USPS
MILITARY
MAIL GUIDE
Your Step-by-Step Guide on how to
ship packages to Military Mail APO/
FPO/DPO addresses using the USPS.
WHAT IS A MILITARY ADDRESS?
APO: FPO: DPO: MPO:
“Army Post Office” is “Fleet Post Office” is “Diplomatic Post Office” “Military Post Office”
associated with the Army associated with Navy is associated with U.S. provides postal services
or Air Force installations. installations and ships. embassies overseas. for military personnel.
UPS While carriers such as FedEx® and UPS® offer delivery to countries where
cannot
deliver military personnel may be stationed, the USPS is the only carrier that can
deliver mail and packages to APO/FPO/DPO locations.
delivers to
APO/FPO/DPO Due to security restrictions, APOs, FPOs and DPOs cannot accept mail or
locations FedEx packages from any other carrier, except the USPS.
cannot
deliver
HOW TO ADDRESS A SHIPPING LABEL
FOR AN APO/FPO/DPO PACKAGE
2 INCLUDE THE UNIT
AND BOX NUMBER
Army:
Unit [Number] Box [Number]
Air Force:
PSC* [Number] Box [Number]
1 NAME OF THE RECIPIENT
Rank/grade/rating is optional Navy:
Ship [Number] Hull [Number]
for APO or FPO. Do not include 5 ZIP CODE
recipient’s title for DPO. Embassy:
Unit [Number] Box [Number]
3 CITY 4 STATE
APO, FPO or DPO AA (Armed Forces Americas)
AE (Armed Forces Europe)
AP (Armed Forces Pacific)
1 Enter the full name of the addressee. Mail addressed
to ‘Any Service Member’ or similar wording such as ‘Any
CORRECT FORMAT WRONG FORMAT
Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine’ is prohibited. Mail must
CPT John Doe
be addressed to an individual name or job title, such as CPT John Doe
Unit 45013 Box 2666
USAG J Box 2666
‘Sergeant’ or ‘Private First Class.’ USAG J
APO AP 96338
APO AP 96338
2 Enter the unit or Post Office box number.
SFC Jane Doe Camp Victory
1st Cav Div A Co 1st Plt 1st Cav Div A Co 1st
3 Enter the city. The city must be entered as either “APO,” “FPO” Camp Victory SFC Jane Doe
APO AE 09388 APO AE 09388
or “DPO.” Don’t put the name of the actual city.
John Doe John Doe
4 Enter the state. The State must be either “AA” “AE” or “AP.” USS Bainbridge DDG 96 A3 Div
Don’t put the name of actual state or country. A3 Div USS Bainbridge (DDG 96)
FPO AE 09565 FPO AE 09565
5 Enter the zip code. Enter the 5-digit zip code for the military MSG John Doe MSG John Doe
unit. It must start with a 0 or 9. PSC 123 Box 987 PSC 123 & Box 987
APO AE 96601 APO AP 96601
*Postal Service Center
HOW IS MILITARY MAIL PROCESSED?
ATLANTIC OCEAN4 ATLANTIC OCEAN4
SAN FRANCISCO
NEW YORK CITY
MIAMI
3PACIFIC OCEAN
AP (Armed Forces Pacific) AA (Armed Forces Americas) AE (Armed Forces Europe)
mail is routed to San Francisco mail is routed to Miami mail is routed to New York City
Letters and packages addressed to military personnel are first sent to Miami, New York City or San Francisco before being shipped
to their international destinations.
Once the letter or package arrives in its destination country, it is handed over to a Military Postal Service representative who
transports it to the Military Post Office, from where it is distributed to the service member’s unit for delivery to the recipient.
DO I NEED CUSTOMS FORMS? YES.
Since the recipient country may have restrictions on what can be imported, mailpieces addressed to a military destination must
include a properly completed PS Form 2976 or PS Form 2976-A.
Package weighs Package weighs
LESS than 1 lb (16 oz) MORE than 1 lb (16 oz)
Use PS Form 2976 Use PS Form 2976-A
(and Customs Declaration (and Customs
and Dispatch Note – CP 72) Declaration CN 22)
First-Class Letters, Large Envelopes or Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelopes that weigh under 16 ounces DO NOT require Customs Forms.
USPS TRACKING
FOR APO/FPO/DPO ADDRESSES
Delivery tracking information is available for APO/FPO/DPO packages if one of the following services was used to ship the
package (Using the customs declaration form number, buyers and sellers can track the status of their APO/FPO/DPO shipments):
• PRIORITY MAIL EXPRESS®
• PRIORITY MAIL®
• INSURANCE
• REGISTERED MAIL
• CERTIFIED MAIL
• USPS TRACKING™
• RETURN RECEIPT
• FIRST-CLASS PACKAGE SERVICE
MISSING A PACKAGE?
If tracking isn't available and you need to track your package, first determine whether or not your mailpiece has left the
jurisdiction of the USPS:
• If your mailpiece is still with the USPS, file a case with the USPS here.
• If not, your mailpiece would have been handed over to the Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA). File a case here
or write to: Deputy Director, Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA), 2900 Crystal Dr Ste 410, Arlington, VA 22202-3557
ESTIMATED DELIVERY TIMES
The transit time for sending mail and packages to military addresses varies by destination and mail class. See the table below for
delivery time estimates:
MAIL CLASS
Priority Mail /
First 3 digits Priority Mail
Destination State First-Class Mail Parcel Select
of zip code Express
Package Service
090-092 and
Europe/Atlantic AE 3 days 7 to 9 days 30 to 45 days
094-099
Iraq/Afghanistan/
AE 093 Not available 7 to 13 days 20 to 24 days
Middle East
Japan/Korea/Pacific
AP 962-966 3 days 7 to 9 days 30 to 45 days
Islands/Far East
Central America/South
AA 340 Not available 7 to 9 days 18 to 21 days
America/Caribbean
USPS PRICING
FOR APO/FPO/DPO PACKAGES
ALWAYS PAY DOMESTIC POSTAGE RATES FOR MILITARY MAIL!
When sending packages to military destinations, you will always pay the same for postage as though your package
was being shipped domestically.
DISCOUNTS FOR LARGE FLAT-RATE PRIORITY MAIL BOXES
There is one exception – Large Flat-Rate Priority Mail boxes labeled for an APO/FPO/
DPO destination cost $13.80 if sent via an online postage provider, such as Stamps.com,
compared to $15.80 for a regular Large Flat Rate Priority Mail box. That’s nearly a $2
discount for APO/FPO/DPO packages!
2014 DISCOUNTED RATES FOR APO/FPO/DPO PACKAGES
Post Office/ Stamps.com/
Priority Mail
Retail Postage Rates Online Postage Rates
Large Flat Rate Boxes $17.90 $15.80
APO/FPO/DPO Large Flat Rate Boxes $15.90 $13.80
SAVINGS $2.00 $2.00
THE USPS PROVIDES DOMESTIC LEVEL
OF SERVICE TO MILITARY PERSONNEL.
Per a 1959 Interagency Agreement executed between the Department of Defense
and the Post Office Department, the USPS is required to provide continued mail
service to military personnel and their families worldwide. According to this
agreement, the level of service provided to these overseas customers needs to be
the same as though they were living in the U.S., which is why the price of Military
Mail postage is always the same as that of domestic postage. Even though these
customers reside in foreign countries, APO/FPO/DPO addresses are not considered
international addresses by the USPS.
APO/FPO/DPO mail will be delivered to military personnel across the globe as long
as the military service member has an assigned ZIP code, also referred to as an
APO/FPO/DPO number.
PRODUCT RESTRICTIONS
FOR MILITARY PACKAGES
CERTAIN PRODUCTS ARE PROHIBITED FROM BEING SHIPPED TO
MILITARY DESTINATIONS, SUCH AS:
GPS hardware and software Major appliances and oversized products
Mobile phones Obscene articles
Any matter depicting nude or seminude persons,
Family Radio Service (FRS) radios pornographic or sexual items, or non-authorized
political materials
Bulk quantities of religious materials contrary
Cordless phones to the Islamic faith (items for the personal use
of the addressee are permissible)
FM transmitters Pork or pork by-products
APO/FPO/DPO SHIPPING TIPS
INCLUDE A COPY OF USE A STURDY BOX. CHECK FOR WEIGHT ADD CUSHION.
THE MAILING ADDRESS. Use a box constructed to DISTRIBUTION. If any portion of the box
Always place the mailing conform to the contents If shipping multiple looks like it is sagging or
address inside the you are sending. items, place them in can be easily depressed,
package on a separate a way that the weight add packing material on
piece of paper. is evenly distributed the inside.
throughout the box.
USE TAPE, NOT STRING. SCRATCH OUT USE SEALABLE OR HOW TO SHIP LIQUIDS?
Only use packaging tape EXTRA MARKINGS. PLASTIC BAGS. When mailing liquids,
for wrapping the outside To avoid your package Enclose all personal ensure they are properly
of the box. Never wrap being sent to an incorrect hygiene items — such packaged. Limit the
with string. destination, always as deodorant, lotion, quantity, use a leak-proof
cross out or cover excess or shampoo — in a container, and wrap the
markings or printing. sealable bag. Also, place articles in an absorbent
all perishable items such material between
as cookies and chips in a the inner and outer
plastic container. containers.
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