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International Mail (CBP Shipment Type)

Last updated 23 July 2026

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This article is part of the Shipment Release Types Guide
A typical International Mail shipment

International Mail is a U.S. Shipment Type used for mail moving under postal authority from a foreign postal operator to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The key requirement is that the goods remain in the postal stream from the foreign postal operator to USPS.

A movement from Canada Post, Royal Mail, or another foreign postal operator directly to USPS may qualify as International Mail. Commercial freight, courier parcels, private parcel-network freight, or other goods that are not being tendered to USPS as mail must be cleared using the appropriate commercial process, such as PAPS, Section 321, or another CBP shipment type.

International Mail may include letter-class mail, postal parcels, and other mail articles moving under postal documentation and postal customs procedures.

What qualifies

International Mail may include letter-class mail, correspondence, and postal parcels moving under postal customs procedures. CBP's mail importation regulations are found in 19 CFR Part 145, which covers mail importations, mail customs procedures, restricted and prohibited merchandise, exportation by mail, and mandatory advance electronic data for mail shipments.[1]

For highway carriers, the practical test is not whether the load contains only letters. The practical test is whether the load is genuine international mail moving from a foreign postal operator to USPS under postal dispatch, tender, or mail-transfer documentation.

If the load has been removed from the postal stream or is being handled as ordinary commercial freight, it should not be treated as International Mail for ACE eManifest purposes. In that case, the carrier should confirm whether the shipment should move as PAPS, Section 321, in-bond, or another applicable ACE shipment type.

Postal data requirements

USPS must provide Advance Electronic Data (AED) to CBP for inbound international mail shipments, and CBP's postal data guidance states that AED includes information about the shipper, recipient, and shipment contents.[2] CBP explains that AED may be provided through the ITMATT message received from the origin post, which corresponds to the customs declaration and satisfies import requirements.[2]

AED is required for inbound international mail shipments containing Express Mail Service (EMS), parcel post, and letter-class mail containing goods.[2] Required AED elements may include sender and recipient information, content description, quantity, weight, item ID, declared value, and designated operator.[2]

For carriers, this means the customs data for genuine postal mail is normally handled through the postal data process between USPS, the foreign postal operator, and CBP. The highway carrier should not create ordinary ACE shipment bills for qualifying International Mail just to represent the postal contents in ACE.

Merchandise in mail

Postal mail can include merchandise parcels, but those parcels still need the required postal customs declarations and may be examined or assessed by CBP under the mail importation rules.[1] USPS guidance lists international customs forms including PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration (UPU Form CN 22), and PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note (CP 72).[3]

This is different from a truckload of ordinary parcels or freight. If the carrier is moving commercial shipments outside the USPS postal process, each shipment should be handled under the correct commercial entry or release process instead of International Mail.

International Mail and ACE eManifest

ACE eManifest does not provide a separate electronic shipment release type for International Mail in the same way it does for common commercial shipment types. A highway carrier transporting qualifying International Mail should leave the mail off the ACE eManifest shipment list and have the driver verbally declare it to the CBP officer at the port.

The driver should be prepared to present:

  • postal tender or dispatch paperwork;
  • documentation supplied by the foreign postal operator, USPS, or contract authority;
  • a clear explanation that the load is international mail moving to USPS;
  • any trip, dispatch, receptacle, or mail-transfer information supplied for the movement; and
  • any additional documents requested by the officer.

Do not create a PAPS, Section 321, or other ACE shipment record only to force International Mail onto the manifest. Use those shipment types only when the goods actually qualify for that process.

BorderConnect workflow

In BorderConnect, qualifying International Mail is generally handled by creating the ACE trip or conveyance information without adding the mail as a regular ACE shipment. The mail should remain supported by the postal paperwork and driver declaration at the port.

  1. Start a new ACE eManifest in BorderConnect.
  2. Enter the trip, truck, trailer, driver, and port information.
  3. Do not create a PAPS, Section 321, or other ACE shipment bill for qualifying International Mail.
  4. If International Mail is the only cargo, save and transmit the trip without shipment bills if required by the port or carrier procedure.
  5. If the truck also contains commercial freight, create the appropriate ACE shipment records for the commercial freight only.
  6. Make sure the driver has postal tender, dispatch, or USPS documentation before arriving at the border.
  7. Instruct the driver to verbally declare the International Mail to CBP at the port.

If the mail movement has been removed from postal control or is no longer being tendered to USPS as mail, do not use the International Mail handling process. Confirm the correct ACE shipment type with the customer, broker, postal operator, USPS contact, or CBP.

At the border

CBP may examine international mail and enforce admissibility rules for restricted or prohibited items under the mail importation regulations.[1] The driver should follow the carrier's postal-contract instructions and the directions of the CBP officer at the port.

If there is any doubt about whether a load is postal mail or commercial freight, confirm the handling instructions with the postal operator, USPS contact, broker, or CBP before arrival. The difference matters because postal mail is supported by postal data and postal customs procedures, while commercial freight normally requires the appropriate ACE shipment record and release process.

Common mistakes

  • Creating a PAPS shipment for mail that is still moving under postal authority to USPS.
  • Creating Section 321 shipments for postal parcels that are already moving in the international mail stream.
  • Treating courier parcels or private parcel-network freight as International Mail.
  • Sending the driver without postal tender, dispatch, or USPS documentation.
  • Assuming all small parcels are International Mail.
  • Leaving commercial freight off the ACE eManifest because it is moving on the same truck as mail.
  • Failing to confirm the handling process when the load has been transferred out of the postal stream.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 19 CFR Part 145: Mail Importations
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 CBP: Postal Data Requirements Slick Sheet
  3. ↑ USPS International Mail Manual: Customs Forms and Online Shipping Labels
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