Letter-post is the most economical method of sending personal and business correspondence to the United States and international destinations. Letter-post items are composed of paper or other material with the general characteristics of paper (e.g., tickets, photographs, etc.). These items must meet the requirements for Letter-post, including size and weight.
Letter-post must be posted in Canada for delivery outside of Canada. Letter-post items can include:
letters
self-mailers
cards
postcards
other paper that meet these specifications which the Customer chooses to deposit.
Standard letters, cards or postcards that weigh 50 g or less, and that meet the criteria for standard letters, cards or postcards as outlined in this chapter, are mailed at Letter-post prices.
Other Letter-post differs from standard Letter-post only in terms of weight or size. Items over 50 g and up to 500 g, or items with any dimension over the maximum dimensions of standard items are considered Other Letter-post.
A self-mailer is any item other than a postcard, magazine or catalogue that does not have an outer cover, wrapping or envelope (other than the paper or material it has been written on), and weighs up to 50 g.
Unacceptable Items
The following items may not be sent as U.S.A. and International Letter-post:
small packets
goods
film, audio or video recording (diskettes, CD, DVD)
unsealed self-mailers and envelopes
items that do not meet the specifications for U.S.A. and International Letter-post
items prohibited by law or defined as dangerous goods in Canada. Go to Section B Chapter 7, Non-mailable Matter.
items prohibited by law or defined as dangerous goods in the destination country. Go to Section H, International Destination Listing.
NOTE:
Transparent envelopes cannot be sent to the U.S.A.
The following items are unacceptable when attached to a postcard:
photographs
samples of merchandise or similar articles
cloth, embroidery, spangles or other decorative articles
cuttings of any kind
fold-back sheets
other items that stick out or are in raised relief.
Enclosures
Only paper enclosures which meet the requirements for U.S.A. and International Letter-post are acceptable.
Size and Weight
CATEGORY
LENGTH
WIDTH
THICKNESS
WEIGHT
Standard
Letters
max.
245 mm
150 mm
5 mm
50 g
min.
140 mm
90 mm
0.18 mm
–
Cards or Postcards
max.
235 mm
120 mm
N/A
50 g
min.
140 mm
90 mm
0.18 mm
–
Other Letter-post
max.
380 mm
270 mm
20 mm
500 g
min.
140 mm
90 mm
0.18 mm
–
Payment Options
Proofs of Payment
The following proofs of payment are acceptable for Letter-post items. Some restrictions or conditions may apply.
COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS
CONSUMER CUSTOMERS
•
Meter impression
•
Postage stamp*
•
Postal indicia
•
Meter Impression
•
Postage stamp
*A postage stamp cannot be applied to a Letter-post item ordered through the Electronic Shipping Tools.
Methods of Payment
The following methods of payment are acceptable for Letter-post items. Some restrictions or conditions may apply.
COMMERCIAL CUSTOMERS
CONSUMER CUSTOMERS
•
Account
•
Business cheque
•
Cash*
•
Credit card (where available)
•
Debit card (where available)*
•
Meter
•
Money Order*
•
Postage stamp**
•
Traveller’s cheque*
•
Cash
•
Certified cheque
•
Credit card (where available)
•
Debit card (where available)
•
International Reply Coupon
•
Meter
•
Money Order
•
Postage stamp
•
Traveller’s cheque
*Payment by cash, debit card, Money Order or traveller’s cheque is available only to Customers paying at a postal outlet.
**Customers using the Electronic Shipping Tools cannot pay by postage stamp.
Canada Post does not provide service standards for U.S.A. and International Letter-post.
Features
A feature is provided automatically as part of the basic service.
Return to Sender
All items that cannot be delivered or redirected will be returned to sender free of charge, provided there is a Canadian return address on the outside of the mail item.
Redirection
All items will be redirected to the addressee based on the practices and requirements of the destination country’s postal administration.
Options
An option is a service enhancement which is not provided automatically as part of the basic service.
Registered Mail (Air only)
Registered Mail provides the sender with a mailing receipt and secures the signature of the addressee, a print of the signature and the date upon delivery of the item. Coverage for loss or damage is available. For detailed information, Go to Section D Chapter 10, Registered Mail – U.S.A. and International.
Literature for the Blind
Materials for the use of the blind mailed in Canada for delivery to the U.S.A. or other international destinations may be sent free of charge. Go to Section E Chapter 9, Literature for the Blind.
Labels and Documentation Required
Commercial Customers may prepare an Order (Statement of Mailing) electronically, using the Electronic Shipping Tools software, or manually, using a hard copy Order (Statement of Mailing) (40-076-705). A processing fee applies to all manually-prepared Orders (Statements of Mailing).
Two paper copies of the electronic Order, or the original hard copy Order (Statement of Mailing), must be given at the time of mailing to an authorized Canada Post employee at the Receipt Verification Unit (RVU) or at the postal facility approved by Canada Post.
Format
All letters, cards and postcards must be rectangular and all envelopes including self-mailers, must be fully sealed. In order to meet this requirement, irregularly shaped cards or postcards must be sent in a sealed, rectangular envelope.
All letters and postcards must bear the words AIR MAIL and PAR AVION in black or blue on the address side of the item, in the upper left-hand corner, under the return address (when provided). The words AIR MAIL and PAR AVION can also be printed on a black or blue label, affixed in the same location.
The maximum length to height ratio of letters, cards and postcards is 2.6 : 1. The minimum is 1.3 : 1 to the U.S.A. and 1.4 : 1 to other international destinations. Items paid by postage stamps that do not meet the ratio but fall within maximum standard sizes are charged at the standard Letter-post price.
Transparentenvelopes can be mailed to all international destinations, except the U.S.A. If the plastic is such that it cannot be written upon, the plastic film must have a 20 mm-wide white opaque band, large enough to hold the mailing address, postage and service instructions. If the closed transparent material can be written upon, a sample of the envelope must be submitted for testing and approval by Canada Post.
Window envelopes are acceptable only if the window has a transparent cover parallel to the length of the envelope and the mailing address, which must be easily read, and not interfere with the date-stamping process.
Postcards may have an illustration, stamp, label or address slip attached, provided it is made of paper, is very thin, and sticks completely to the postcard. These items must be stuck to either the front of the postcard or the left-hand portion of the back. The right-hand half of the back must be used for the addressee, service instructions and postage. The words Postcard or Carte postale must appear on the address side of all postcards (except on illustrated and picture postcards).
All items containing paper documents of value less than $500 require a completed green CN22 Customs sticker label (43-074-076).
All items containing paper documents of $500 or more require a completed green CN22 Customs sticker label (43-074-076) and a completed Customs Declaration form CP72 (43-074-172).
Mail Presortation
There are no mail presortation requirements for U.S.A. and International Letter-post.
Deposit of U.S.A. and International Letter-post
Postage for U.S.A. and International Letter-post, either a stamp or meter impression, can be purchased at any postal outlet. If postage is affixed to the item, it may be deposited in a street letter box, at any postal outlet, or at a processing plant. Items paid by Account must be dropped off at a postal counter, facility or processing plant.
Delivery of U.S.A and International Letter-post
Canada Post transfers U.S.A. and International Letter-post items to transfer points for delivery by the postal administration of the destination country.