of delivery will be left in their mailbox, with instructions for access to the post office.
- Post offices will be subject to restrictions and special conditions, including the exceptional closure, for a few days, of the premises subject to sanitation measures, which results in delivery delays
- Cash-on-delivery items will be available at post offices and the addressee will be informed by means of a special note left in their mailbox.
- Effective Monday, March 16, Poste Italiane will be unable to accept “PostaTarget” commercial mail from direct entry channels.
A special sanitation plan, covering the entire post office network, postal premises, and fleet of vehicles, has been in place for several weeks and will continue until the end of this epidemic.
Personal safety equipment is also being provided throughout our retail and logistic networks to protect staff and manage customers’ presence in post offices under safe conditions.
Airports remain open, however, due to regional flight cancellations, Italy’s post will divert outbound mail onto certain flights from Rome Fiumicino, requesting the airlines to provide road transport solutions from Milan to Rome.
Similar solutions are being offered to other partners for outbound traffic to Italy. Surface traffic is not restricted. Italy’s Post is fully committed to keeping its international mail processing centers, domestic sorting centers and delivery network open and operational, with a number of special provisions being implemented in the wider national interest.
No other changes to service modalities are currently in place. The provisions set out above will remain in effect until further notice.
Italy’s Post is monitoring the situation and will take prompt corrective action in response to any developments and will also provide timely updates in the dedicated section of its website, available at https://www.poste.it/emergenza-covid19.html.
Finland – 3/23/2020
Finland’s post advises that it will only be able to transport outbound mail destined for the following countries, with delays to be expected due to limited capacity:
- All EU countries, with the exception of Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Malta, Slovakia, and Spain.
- Australia, Canada, China, Israel, Japan, Norway, Russian Federation, Serbia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and the United States.
Finland’s post is declaring a situation of force majeure and suspending acceptance of mail items destined for all other countries until sufficient transport capacity becomes available. Transit mail cannot be accepted to any destination country unless subject to a bilateral agreement.
Netherlands – 3/16/2020
Netherlands’ post advises that to minimize the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), all mail requiring a signature on delivery will no longer be signed at the moment of handover to the recipient.
A procedure has been established for the carrier to enter a recipient’s reference number. This temporary measure will be effective until further notice.
Norway – 3/19/2020
Norway’s post advises that it is currently unable to send postal items to any countries outside the European Union, with the exception of Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
Norway’s post is declaring a situation of force majeure and has stopped accepting postal items destined for countries not listed above until sufficient transport capacity becomes available.
These temporary measures are due to the lack of transport capacity as steps are taken to limit the transmission of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Poland – 3/20/2020
Poland’s post advises that its airmail unit in Warsaw will be moving to a new location Feb. 17-29. Periodic disruptions in international outgoing and incoming mail are possible through March 10.
Portugal – 3/23/2020
Portugal’s post has implemented several measures to ensure the safety of both customers and staff to minimize the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Post offices will remain open in general.
For domestic and inbound international items that would normally require a signature, the postal carrier will sign for a delivery in place of the customer.
Portugal’s post is no longer able to guarantee delivery times, observe standard rules for signature on delivery, or make tracking data available for all shipments.
In addition, given the current uncertainty with regard to the international transport network, the post is suspending transit operations.
Given the diminishing number of flights and reduced capacity, Portugal’s post is temporarily unable to send outbound international mail and parcels to many destinations outside of Europe, as well as to some European destinations.
International and domestic operations will continue to operate normally as far as possible, however, a situation of force majeure is declared.
Spain – 3/25/2020
Spain’s post is currently unable to send mail to an increasing number of countries both within and outside the European Union due to the suspension of flights and lack of transport capacity.
As a result, it can no longer accept letters and parcels for destinations to which transport capacity is unavailable. A situation of force majeure is declared and Spain’s post has stopped accepting these mail items until sufficient transport capacity becomes available.
Customers should anticipate major impacts on operations and, consequently, on quality of service for all types of inbound and outbound mail.
Switzerland – 3/25/2020
Swiss Post has changed its delivery process for all items requiring a signature on delivery to minimize the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and in accordance with guidelines issued by the Swiss Government.
Mail requiring a signature on delivery will not be signed for by the recipient. In place of the recipient’s signature, the delivery agent will enter a code in the signature field of the handheld device. This temporary measure will apply until further notice.
Swiss Post is no longer able to guarantee inbound and outbound mail standards and is invoking a situation of force majeure with regard to the quality of service and remuneration for all categories of mail items until further notice.
Turkey – 3/25/2020
Turkey’s post advises it expects major impacts on operations and, consequently, on quality of service for all types of inbound mail because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For this reason, service delivery standards cannot be guaranteed and a situation of force majeure has been declared until the situation returns to normal.
The United Kingdom – 3/19/2020
Royal Mail Group (Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide), as part of UK measures to minimize the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), changes the delivery process for all mail items requiring a signature on delivery.
These items will not always be signed for by the recipient. Where the recipient has not been able to sign for the item but has received it, a code will be entered into the handheld device, and this will constitute evidence of receipt.
In addition, Royal Mail Group advises that it can no longer guarantee service delivery standards that apply under UPU and associated or related bilateral and multilateral agreements with designated operators and any interested third parties, and is invoking force majeure and analogous provisions to any such standards.
Russian Federation – 3/27/2020
Russia Post advises that effective March 28 it will not obtain a signature from the recipient at the door for postal items requiring a signature on delivery, to reduce human interaction.
In case of an unsuccessful at-the-door delivery attempt, the recipient will receive a notification requesting the person to collect the item at a designated post office.
Additionally, due to measures aimed at minimizing the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Russian Post is unable to guarantee compliance with delivery standards and is invoking a situation of force majeure with regard to the quality of service and remuneration for all categories of mail items until further notice.
Brazil – 3/23/2020
Brazil’s post has introduced measures to minimize the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Until further notice, mail items requiring a signature on delivery will no longer be signed for at the moment of handover to the recipient.
In addition, due to the suspension of flights, transit services will be temporarily unavailable.
Customers are advised there may be a severe impact on service quality for international inbound and outbound services. Consequently, service delivery standards cannot be guaranteed and a situation of force majeure is invoked.
Chile – 3/25/2020
Chile’s post is unable to accept or dispatch outbound international mail due to the suspension of flights from Chile and the resulting lack of transportation. It is monitoring the situation and will adopt corrective measures as the situation evolves.
Colombia – 3/23/2020
Colombia’s post advises that it is taking preventive measures impacting its administrative and operational personnel to avoid the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Roads and borders have been closed by the government, affecting logistics operations at national and international levels.
There also are impacts to operations at the exchange office due to the suspension of airline services.
China – 2/25/2020
China Post advises that it is taking steps to prevent and minimize the spread of the coronavirus. It notes that according to the World Health Organization, coronaviruses do not survive for long on objects.
The post says it is therefore safe to receive postal items from China without risk of contracting the virus.
Measures have nevertheless been implemented to ensure the safety of mail processing and postal staff, including the disinfection of postal offices, processing centers, and transportation vehicles, and monitoring of postal staff’s physical health.
China Post says delays should be expected in mail transport, processing, and delivery.
Hong Kong – 3/27/2020
Hongkong Post has temporarily changed its delivery process for all items requiring a signature on delivery in response to the latest development regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19)
India – 3/26/2020
India Post advises that it has suspended all international mail exchanges until further notice due to suspension of air and rail services and other measures taken by the government in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The postal service is being maintained as an essential service — domestic mail exchanges are continuing and all international mail received before March 22 is being delivered with limited staff. India Post can no longer guarantee service delivery standards.
Japan – 2/4/2020
Japan Post advises that there are serious delays in the handling of outbound mail due to continually rising volumes, particularly in express mail and parcels sent to China.
This, coupled with the cancellation of flights between Japan and China, is causing congestion at sorting centers and other facilities.
Japan Post is taking active steps to decrease backlogs as soon as possible. However, as more and more airlines cancel their flights to China, delays are expected to continue.
Korea – 3/20/2020
Korea Post advises it has suspended processing of all outbound mail to the following countries until further notice due to the suspension of flights resulting from the outbreak and rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19):
Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada (express mail service items only still accepted), Ethiopia, Jordan, Lebanon, North Macedonia, Peru, Switzerland, Tunisia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Finland, Georgia, Ghana, Maldives, Mozambique, Oman, Pakistan, Romania, Rwanda, and Tanzania.
Philippines – 3/25/2020
Philippine Postal Corporation advises that international air and sea transport from and to international airports and seaports throughout the Philippines will remain operational during a community quarantine.
However, domestic air, land and sea transport is suspended for the duration of the community quarantine imposed in Metro Manila, the rest of Luzon island, and several areas of the Visayas and Mindanao islands.
The community quarantine, in effect through April 12, will impact operations. Delays to inbound and outbound postal items are expected during the community quarantine period.
Singapore – 3/23/2020
Singapore Post has declared a situation of force majeure and will operate under the following conditions until further notice, in order to minimize spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Inbound mail items:
- Signature on delivery is suspended for all mail items. However, tracked confirmation of deliveries will be provided through tracking event scans for products that allow tracking.
- All letter-box-sized items will be deposited in letter boxes. Larger items will be delivered to parcel locker stations, post offices or collection points for collection by the addressee.
- Mandatory written proof of delivery is suspended and delivery will be deemed to have occurred when collection is confirmed at the designated collection points.
These measures will have an impact on quality of service for all types of inbound mail and are expected to last until the end of the pandemic. Accordingly, inbound service delivery standards cannot be guaranteed until the situation returns to normal.
Outbound mail items:
- As a result of limited flights to and from Singapore, severe delays for all outbound mail conveyed via air transport should be expected until sufficient transport capacity becomes available.
Thailand – 3/23/2020
Thailand Post, in response to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), will operate under the following conditions until further notice.
Outbound mail items: Due to flight reductions and cancellations, the post is not currently able to offer services to Brunei, Cayman Islands, Chile, Djibouti, Ecuador, Egypt, French Polynesia, India, Kuwait, Lebanon, Latvia, Maldives, Myanmar, Peru, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Tunisia.
Processing of outbound mail to all countries affected by the spread of novel coronavirus is also expected to be subject to delays.
Inbound mail items: Processing is still proceeding, however, customers should expect delays for all types of inbound mail.
Signature on delivery for international services that would ordinarily require the recipient’s signature is still provided wherever possible.
In cases where the recipient refuses to sign, the delivery office will sign on the recipient’s behalf. Thailand Post is treating this situation as a case of force majeure.
South Africa – 3/26/2020
South African Post advises that exchanges of both inbound and outbound mail are currently blocked due to the suspension of many flights as part of measures taken to curb the rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
All post offices nationwide will be closed while the country is on lockdown, and all mail classes will be delayed. A situation of force majeure situation is invoked until April 17 or until further notice.
Australia – 3/20/2020
Australia Post advises that it has temporarily suspended signature upon delivery for inbound items, effective immediately, in order to limit face-to-face methods of delivery and reduce the risk of the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
New Zealand – 3/27/2020
New Zealand Post advises that while the government has declared a lockdown in an effort to slow spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), the post is an essential business that will remain in operation insofar as possible under the state of emergency provisions and regulations in place.
New Zealand Post can no longer guarantee service delivery standards, such as delivery times and other quality measures, and is invoking a situation of force majeure in relation to any such standards until further notice.
Additionally, a number of measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of both customers and staff, effective until further notice.
These include delivery changes for items requiring a signature and no longer providing over-the-counter services which will also mean a reduction in the capacity to accept international outbound items. Businesses that are deemed to provide essential services are still able to send their products.
With many flights suspended and transport capacity reduced, New Zealand Post is limited in its ability to send outbound mail to a number of countries.
The U.S. Postal Service did not issue specific alerts about international shipment to APO, FPO, and other military and diplomatic mail zip codes.
However, APO/FPO/DPO mail often is carried in full or partially on commercial passenger airlines and international cargo service aircraft. Some disruptions should be anticipated.
This is a curated list of key export countries for many U.S. online merchants. USPS maintains an international service alert page for information on other countries that have reported disruptions due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency.
READ MORE: How Shelter In Place Orders Impact Online Businesses and Marketplace Sellers
Have you shipped orders internationally with the U.S. Postal Service recently and what has your experience been regarding transit times?
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