2009 Holiday Shipping Cut Off Dates

Domestic Mail Class/Product

Cut Off Date

First Class Mail 

Dec-21

Priority Mail 

Dec-21

Express Mail* 

Dec-23

Parcel Post

Dec-16

DBMC Drop Ship

Dec-19

DDU Drop Ship

Dec-23

International Mail**

Express Mail Military APO/FPO**

* Some Express Mail destinations may have extended service commitments

** See additional information

Military Mail Addressed To

Express Mail® Military Service (EMMS)1/

First-Class Mail®           Letters and Cards

Priority Mail®

Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) 2/

Space Available Mail (SAM)3/

Parcel Post®

APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092

Dec-18

Dec-11

Dec-11

Dec-4

Nov-28

Nov-13

APO/FPO AE ZIP 093

N/A

Dec-4

Dec-4

Dec-1

Nov-21

Nov-13

APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098

Dec-18

Dec-11

Dec-11

Dec-4

Nov-28

Nov-13

APO/FPO AA ZIP 340

Dec-18

Dec-11

Dec-11

Dec-4

Nov-28

Nov-13

APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966

Dec-18

Dec-11

Dec-11

Dec-4

Nov-28

Nov-13

1/  EMMS:  is available to selected military post offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service

is available to an APO/FPO address.

2/  PAL:  is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. It is available for Parcel  

Post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee

must be paid in addition to the regular surface rate of postage for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.

3/  SAM:  parcels are paid at Parcel Post postage rate of postage with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds

and 60 inches in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to

overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.

International Mail Addressed To

Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG)4***

Express Mail® International (EMS)5*

Priority Mail® International (PMI)6*

First-Class Mail®

Africa

Dec-18

Dec-12

Dec-4

Dec-4

Asia/Pacific Rim

Dec-18

Dec-17

Dec-11

Dec-11

Australia/New Zealand

Dec-18

Dec-17

Dec-11

Dec-11

Canada

Dec-22

Dec-18

Dec-14

Dec-11

Caribbean

Dec-21

Dec-17

Dec-14

Dec-11

Central & South America

Dec-21

Dec-12

Dec-4

Dec-4

Mexico

Dec-22

Dec-17

Dec-11

Dec-11

Europe

Dec-21

Dec-17

Dec-14

Dec-11

Middle East

Dec-18

Dec-17

Dec-14

Dec-11

***GXG Notes: 1) Cutoff date does not take into account time needed for customs clearance. 2) Should allocate extra transit

day(s) for delivery outside major cities. 3) Last day to ship to Afghanistan and Iraq is Dec 18.

2009 Holiday Season Import Dates*

SURFACE

AIR

EMS

LC/AO

CP

LC/AO

CP

Dec-11

Dec-4

Dec-17

Dec-15

Dec-21

*Provides mailing guidelines for foreign postal partners in order to meet December 25 delivery.

2009 Holiday Season Import Dates

December 4  Last day to send parcel post packages via surface transportation

December 11  Last day to send letters, flats and small packages via surface transportation

December 15  Last day to send parcel post packages via air transportation

December 17  Last day to send letters, flats and small packages via air transportation

December 21  Last day to send Express Mail Service items (any shape)

Mail class by code:

LC = Letters, aerogramme's (USPS no longer offers outbound aerogramme's), cards and letter package

AO = Newspapers, magazines, matter for the blind, printed matter, small package

CP = Priority parcels