The USPS has announced that, due to a reduction in domestic transport availability, Priority Mail and First-Class Package Service shipments may require more time to be delivered. These changes to domestic mail class delivery times go into effect today, April 17, 2020.
USPS Priority
Mail
Priority Mail packages with two and three-day delivery commitments have been extended an extra day to three and four days respectively. Priority Mail packages with local one-day delivery commitments will remain the same. Customers using Priority Mail express will still receive standard end-to-end tracking.
USPS Priority
Mail Express
Priority Mail Express
delivery times will not change—customers can still expect one to two-day
delivery.
USPS First-Class
Package Service
First-Class Package Service packages with two and three-day delivery commitments have been extended an extra day to three and four days respectively.
Effective April 10, 2020, the USPS is suspending outbound mail services to 16 additional international destinations. Including these new countries, the total number of international destinations suspended now stands at 67. For a full list of service disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic visit the Stamps.com Coronvirus Updates Page.
◦ Burundi ◦ Cuba ◦ Curacao ◦ Democratic Republic of the Congo ◦ Guinea Bissau ◦ Guyana ◦ Kenya ◦ Kiribati ◦ Lesotho ◦ Malawi ◦ Mauritius ◦ Nepal ◦ New Guinea ◦ Republic of Congo ◦ Rwanda ◦ UAE ◦ Zambia
Due to disruptions to air and sea transportation, the USPS will temporarily suspend mail service to 29 international destinations effective April 7, 2020. These additional suspensions bring the total number of international destinations suspended to 51. For a full list of service disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic visit the Stamps.com Coronvirus Updates Page.
USPS International Destination Suspensions
◦ Angola
◦ Benin
◦ Bosnia and Herzegovina
◦ Cameroon
◦ Cook Islands
◦ Costa Rica
◦ Gambia
◦ Guatemala
◦ Kyrgyzstan
◦ Laos
◦ Lebanon
◦ Malawi
◦ Moldova
◦ Mozambique
◦ Papua New Guinea
◦ Paraguay
◦ Republic of the Congo
◦ Senegal
◦ Seychelles
◦ Solomon Islands
◦ Sudan
◦ Tajikistan
◦ Tanzania
◦ Timor-Leste
◦ Tonga
◦ Uganda
◦ Uruguay
◦ Vanuatu
◦ Venezuela
Additionally, the USPS received
communications from the postal services of Guatemala, Italy, Maldives, Mauritius,
and South Korea detailing postal disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Guatemala The General Directorate of Posts and Telegraphs will be operating with 50% of its normal staff until April 12, 2020. Customers should expect delays until further notice.
Italy Poste Italiane has advised that the Italian Government has decided to extend the measures aimed at minimizing the spread of COVID-19 until April 13, 2020.
Maldives Maldives Post has extended the suspension of inbound and outbound mail until April 11, 2020.
Mauritius Mauritius Post has closed post offices are closed until April 15, 2020. As a result, customers should expect severe delays. Additionally, signature on delivery will no longer be required at the time delivery is made.
South Korea Korea Post has suspended outbound mail services to Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Hawaii, Iceland, the Netherlands, Portugal, Qatar, Turkey, Uganda, and Zambia until further notice.
Beginning April 17, 2020, the USPS will temporarily not accept mail to six additional international destinations. Including these new countries, the total number of international destinations suspended now stands at 73. For a full list of service disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic visit the Stamps.com Coronvirus Updates Page.
Bermuda
Cape Verde
Oman
South Sudan
Swaziland (Eswatini)
Yemen
Additionally, the USPS has revived communications from
international postal services regarding delivery advisories due to coronavirus.
Colombia Servicios Postales Nacionales S.A. 4-72, has advised that there continues to be significant delays in all of its international inbound and outbound mail services.
Georgia Georgian Post has extended the suspension of signatures services and delivery standards until May 10, 2020.
Honduras Empresa de Correos de Honduras (Honducor) has extended the suspension of mail services until April 19, 2020.
Ireland An Post is currently only able to send outbound international mail to destinations where transportation is unavailable. For more details see the An Post Coronavirus Information Page.
Italy Poste Italiane will continue extended measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19 until May 3, 2020. These measures include the suspension of signature service and service standards, limitations on the size and weight of parcels, and changes to the number delivery attempts that will be made before a package is returned to sender.
Mauritius Mauritius Post has extended the suspension of mail services until May 4, 2020.
Nepal Nepal Post has extended the suspension of mail services until April 30, 2020.
Sri Lanka Department of Posts has extended the suspension of mail services until April 20, 2020.
Jamaica Jamaica Post has extended the suspension of service standards until further notice.
United Arab Emirates Emirates Post will conduct contactless deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Deliveries to residences will require confirmation of the recipient’s name.
Several international postal services have notified the USPS that they are currently unable to accept or deliver mail originating from The United States. Effective April 3, the USPS will not accept mail addressed to these twenty-two affected countries. Stamps.com software will automatically notify customers when a destination is unable to receive USPS packages—so you don’t have to worry about printing postage for a mailpiece that can’t be sent.
USPS International Destination Suspensions The USPS is currently unable to send mail to:
• Cayman Islands • Chad • Ecuador • French Polynesia • Honduras • India • Kuwait • Libya • Madagascar • Maldives • Mongolia • New Caledonia • Panama • Peru • Samoa • Saudi Arabia • South Africa • Bolivia • Sri Lanka • Zimbabwe • Fiji • Botswana
Additionally, the USPS has been notified of further service
disruptions from international postal services. For a full list of
all international service disruptions visit the Stamps.com
Coronvirus Updates Page.
Argentina Correo Argentino has suspended the requirement for signature on delivery. Instead, recipients will provide an ID number that will be recorded in the signature field. Correo Argentino is also unable to transport mail to an increasing number of countries. As a result, international mail services will only be carried out where available.
Greece Hellenic Post (ELTA) has announced that it will only be able to maintain international services to and from a limited set of countries. Due to ongoing transportation limitations, international service capacity may change daily. Currently, letter mail and packages to The United States are not being accepted.
Japan Japan Post has announced that inbound international mail services are limited. Currently, mail from The United States is being accepted. For a full list of service advisories by country visit the Japan Post Service Alert Page.
Mali La Poste du Mali has announced that is currently unable to meet its delivery standards. Customers should expect delays.
Serbia Public Enterprise Post of Serbia has suspended international service to 186 destinations. Currently, inbound and outbound services to The United States are operational.
Thailand Thailand Post is currently unable to provide outbound international service to a number of countries—a full list can be seen here.
Turkey Turkish PTT Corporation has advised that customers should expect delays for all inbound and outbound mail services.
The USPS has suspended the Priority Mail Express International Service guarantee for letters and packages sent several European countries. Due to widespread disruptions of air cargo and trucking delivery in Europe delivery cannot be guaranteed to France, Great Britain, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The suspension of the Priority Mail Express International Service guarantees announced Feb. 10, 2020 to China and Hong Kong is still in effect at this time.
Additionally, international postal services across the world have announced new service interruptions. For a full list of all international service disruptions visit the Stamps.com Coronvirus Updates Page.
Chile CorreosChile is currently unable to accept or dispatch outbound international letter-post, parcel-post and EMS items.
Honduras Empresa de Correos de Honduras (Honducor) has suspended all postal services until at least March 29, 2020, or until a date that will be communicated at a later time.
Montenegro Montenegro Post has suspended all inbound and outbound postal services until further notice.
Belarus Belpochta (RUE Belpochta) has advised that it is currently unable to send outbound mail and parcels to a number of countries. Where possible, international and domestic service will continue.
Bhutan Bhutan Post has advised that severe delays are to be expected until normal transport capacity becomes available.
Israel Israel Postal Company has suspended signature on delivery for inbound mail items. For items that would typically require signature, the item will be left at the door, after being scanned and photographed to ensure that delivery has been made. Additionally, Israel Postal Company cannot guarantee its delivery standards at this time.
Luxembourg Post Luxembourg has announced that mail items will be delivered via methods that restrict direct contact. For main items that require signature on delivery, the addressee’s signature will be replaced by the mail carrier’s signature and a delivery code in the signature field. Additionally, delivery standards cannot be guaranteed at this time.
Malaysia Pos Malaysia has suspended all signature on delivery services. Additionally, severe delays are expected for outbound countries where transportation is limited.
Mongolia Mongol Post is temporarily closing its international mail center until April 1, 2020—this closure may be extended. All inbound and outbound international mail has been suspended.
Papua New Guinea Post PNG is currently limiting the processing of all inbound and outbound mail. Severe service delays should be expected.
Saint Lucia Saint Lucia Postal Service has advised that the processing of inbound and outbound mail will be delayed until further notice.
Senegal La Poste du Sénégal is currently unable to guarantee compliance with delivery standards.
Slovakia Slovenska Pošta, a. s., has announced disruptions to several services. Packages that would typically require the recipient’s signature can now be deposited in parcel terminals. International service will continue where possible, however, Slovenska Pošta is unable to deliver to an increasing number of destinations throughout the world.
Spain Correos y Telégrafos has suspended all inbound international mail services. Additionally, Correos y Telégrafos is unable to send outbound international mail to an increasing number of international destinations.
Switzerland Swiss Post Ltd has suspended mail to any countries outside the European Union, with the exception of Brazil, Canada, New Zealand, Norway, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Additionally, signature on delivery requirements have been suspended at this time.
Ukraine Ukrposhta has announced that delays should be expected for inbound and outbound mail services. Additionally, signature on delivery requirements have temporarily been suspended.
Today, March 17, 2020, the USPS announced that four international postal services have suspended mail services and eight have announced mail disruptions. These service disruptions will affect USPS mail items sent with Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International, First-Class Mail International, and First-Class Package International Service.
Suspended Mail Services
Kuwait
Kuwait Postal Sector has suspended all mail services until further
notice.
Moldova
Posta Moldovei Has suspended all mail services until further notice.
Norway
Posten Norge AS has suspended outbound letter mail to all countries outside of the EU with the exception of Arab Emirates, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Great Britain, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, and Turkey.
Peru
Servicios Postales del Perú has suspended all mail until March 30, 2020.
Service Disruptions
Estonia
Estonian
Post has suspended signature on delivery for inbound items. Items
that require signature will be delivered to mailboxes if
possible—otherwise, they will be delivered in person without
signature.
Latvia
Latvijas
Pasts has suspended all international mail conveyed via passenger air
transport until further notice. Customers should expect delays.
Luxemburg
Post Luxembourg has announced that mail items will be delivered via
methods that restrict direct contact. For main items that require
signature on delivery, the addressee’s signature will be replaced
by the mail carrier’s signature and a delivery code in the signature
field.
New
Zealand
New Zealand Post has announced altered service for all mail items that
require signature on delivery. For all deliveries requiring proof of
delivery, the mail carrier will ask for the recipient’s name and
leave the item on the doorstep. If the recipient is not present at
the time of delivery and there is no Parcel Leave service in place,
the carrier will leave a card with details of the delivery, and
return the item to the Post Office.
Panama
Correos de Panama is currently unable to send outgoing mail to Argentina, Aruba, Ecuador, Haiti, Honduras, Peru, Suriname Venezuela, Bolivia
and the continents of Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Customers
should also expect delays for the delivery of all inbound items to
addressees in Panama.
Portugal
CTT
Correios de Portugal has announced changes for mail items requiring
signature on delivery. Effective immediately, mail carrier will ask
the recipient for their full name, and will enter this information in
the field usually designated for signatures.
Slovenia
Pošta
Slovenije has announced
that customers should expect
significant delays for all inbound and outbound letter mail
until
the end of the epidemic.
Spain
Correos
y Telégrafos has advised that the distribution of international mail
will see major delays for time being.
Today, March 19, 2020, the USPS has announced several updates from international postal services in regards to mail disruptions due to coronavirus. For a full list of all international service disruptions visit the USPS Service Alerts Page. For the latest news about how coronavirus is affecting the mailing and shipping industry see the Stamps.com Coronvirus Updates Page.
Restored Service
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Post has announced that inbound and outbound postal services have returned to normal.
Suspended Service
Ecuador
Empresa Pública Correos del Ecuador CDE E.P has suspended all service until further notice.
Myanmar
Myanmar Post has suspended all outbound services to international destinations until April 30, 2020.
Service
Disruptions
Armenia
Haypost CJSC expects serious delays for all inbound and outbound mail
items until further notice. For all items requiring signature on
delivery, the recipient’s signature will be replaced with the mail
carrier’s signature and the delivery code.
Canada
Canada Post has advised customers to expect delays for all letter-post, parcel-post, and EMS items. Additionally, Canada Post has suspended signature on delivery services. Instead, mail carriers will apply “safe drop” procedures whenever it is possible to do so.
Croatia
Croatian Post has introduced a special process for mail items that would typically requite signature on delivery. Affected mail items will be placed in the recipients’ mailbox or at the front door of their home. Additionally, customers should expect delays in the delivery of all mail items.
Ireland
An Post, has advised that it has suspended signature on delivery for inbound items. Effective immediately, delivery will be made via methods that limit direct contact.
Israel
Israel Postal Company has suspended signature on delivery for inbound mail items. For items that would typically require signature, the item will be left at the door, after being scanned and photographed to ensure that delivery has been made.
Malaysia
Malaysia has suspended all signature on delivery services.
Additionally, customers are advised that they should expect delays.
Malta
MaltaPost has suspended all signature on delivery services. For that would typically require signature on delivery, the mail carrier will instead record the recipient’s name and ID number.
Myanmar (Burma)
Myanmar Post has advised that customers should be expected delays.
Norway
Posten Norge AS suspended outbound mail to all countries outside the European Union except for Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
Serbia
Public Enterprise Post of Serbia has advised that customers should
expect delivery delays until further notice.
Singapore
Singapore Post has suspended signature on delivery will be suspended,
effective immediately. All items will be deposited in mailboxes,
where possible. Larger items will be delivered parcel locker
stations, post offices or collection points for collection. Mailers
are encouraged to include the recipient’s mobile number on all
items, if possible.
Slovenia
Slovenia, Pošta Slovenije, has advised that it is suspending
signature on delivery for items destined to Slovenia. Additionally,
in order to avoid human contact, Pošta Slovenije will deliver items
using alternative delivery methods where possible. This includes
delivery to agreed locations, such as P.O. boxes, mailboxes, parcel
lockers. These measures will remain in place until further notice.
Suriname
Suriname Postal
Corporation has advised customers to expect delays until further
notice.
Turkey
Turkish PTT Corporation has advised customers to expect delays until
further notice.
United Kingdom
Royal
Mail Group has announced
changes for items requiring
signature on delivery. Effective March 13, 2020, items requiring a
signature on delivery will not always be signed by the recipient. If
the recipient is unable to sign for an
item but has accepted it,
a code (XP1) will be entered into the handheld device. Additionally,
Royal Mail customers should expect delivery delays for all mail.
Today, March 18, 2020, the USPS has announced additional mail disruptions for international postal services. Six countries have announced the suspension of some or all classes and six have announced disrupted service. Be advised that USPS packages sent to these locations will be affected. For a full list of all international service disruptions visit the USPS Service Alerts Page. For the latest news about how coronavirus is affecting the mailing and shipping industry see the Stamps.com Coronvirus Updates Page.
Suspended Service
Cayman
Islands
Cayman Islands Postal Service has suspended the processing of all letter-post, parcel-post, and EMS items from March 20, 2020, through April 12, 2020.
French
Polynesia
OPT PF – FARE RATA is currently not accepting letter-post, parcel-post or EMS items until March 31, 2020.
Lebanon
LibanPost
has
suspended outbound
mail services to all
international
destinations.
Maldives
Maldives
Post has
announced all
inbound and outbound mail
services are suspended
until March 28, 2020.
Mongolia
Mongol
Post is temporarily closing its international mail center until April
1, 2020. All
inbound and outbound international mail has been suspended.
Tunisia
La
Poste Tunisienne has suspended
all inbound and outbound mail services until international
flights in and out of Tunisia have been restored.
Service
Disruptions
Chile
CorreosChile has announced several service changes will go into effect until further notice. International outbound mail has been suspended to all countries except Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay. International inbound mail addressed to Easter Island will no longer be accepted. Delays should be expected for all inbound international mail. Signature on delivery for inbound international mail has temporarily been suspended.
Germany
Deutsche Post has suspended signature on delivery service. Items that would typically require the recipients’ signature will now be deposited in the recipient’s mailbox or in a secure location.
Honduras
Empresa de Correos de Honduras (Honducor) has announced the distribution of international mail will be subject to major delays until further notice.
Jamaica
Jamaica Post has advised that it will be unable to guarantee delivery standards at the current time. Customers should expect delays.
Philippines
Philippine Postal Corporation will accept incoming mail until the
total lockdown of international air and sea transport on March 20,
2020. Additionally, all post offices in areas placed under quarantine
are closed.
Romania
Poșta Română has announced that customers should expect delays for
all inbound and outbound international mail items.
