Priority Mail International

What is the one thing more challenging than sending postal mail for your business? It is sending postal mail to international addresses. It is already hard enough to send postal mail within the US, let alone send them to international addresses.

However, Priority International Mail services from USPS could help put your mind at ease about international mail. Below we discuss the different international mail options you can access from USPS and how to use them cost-effectively.

Suppose you are looking for a faster way to send international mail. In that case, Priority Mail Express International is the best solution for you. USPS’s Priority Mail Express service is a high-speed mail service that lets your business send printed materials and packages.

Many new businesses to postal mail communication often confuse Priority Mail International with Priority Mail Express service. This confusion is understandable, considering how both sound so similar. But, now you know better, and you don’t have to make the same mistakes with your company.

Like the USPS Priority Mail International service, the express service also delivers to over 190 countries – no surprises there. The more important question to ask here is the delivery time for USPS’s Priority Mail Express service.

How Long Does International Priority Mail Take To Deliver?

USPS’s Priority Mail Express service is perfect for businesses and individuals looking for a faster way to deliver international mail. USPS only takes 3 to 5 business days to deliver your international mail.

Compared to the 6 to 10 business days delivery time of standard priority mail service, Express Mail significantly speeds up delivery. However, the average delivery time of Priority Mail Express International can vary based on the mailer’s origin and destination.

Features of USPS Priority Mail Express International

Above, we discussed the Priority Mail Express International service from USPS and its differences from the standard Priority Mail International service. The Priority Mail Express service has all the standard features you get in a Priority Mail International service with some added benefits.

The attractive features offered by USPS’s Priority Mail Express International service are Listed below.

Faster International Delivery Time

USPS already offers a reasonable delivery time with their standard Priority Mail International service, which roughly takes 6 to 10 business days. But with the Express service, you get even faster delivery times with an average delivery time of 3 to 5 business days.

Money-Back Guarantee

Yes, you heard us right! USPS provides a money-back guarantee for their Priority Mail Express International service. Before getting too excited, you should note that the money-back guarantee only applies to select destinations. You can get a list of countries eligible for the money-back guarantee from here.

Free Package Pickup 

The Express International service also offers a free package pickup service. You can access USPS’s Free Package Pickup service from your home or office address. So, even for small businesses working out of the garage right now, you can still get your packages picked up by USPS.

USPS Tracking

Another significant feature you get with Priority Mail Express International service is USPS tracking. You get the same feature with the standard Priority Mail International service. Nonetheless, you can track the whereabouts of your postal mail with the help of advanced USPS tracking.

Insurance

The insurance you get with the USPS Priority Mail Express service is the same as the standard Priority Mail International. As discussed above, the standard insurance coverage for international mail is $100.

Priority Mail Express International service also gives you $200 coverage for loss/damage of merchandise and missing content. However, there are certain limitations to the coverage, and you can find the details regarding the insurance limitations here.

Dimensional Requirement of USPS Priority Mail Express International

As you can imagine, aligning with the USPS’s dimensional standards is a must if you want a flawless delivery process. Just like with the dimensional requirements we discussed for standard Priority Mail International service, you need to consider three significant dimensional aspects.

• Weight
• Size
• Shape

Furthermore, the dimensional requirement changes with the type of Priority Mail Express International service you use. And business organizations need to consider these dimensions for Priority Mail Express services that use

• Mailing Boxes
• Flat Rate Envelopes

Maximum Weight

Priority Mail Express International Service	Maximum Weight
Mailing Boxes	70 lbs
Flat Rate Envelopes	4 lbs

Maximum Combined Length and Girth

USPS also considers the combined length and girth of the package you send. Girth, as per USPS, is the measurement of the thickest part of your package. Your postal package’s maximum combined length and girth should not exceed 108″.

Dimensional Integrity Of The Box

The dimensional integrity of the box matters significantly for a Priority Mail Express International package. It means you should be able to enclose the package without compromising the usual folds of the box. 

Things To Note

The Express Mail International service may have additional weight restrictions in other countries. Hence, you should check the weight restriction of specific countries even if you are using a Priority Express Mail service for your international mailers. 

Priority Mail Express International Flat Rate Product Prices

As you are well aware, the Priority Mail Express International service price can vary based on its dimensions. Unless, of course, you are using a flat rate product from USPS. Companies usually tend to use flat rate products as they are easier for communication and accounting purposes.

The prices and weight limit of sending international mailers using Priority Express flat rate products are Listed below.

Priority Mail Express International Flat Rate Product	Maximum Weight	Minimum Shipping Price (Commercial)	Minimum Shipping Price (Post Office & Online)
Flat Rate Envelope	12 1/2″ x 9 1/2″	$44.95	$47.95
Legal Flat Rate Envelope	15″ x 9 1/2″
Padded Flat Rate Envelope	12 1/2″ x 9 1/2″

 As you can see, the flat rate products all have the same properties regarding weight and price. However, the dimensional measurements of the flat rate envelopes can vary depending on the type of Priority Mail Express International flat rate product you use.

One thing that makes USPS the ideal choice for sending business correspondence to international addresses is its cost-efficient service. Many of you may not know this, but USPS offers special international mailing services to business organizations.

USPS offers several services specially made for business shipping. What does it mean for your business organization? You can send USPS Priority Mail International at an even more affordable price. Some of the significant highlights of USPS international business shipping are listed below.

Global Shipping Software

USPS provides businesses with Global Shipping Software for guiding their customers through the international shipping process. It includes shipping guides on creating mailing labels, customs forms, etc.

The software also helps you calculate postage rates, assign tracking numbers, and more. It significantly improves your company’s ability to use USPS Priority Mail International service more efficiently than a manual process. However, it is still subpar compared to fully automated direct mail software like PostGrid.

International Bulk & Package Services

As far as a business organization is concerned, nothing can make direct mail more convenient than bulk mailing capabilities. Luckily for businesses such as yours, USPS offers bulk mailing services that help you bring down your expenses. USPS provides international bulk mailing services for businesses.

• International Priority Airmail
• International Surface Airlift
• Airmail M-Bags

However, USPS can not do much when printing and managing your bulk mail. Hence, your best choice for sending Priority International Mail is to use an advanced direct mail system like PostGrid.

Pricing & Export Agreements

We know that pricing is one of the most important things to a company that wants to send international mail, and so does USPS. USPS provides reduced prices and even free packaging to help businesses as much as they can on their direct mail expenses.

Global Expedited Package Service Agreements

Companies can save on Priority International Mail if their annual spending on shipping is $200,000 or more. If your company meets this requirement, you are qualified for Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail International services.

Commercial Plus Pricing

To qualify for Commercial Plus pricing, your company must spend at least $100,000 on specific USPS services every year. The services that are eligible for commercial pricing are:

• Global Express Guaranteed
• Priority Mail Express International
• Priority Mail International
• First-Class Package International Service

Business organizations with clientele and partners across the globe can significantly benefit from USPS’s Priority International Mail services. USPS is the clear choice for sending business correspondence via mail with commercial pricing and other features.

However, USPS has its limitations, and sending international mail, especially in bulk, is highly challenging. The best way to optimize your business’s direct mail communication is to use an automated direct mail solution like PostGrid.

An automated solution like PostGrid ensures accurate printing and delivery of your international mail. Furthermore, PostGrid uses USPS as its delivery partner. In other words, you can use PostGrid to streamline your direct mail process and still get the lower bulk mailing prices offered by USPS.