Recommended Holiday Mailing Dates to Diplomatic and Military Members

 

Thousands of men and women in the nation’s diplomatic corps and in the military will be serving abroad during the holidays, and the mail is a great way to stay connected with them by sending them cards, letters, presents and care packages for the festive season.

The Postal Service offers a reduced price of $17.40 on its largest Priority Mail Flat Rate Box for mail sent to APO/FPO/DPO (Air/Army Post Office/Fleet Post Office/Diplomatic Post Office) destinations worldwide — a $1.50 discount from the regular price.

To ensure timely delivery of holiday wishes by Dec. 25, the Postal Service recommends that cards and packages be sent to military APO/FPO/DPO addresses overseas no later than these mailing dates:

Military Mail Addressed To and From	Priority Mail Express Military Service (PMEMS)1	First-Class Mail Letters and Cards	Priority Mail	Parcel Airlift     Mail (PAL)2	Space Available Mail (SAM)3	Retail Ground
APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 090-092	Dec. 18	Dec. 11	Dec. 11	Dec. 4	Nov. 27	Nov. 6
APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIP   093	N/A	Dec. 4	Dec. 4	Dec. 4	Nov. 27	Nov. 6
APO/FPO/DPO AE ZIPs 094-098	Dec. 18	Dec. 11	Dec. 11	Dec. 4	Nov. 27	Nov. 6
APO/FPO/DPO AA ZIP   340	Dec. 18	Dec. 11	Dec. 11	Dec. 4	Nov. 27	Nov. 6
APO/FPO/DPO AP ZIPs 962-966	Dec. 18	Dec. 11	Dec. 11	Dec. 4	Nov. 27	Nov. 6

¹ PMEMS is available to selected military/diplomatic Post Offices. Check with your local Post Office to determine if this service is available to an APO/FPO/DPO address.

² PAL is a service that provides air transportation for parcels on a space-available basis. PAL is available for Standard Post items not exceeding 30 pounds in weight or 60 inches in length and girth combined. The applicable PAL fee must be paid in addition to the regular surface price for each addressed piece sent by PAL service.
³ SAM parcels are paid at Standard Post prices with maximum weight and size limits of 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined. SAM parcels are first transported domestically by surface and then to overseas destinations by air on a space-available basis.