📋 The CN22 Customs Form

What it is, when to use it, and exactly how to fill it out — with a worked example

CN22 in one paragraph

The CN22 is the small green customs declaration sticker for low-value international parcels sent by post. It is a Universal Postal Union form used worldwide; in the U.S. it is printed as USPS Form PS 2976. Use it for items up to about $400 in value and under 4 lb (≈2 kg). Above either limit you need the larger CN23 instead. It is free — you do not buy a CN22.

When Do You Use a CN22?

Use CN22 when…

  • Total declared value is under ~$400 USD
  • The parcel weighs under 4 lb (about 2 kg)
  • You're sending a gift, documents, or a small merchandise item
  • You're using a postal service (USPS and other posts)

Use CN23 instead when…

  • Value is over ~$400 USD
  • Weight is over 4 lb
  • You're sending Priority Mail Express International
  • The destination or carrier requires the detailed form

How to Fill Out a CN22 — Line by Line

  1. Tick the category. Choose one: Gift, Documents, Commercial sample, Returned goods, Sale of goods, or Other. This box drives how the destination assesses duty, so be honest — a sold item marked "gift" is a false declaration.
  2. Describe the contents specifically. "Men's cotton T-shirt," not "clothing." "Stainless steel wristwatch," not "gift." List each distinct item on its own line.
  3. Quantity. How many of each item.
  4. Net weight. The weight of the contents (kg), per line where space allows.
  5. Value. The actual value of the goods in the stated currency — not the postage you paid. See the next section on what value to enter.
  6. HS tariff number & country of origin (if shown). Optional on CN22 but speeds clearance; origin is usually "USA" for U.S.-made goods.
  7. Sign and date in ink. An unsigned declaration can be rejected. Write in block capitals in black or blue ink.

What value do I put on a CN22? Enter the genuine retail value of the goods themselves. For a gift, use a fair market value (what it would cost to buy). For something you sold, use the price the buyer paid. If an item was free — a warranty replacement or a membership perk — you still declare its market value and may note "no commercial value / replacement" in the description. Do not write $0 to dodge duty; customs can re-value it and hold the parcel.

Worked Example

A gift parcel from the U.S. to a friend in Germany containing a paperback book and a coffee mug:

FieldWhat to write
Category☑ Gift
Description & quantity1 × paperback book (fiction); 1 × ceramic coffee mug
Net weight0.4 kg book; 0.3 kg mug
Value$12 book; $15 mug
Total value$27 USD
Country of originUSA
Signature & dateSigned in ink, dated

Because Germany charges VAT from the first euro, this gift may still attract a small handling and VAT charge on arrival — the CN22 is what the carrier and customs use to calculate it. See the duties and taxes guide for how that adds up.

Where to Get a CN22 Form

Related guides

Sending something heavier or worth more than $400? Use the CN23 form instead. Want the difference between the two on one page, plus the commercial invoice? See the full customs forms guide. Worried about what arrives owing? Read duties, taxes & landed cost.

CN23 Form Guide All Customs Forms