Postal Department Announces Changes to International Services
The Department of Posts is embarking on significant reforms aimed at modernizing and enhancing international letter post services. In alignment with the Universal Postal Union’s guidelines, these changes are designed to boost customer experience, improve service reliability, enhance tracking capabilities, ensure customs compliance, and strengthen security. By streamlining services, the Department aims to align its offerings with the rapid growth of global e-commerce.
Beginning January 1, 2026, several international letter mail services will be discontinued. This includes the Registered Small Packet service, as registration will now be limited to document-only items following UPU regulations. Additionally, the Outward Small Packet service, which covers letter post items containing goods shipped by sea, SAL, or air, will no longer be available. Furthermore, both the Surface Letter Mail Service and the Surface Air Lifted (SAL) Letter Mail Service for outward letter post will be eliminated.
These changes address various challenges, such as the lack of tracking in small packet services, prolonged delivery times, and increasing customs and security demands from destination countries. Moreover, many international postal administrations have been reducing acceptance of such items, prompting the Department to take action.
However, it’s important to note that this rationalization is a strategic move to enhance service quality and won’t negatively impact options available to exporters or customers. Registration for document-only items will still be possible under Air mode, which encompasses Letters, Post Cards, Printed Papers, Aerograms, Blind Literature, and M-bags. UPU provisions for Blind Literature and M-bags will remain unchanged, ensuring entities catering to visually impaired individuals are unaffected, aside from applicable air surcharges dictated by destination country regulations.
To aid exporters, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), as well as individual customers, the Department of Posts already provides reliable alternatives for sending goods internationally. Customers are encouraged to utilize the International Tracked Packet Service (ITPS) and other parcel services that offer end-to-end tracking, quicker and more dependable delivery, and enhanced compliance with customs regulations—all while maintaining competitive pricing for small exporters and e-commerce sellers.
In preparation for these changes, officials within the Department of Posts are tasked with ensuring a smooth transition. They will guide customers toward suitable alternative services and promote the new offerings to facilitate an effective changeover.
This rationalization underscores the Department of Posts’ commitment to advancing modern, customer-focused, and internationally aligned postal services, promising improved reliability, transparency, and overall customer satisfaction.
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