Customs Forms for U.S. Postal Service Mailings
CSU departments are responsible for completing customs forms for their US Postal Service shipments. The information
needed to properly prepare your international mail is contained in the follow links, including tables indicating which form to
use and instructions on how to complete them. For questions not covered in these documents, please call Mail Service at
491-6529.
There are two types of US postal customs forms:


a single green sticker with a detachable white stub (2976)
a six-part white form (2976-A) that slips into a clear adhesive envelope (2976-E)
Postal customs forms are currently used on three groups of mail destinations: International mail, Military Mail, and the US
possessions of Guam, Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. Customers must complete the
appropriate form prior to submitting their mail piece to Mail Service for processing. Items with incorrect or incomplete
customs forms will be returned to the sending department.
*Packages with customs forms cannot be dropped in a blue USPS collection box.
Customs Form Usage Requirements
Mail Classification &
Item Type
Declared value, weight,
or physical
characteristic
Required PS
Form
Comment
All Items
All values
6182
PS Form 6182, Commercial Invoice, is required for certain
commodities and destinations. For determination, please call
Mail Service at 1-6529.
Express Mail International
All items
All values
2976 or 2976–A
Required customs forms and endorsements vary by country.
Please call Mail Service at 1-6529 to determine the appropriate
form for your shipment.
Global Express Guaranteed
Priority Mail International Items EXCEPT Flat-Rate Envelope and Small Flat-Rate Box
All Priority Mail International
items EXCEPT the flat-rate
envelope and Small flat-rate
box.
All values
2976–A
Except for the Priority Mail International flat-rate envelope and
small flat-rate box, all items mailed in USPS-produced Priority
Mail International packaging or any other container/packaging
bearing a Priority Mail sticker or marked with the words “Priority
Mail” are considered to be within the scope of this requirement.
Priority Mail International Flat-Rate Envelope (Maximum weight limit: 4 pounds)
All Priority Mail International
flat-rate envelopes containing
ONLY documents.
All Priority Mail International
flat-rate envelopes containing
potentially dutiable contents,
regardless of weight.
Under 16 ounces, no more than
¾ inch thick AND uniformly
thick.
None*
Items must meet all 3 physical requirements of weight,
thickness and uniformity.
16 ounces or more, more than
¾ inch thick OR not uniformly
thick.
$400 or less
2976
Items not meeting all 3 physical requirements of weight,
thickness or uniformity must be accompanied by customs form
2976.
Merchandise is permitted unless prohibited by the destination
country.
Over $400
Prohibited
2976
Items over $400 must be mailed using Global Express
Guaranteed service, Express Mail International service or
Priority Mail International service (other than flat-rate envelope
or small flat-rate box).
Priority Mail International Small Flat-Rate Box (Maximum weight limit: 4 pounds)
All Priority Mail International
small flat-rate boxes, regardless of contents.
$400 or less
2976
Merchandise is permitted unless prohibited by the destination
country.
Over $400
Prohibited
Items over $400 must be mailed using Global Express
Guaranteed service, Express Mail International service, or
Priority Mail International service (other than the flat-rate
envelope or small flat-rate box).
First-Class Mail International Letters and Large Envelopes -Flats (Maximum weight limit: 4 pounds)
All letter-size and flat-size
items containing ONLY
documents.
Under 16 ounces
None*
16 ounces or more
2976
All items containing potentially
dutiable contents, regardless of
weight.
$400 or less
2976
Merchandise is permitted unless prohibited by the destination
country.
Over $400
Prohibited
Items over $400 must be mailed using Global Express
Guaranteed service, Express Mail International service, or
Priority Mail International service (other than the flat-rate
envelope or small flat-rate box).
First-Class Mail International Packages and Small Packets (Maximum weight limit: 4 pounds)
All First-Class Mail
International packages and
small packets, regardless of
weight.
$400 or less
2976
Merchandise is permitted unless prohibited by the destination
country.
Over $400
Prohibited
Items over $400 must be mailed using Global Express
Guaranteed service, Express Mail International service, or
Priority Mail International service (other than the flat-rate
envelope or small flat-rate box).
Free Matter for the Blind or Other Physically Handicapped Persons
All items
Follow above requirements for
relevant mail category,
as appropriate.
Follow above
requirements
for relevant
mail category,
as appropriate.
Free matter for the blind or other physically handicapped
persons requires a customs form for all articles.
M-bags (Airmail, IPA Service, and ISAL Service)
All M-bags
$400 or less
2976
A fully completed PS Form 2976 must to be affixed to PS Tag
158, M-bag Addressee Tag. Content Restrictions: direct sacks
Over $400
Prohibited
of printed matter to a single foreign addressee, including
newspapers, magazines, journals, books, sheet music,
catalogues, directories, commercial advertising, and
promotional matter
Military Mail (APO,FPO), DPO, Guam, Palau, Fed States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands (zips starting with 969)
All items
Under 16 ounces
None
Over 16 ounces
2976 or 2976-A
Required customs forms and endorsements vary by destination.
Please call Mail Service at 1-6529 to determine the appropriate
form for your shipment.
* Qualifying items must be uniformly thick. First-Class Mail International items claimed at the package price, or Priority Mail International flat-rate
envelopes that are not uniformly thick must always use PS Form 2976.
A customs form is not required on the following categories of mail: Non-dutiable First-Class Mail items weighing less than
16 ounces.
Instructions for Preparation of PS Form 2976 Green Label
The sending department must complete PS Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN 22 - Sender's Declaration (green label).
This form must be completed in English.
a. Check the appropriate box to indicate whether the package contains a gift, documents, commercial samples, or
other items.
b. In block (1), provide a detailed description, in English, of each article and the quantity for each article. General
descriptions such as "food," "medicine," "gifts," or "clothing" are not acceptable. In addition to the English text, a
translation in another language is permitted. If you are shipping documents, you enter “Educational Materials” or
“Business Papers” for the description.
c. In block (2), give the weight of each article in pounds and ounces, if known.
d. In block (3), declare the value of each article in U.S. dollars. If no value, please enter NCV or Zero.
Note: The sender may declare that the contents have no value. However, declaring that the contents have no
value does not exempt an item from customs examination or charges in the destination country.
e. In blocks (4) and (5) are only for commercial items (i.e., any goods exported/imported in the course of a business
transaction, whether or not they are sold for money or exchanged). This will be left blank in most cases.
f. In block (6), give the total weight of the item, if known. Mail Service will complete block 6 if the total weight is not
know.
g. In block (7), give the total value of the item in U.S. dollars. If no value, please enter NCV or Zero.
h. In block (8), sign and date in the blocks indicated on the left side and the right side of the form. The sender's
signature certifies that all entries are correct and that the item contains no dangerous article prohibited by postal
or customs regulations
i. Enter the sender's full name and address and the addressee's full name and address in the blocks indicated on
the white portion of the form.
j. Affix the form to the address side of the item and present the item for mailing.
Instructions for Preparation of PS Form 2976-A White Form
The sending department must complete PS Form 2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note - CP 72 (white form).
Print in English and press hard, as this is a multi-part form.
a. Enter the sender's full name and address and the addressee's full name and address in the blocks indicated.
b. Sender’s Customs, Importer’s Reference and SDR Value can be left blank. If you are insuring your item,
please enter the insured amount in US dollars and a bold “V” in the Insured Number space. Please note, all
insured packages to international destinations must be sent via Priority Mail International. Please call Mail
Service to ensure your destination country will accept insured mail items.
c. In block (1), provide a detailed description, in English, of each article. General descriptions such as "food,"
"medicine," "gifts," or "clothing" are not acceptable. If you are shipping documents, you enter “Educational
Materials” or “Business Papers” for the description. In addition to the English text, a translation in another
language is permitted. If there is insufficient space on the form to list all contents, use a second form (and
subsequent forms, if necessary) to continue listing the contents and indicate on the first form that the contents are
continued on a subsequent form(s). Place the form(s) into PS Form 2976-E (plastic envelope).
d. In block (2), enter the quantity of each article.
e. In block (3), enter the net weight of each article in pounds and ounces, if known.
f. In block (4), enter the total weight of the package in pounds and ounces, if known. Mail Service will complete
block 4 if the total weight is not know.
g. In blocks (5) and (6), enter the value for each article and the total in U.S. dollars. If no value, enter NCV or
Zero.
Note: The sender may declare that the contents have no value. However, declaring that the contents
have no value does not exempt an item from customs examination or charges in the destination country.
h. Blocks (7) and (8) are to be completed only when sending commercial items (i.e., any goods exported/imported
in the course of a business transaction whether or not they are sold for money or exchanged). This will be left
blank in most cases.
i. Block (9) will be completed by Mail Service.
j. In block (10), check the appropriate box for type of service.
k. In block (11), check the appropriate box to indicate whether the package contains a gift, documents,
commercial samples, or other items.
l. In block (12), provide details if the contents are subject to quarantine (plant, food products, etc.) or other
restrictions. Please call Mail Service at 491-6529 for specific restrictions to the country of destination.
m. Complete blocks (13), (14), and (15) only if the item is accompanied by a license, certificate, or an invoice.
This will be left blank in most cases.
n. In block (16), sign and date the form. The sender's signature certifies that all entries are correct and that the
item contains no dangerous article prohibited by postal or customs regulations.
o. In block (17), provide disposal instructions in the event that a package cannot be delivered. Check the
appropriate box to indicate whether the parcel is to be returned, treated as abandoned, or forwarded to an
alternate address. Undeliverable parcels returned to the sender are, upon delivery, subject to collection of return
postage and any other charges assessed by the foreign postal authorities. If unwilling to pay return postage,
check the box "Treat as Abandoned."
p. Affix PS Form 2976-A according to the class of mail, as follows:
(1) For parcel post complete PS Form 2976-A and place the form set inside PS Form 2976-E (plastic
envelope) and affix it to the outside of the package.
(2) For a letter-post item valued at $400 or more, or if you do not want to list the contents on the outside
wrapper of a letter-post item, affix the upper portion of PS Form 2976 (green label) (cut on dotted
line and discard the lower portion) to the address side of the package, complete PS Form 2976-A,
and enclose the form set inside the package.
q. Present the item for mailing.
U.S. Postal Service International Mailing Options
Service
Delivery Time
Available Services
Global Express Guaranteed
1-3 days
Track & Trace
Service Guarantee to Select Destinations
3-5 days
Tracking to Major Destinations
Service Guarantee to Select Destinations
Insurance for $100 Included
Priority Mail International
5-8 days
Tracking to Major Destinations
Insurance Available
Flat-Rate Packaging Available
First-Class Mail International
4-7 days
Registered Service Available
Express Mail International