220 Express Mail International
Express Mail International is a reliable high–speed mail service available to certain countries (see Individual Country Listings for service availability). Express Mail International with Guarantee service — which offers a date-certain, postage-refund guarantee — is available only to Australia, China, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Hong Kong, Japan, the Republic of Korea (South Korea), and Spain. Express Mail International is available at designated Postal Service facilities authorized to accept domestic Express Mail.
Any item not prohibited in international mail and Express Mail International may be sent in the Express Mail International flat-rate envelope. Mailers are eligible for the flat-rate envelope price only with the use of a USPS-produced flat-rate envelope. The contents must fit securely in the envelope and be confined within the envelope with the provided adhesive as the means of closure. The envelope flap must be able to close within the prefabricated folds. Tape may be applied to the flap and seams for closure or to reinforce the envelope, provided the design of the envelope is not enlarged by opening the sides of the envelope and taping or reconstructing the envelope in any way. All other Express Mail International standards and customs requirements apply.
Any item not prohibited in international mail is allowed in Express Mail International. Refer to the “Country Conditions for Mailing” in the Individual Country Listings for individual country prohibitions. International postal money orders are admissible in Express Mail International. However, they are only negotiable if the proper form is used. The following items are prohibited in all Express Mail International shipments: coins; banknotes; currency notes, including paper money; securities of any kind payable to bearer; traveler’s checks; platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; watches; and other valuable articles.
Express Mail International items are insured against loss, damage, or rifling at no additional cost. Indemnity will be paid by the U.S. Postal Service as provided in DMM 609 and 503. However, Express Mail International items are not insured against delay in delivery. Indemnity payments will not be made in the event of delay. Postage refunds for delay are considered only for countries with Express Mail International with Guarantee service.
Express Mail International merchandise insurance coverage against loss, damage, or rifling is provided up to $100 at no additional charge. Additional insurance coverage above $100 may be purchased at the sender’s option. The fee for optional Express Mail International merchandise insurance coverage is $0.75 up to $200; $2.10 for $200.01 to $500; and $2.10 plus $1.35 for each $500 or fraction thereof over $500, up to a maximum of $5,000 per shipment, although limits vary by country. See Individual Country Listings for merchandise insurance limits.
When a mailer wants to insure an Express Mail International merchandise shipment in an amount more than $100, the insurance fee is entered in the block marked “Insurance” on the mailing label. Coverage is limited to the actual value of the contents, regardless of the fee paid, or the highest insurance value increment for which the fee is fully paid, whichever is lower. See DMM 503.
Nonnegotiable documents are insured against loss, damage, or rifling at no additional cost to the mailer. Document reconstruction insurance coverage is limited to a maximum of $100 per shipment. Additional coverage beyond the $100 indemnity limit is not available. See DMM 609 and 503.
Note: Express Mail International indemnity payments are subject to the provisions of DMM 609 and 503, and IMM 935. Indemnity payments will not be made in the event of delay. Postage refunds for delay are considered only for countries with Express Mail International with Guarantee service.
Return Receipt service is available for Express Mail International items only to the following countries at no additional charge (see 340 for preparation procedures):
