What is First-Class Mail International® Service?
First-Class Mail International® (FCMI®) is our most affordable option for sending postcards, letters weighing up to 3.5 ounces and large envelopes weighing up to 15.994 ounces.
Notes:
- No merchandise may be mailed with FCMI.
- Tracking and insurance are not available with FCMI.
- Certificate of Mailing and Registered Mail are available as Extra Services (See IMM 310 and IMM 330); Return Receipt service is available when the FCMI item has Registered Mail service (See IMM 340)
FCMI® Service Prices
Postage prices depend on the size and weight of the mailpiece, and its destination. To calculate the letter's price, go to the Postage Price Calculator. For additional pricing information, go to "First-Class Mail International."
Mailing Letters
A mailpiece is classified as a letter if it meets the following standards: See IMM 241.2
Weight Limit
The weight limit for a letter-size First-Class International mailpiece is 3.5 ounces. Letter-size items exceeding 3.5 ounces are charged the First-Class International flat-sized price.
Dimensions
Letter-sized mail must be rectangular and must meet the following dimensions:
- Not less than 5 1/2 inches long or 3 1/2 inches high or 0.007 inch thick
- Not more than 11 1/2 inches long or 6 1/8 inches high or 1/4 inch thick
Note: For the purpose of determining mailability or machinability of a letter-sized piece, the length is the dimension parallel to the delivery address as read, and the height is the dimension perpendicular to the length.
FCMI and Nonmachinable Surcharges
Regardless of a letter's weight, a per-piece surcharge (see Notice 123, Price List) applies to a First-Class Mail International letter that is nonmachinable for any of the following reasons:
- Has an aspect ratio (length divided by height) of less than 1.3 or not than 2.5.
- Is polybagged, polywrapped or enclosed in any plastic material.
- Has clasps, strings, buttons or similar closure devices.
- Contains correspondence or nondutiable documents that cause the thickness of the mailpiece to be uneven.
- Is too rigid (does not bend easily when subjected to a transport belt tension of 40 pounds around an 11-inch diameter turn).
- Is more than 4-1/4 inches high or 6 inches long and less than 0.009 inch thick.
- Has a delivery address parallel to the shorter dimension of the mailpiece.
See IMM 241.217
Mailing Postcards
A mailpiece is considered a postcard if it meets the following standards: See IMM 241.22.
Dimensions
Each postcard claimed at a card price must be rectangular and must meet the following dimensions:
- Not less than 3-1/2 inches high or 5-1/2 inches long or 0.007 inch thick.
- Not more than 4-1/4 inches high or 6 inches long or 0.016 inch thick.
Note: Unenclosed cards exceeding the size limits for postcards are mailable at the First-Class Mail International letter price if they do not exceed 4-3/4 inches high or 9-1/4 inches long.
Addressing Postcards
Right half of postcard:
- The right half of the address side of a card must be reserved for the address of the addressee and postal notations or labels.
Left half and reverse of postcard:
- The left half of the address side of the card and the reverse side can be used for a message or permissible attachments. If a return address is used, it must appear in the upper-left half of the address side.
For more information on addressing postcards, see IMM 241.225 and IMM 241.226.
Mailing Large Envelopes (Flats)
A mailpiece is classified as a large envelope (flat) if it meets the following standards: See IMM 241.23.
Weight Limit
The weight limit for a First-Class Mail International large envelope (flat) is less than 16 ounces (the actual weight limit is 15.994 ounces to accommodate Postal Service systems that round to three decimal places and thus round items that weigh 15.995-15.999 ounces up to 16 ounces).
Dimensions and Characteristics
Large envelopes (flats) must meet the following dimensions and characteristics:
- More than 11-1/2 inches long or 6-1/8 inches high or 1/4-inch thick
- Nor more than 15 inches long or 12 inches high or 3/4-inch thick
- Flexible (see 241.236)
- Rectangular
- Uniformly thick as stated in 241.235
Note: The length of a large envelope (flat) is the longest dimension. The height is the dimension perpendicular to the length. A First-Class Mail International large envelope (flat) that does not meet the standards above is not eligible for the large envelope (flat) size price and is charged the applicable First-Class Package International Service® (small packet) price.
Additional Information:
- No tracking service
- No insurance available: FCMI® large letters (flats) can have Registered Mail service added, which included limited indemnity (insurance) coverage. Registered Mail service is not available to all countries.
Payment
- Customers may use cash, check, credit / debit cards, stamps or postage meter strips for fees. Postage for FCMI® items is available online through authorized PC Postage vendors (not available using Click-N-Ship®).
- Check the Postage Price Calculator or Individual Country Listings for availability of extra services such as Registered Mail, Return Receipt, and Certificate of Mailing.
Do FCMI® and FCPIS® have similarities?
- Both FCMI® and FCPIS® travel in the letter post mailstream and do not have tracking, except for FCPIS items going to countries specified as Electronic USPS Delivery Confirmation International Service (E-USPS DELCON INTL) countries in IMM 252.2.
- FCMI items may not weigh more than 15.994 ounces.
- FCPIS items may not weigh more than 4 pounds.
Note: Package Pickup and Pickup on Demand services are available for FCPIS® but not for FCMI®.
