📮 USPS International Delivery Times
How long Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International, First-Class Package and letters take, by destination
The short answer: USPS publishes 3–5 business days for Priority Mail Express International and 6–10 business days for Priority Mail International to many major markets. First-Class Package International and letters have no published window, so plan on 1–3 weeks or more. USPS carries your item only as far as the border. After that, the destination post decides the pace.
Check first: USPS suspends acceptance to a changing list of destinations. On October 23, 2026, the list included Afghanistan, Argentina, Cuba, Haiti, Iran and others. See USPS international service alerts before you buy postage.
USPS International Services Compared
| Service | Typical transit | Limits | Tracking | Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) | Not available | Was the fastest USPS option | n/a | Suspended since September 29, 2024 |
| Priority Mail Express International | 3–5 business days to many major markets | 70 lb, lower in some countries | USPS Tracking, limits by destination | Date-certain refund to selected countries |
| Priority Mail International | 6–10 business days to many major markets | 70 lb; Flat Rate 4 or 20 lb | Included, except Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Boxes | None |
| First-Class Package International Service | No published window; plan 1–3+ weeks | 4 lb, $400 value | Limited; delivery confirmation to select destinations online | None |
| First-Class Mail International (letters, postcards) | No published window; plan 1–3 weeks | 3.5 oz letters | None | None |
| Registered Mail (add-on) | Often slower than an ordinary letter | First-Class Mail International | Handoff records and signature | Not a speed service |
3–5 and 6–10 are USPS figures, which it says vary with origin, destination and customs. Others are planning ranges. Sources: USPS Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International, First-Class Package International, First-Class Mail International.
Is Global Express Guaranteed Still Offered?
No. The International Mail Manual says GXG has been suspended since September 29, 2024, and 2026 Federal Register notices still describe it as suspended. We found no notice of its return. For a similar service, use a courier directly: see FedEx, UPS or DHL.
USPS Delivery Time by Destination
Typical planning ranges from the U.S. in business days, including ordinary clearance:
| Destination | Priority Mail Express | Priority Mail | First-Class Package | Letter (calendar days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 3–5 | 6–10 | 7–14 | 7–14 |
| Mexico | 3–7 | 6–12 | 10–20 | 14–28 |
| United Kingdom | 3–7 | 6–10 | 7–14 | 7–14 |
| Ireland | 3–7 | 6–10 | 7–14 | 7–14 |
| Germany, France | 3–7 | 6–10 | 7–14 | 7–16 |
| Japan, South Korea | 3–7 | 6–10 | 7–14 | 7–18 |
| China | 7–14 | 10–20 | 15–30 | 14–28 |
| India | 5–12 | 10–18 | 14–25 | 14–30 |
| Australia | 3–7 | 6–14 | 10–21 | 10–21 |
| Philippines | 5–10 | 10–18 | 14–25 | 14–30 |
| Brazil | 10–20 | 20–45 | 30–60 | 14–35 |
Not USPS commitments. Express and Priority rows assume the service is available to that destination. Use the delivery time estimator for a date.
What Happens at the Handoff to Foreign Posts
USPS takes the item to an international service center, sends it out on a commercial flight and passes it to the destination post. This explains most things people find strange about USPS tracking:
- Tracking goes quiet after export. The next scan may not appear until the destination post receives it, which can take a week or more with no fault.
- The tracking number can change hands. You may get better detail on the destination post's site, such as Royal Mail, Deutsche Post, Japan Post, Canada Post or Australia Post.
- Customs is at the far end. The destination post presents the parcel to customs and normally collects any duty from the recipient, sometimes with a handling fee.
- Final delivery follows local rules. A recipient may need to collect from a post office after a missed delivery, and uncollected items are returned.
What Pushes a USPS Shipment Past Its Estimate
- Customs data problems. Customs information has to be sent electronically. See the customs forms guide, and the CN22 and CN23 guides.
- Duty collection. The EU ended its low-value duty relief, with a temporary per-item duty on parcels up to €150 from July 2026. A parcel can be held until charges are paid. See duties and taxes.
- Transportation gaps. When flights are cut, USPS suspends some services or destinations. The list changes.
- Peak season. December can add one to two weeks.
- Prohibited or restricted contents. Items can be returned or seized. Check USPS prohibited items.
- Addresses. Write the country in English capitals on the last line, and use the local postcode format.
What the USPS Guarantee Covers
Only Priority Mail Express International has one, and only partly. The IMM describes a date-certain, postage-refund guarantee to a short list of 13 countries, including Australia, Canada, China and Japan. It requires paying and mailing at a Post Office location, and refund requests must be made within 30 days of mailing. USPS suspended the guarantee to Great Britain, New Zealand, Sweden, Israel, Singapore and Switzerland in 2021, and its alerts page still shows that as in effect. Priority Mail International has no delivery guarantee.
Insurance is separate. Priority Mail Express International and Priority Mail International include up to $200 for merchandise and up to $100 for reconstructing documents, with some exceptions and country limits. See shipping insurance.
Related guides
For letters, see how long international mail takes. Comparing carriers? Try USPS vs UPS, USPS vs FedEx or USPS vs DHL. For every carrier by route, see how long international shipping takes.