Mailing to international countries can be challenging, as each country has individual laws about what’s permissible and what’s not. USPS is a popular choice for many people who need to send something to a different country, and it tries to make it as easy as possible.
But you might be wondering: Does USPS ship to Colombia? Can you get letters and packages to Colombia using the Postal Service? Here’s the answer you need!
Does USPS Ship To Colombia In 2024?
The United States Postal Service ships items to Colombia via the USPS international shipping services as of 2024. Customers must abide by all Colombian laws regarding imports, including duties and taxes, as well as customs declarations. Costs for shipping to Colombia range from $1.30 to over $1,000, depending on the weight of the mailpiece.
Let’s examine more closely how you send mail to Colombia, how much it costs for different shipping services, prohibited items, and much more!
How Do You Ship Mail To Colombia?
If you’ve ever sent mail internationally via USPS, then you will find the process of mailing to Colombia quite familiar.
Suppose you have not; never fear! I’ll walk you through the steps and give you all the pertinent information you need to get the mail through customs and into the recipient’s hands.
Choose Your Service
First, you’ll have to choose which USPS service you want to use, and you’ll decide that based on whether you’re sending a parcel or a flat (letter, document-sized, etc.).
That said, your options include:
- Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) (most expensive, boxes and envelopes, expected delivery one to three days)
- Priority Mail Express International (less expensive, boxes and flat-rate envelopes, expected delivery three to five business days)
- Priority Mail International (less expensive and quite a bit slower, flat-rate boxes and envelopes available, expected delivery six to 19 business days)
- First-Class Mail/Package International (very cheapest option, the slowest by far, package service accommodates only the smallest/lightest parcels)
After reviewing your options, you’ll narrow it down further by budget. If you have no budget, why not go for the fastest, GXG?
Not only is it quicker, but it also comes with a money-back guarantee (so if it misses the guaranteed delivery date/time, you get a full refund).
If your budget is lower and you have no time constraints, First-Class International can save you a bunch of cash.
Finally, Priority Mail International is a great middle-of-the-road option because it includes USPS Tracking in the price, and you can send things using a budget-friendly flat-rate box.
Prepare Your Mailpiece
Before you can mail out your package, you’ll have to prepare it for shipment to Colombia.
Per the USPS website, make sure you have your recipient’s full name and address and a list of the items you’re sending.
Further, make sure you read over this list of prohibited items that may not be shipped to Colombia and cannot be sent from the US.
Provided you’re complying, make sure that any fragile items are well cushioned because the box will likely get jostled quite a bit. So, ensure you tape it up securely!
Additionally, you’ll want to write the recipient’s address and your return address on the parcel. So, if anything happens to the label, the Postal Service can continue the shipment.
Also, it never hurts to check online to find the proper address format for mailing in Colombia.
Label And Customs Form
If you’re printing your label at home, follow the instructions on USPS.com’s Click-N-Ship. Also, USPS will walk you through the customs form.
Then, you can schedule a parcel pick-up if needed, so you don’t even have to drop it off at the Post Office.
But, if you bring the package to the Post Office to pay the postage and create the label, the clerk will go through all the shipping steps, including the customs form.
How Much Does It Cost To Ship To Colombia Using USPS?
Shipping items to Colombia varies in price based on what type of mailpiece it is. Obviously, postcards and letters are much cheaper because they don’t weigh very much.
Further, here’s a simple breakdown of prices.
On this list, the lowest price for each service is listed first, and then where applicable, the highest price for the heaviest weight allowed:
- First-Class Mail International: Postcards start at $1.30; letters start at $2.60
- First-Class Package International: Starts at $14.25
- Priority Mail International: Starts at $35.45 (Flat-rate); as much as $355.25 for 70-pound package
- Priority Mail Express International: Starts at $68.95 (Flat-rate envelopes); as much as $402.75 for a 70-pound package
- GXG: Starts at $119.20; as much as $1,008.05 for a 70-pound package
So, you can see the sharp increase in starting price based on the speed of the service.
For the detailed pricing list, including the cost at every weight (one through 70 pounds), check out the USPS page here.
Who Delivers Mail To Colombia If Shipped Using USPS?
While USPS gets the mailpieces to Colombia and through customs (using a shipping partner, usually FedEx), Colombian mail services deliver locally.
Colombia’s government postal service is 4-72, but other shipping companies like Deprisa or Servientrega might also deliver to your Colombian recipient.
What Can’t You Ship To Colombia Using USPS?
Like every country, Colombia has restrictions on what you can ship into the country.
For example, some items include:
- Cash and coins
- Banknotes
- Precious stones
- Live animals
- Gold and silver
In addition, the United States has restrictions on what you can send from the country, including:
- Alcohol
- Ammunition
- Nail polish
- Poisons
- Cigarettes
Both lists go on, but those are some of the more common mistakes. For the complete lists, visit this page here!
To learn more about USPS, you can also check our related posts on whether or not USPS ships to the Philippines, if USPS ships to Hong Kong, and if USPS ships to Mexico.
Conclusion
The United States Postal Service includes Colombia in the over 180 countries to which it delivers mail internationally.
Though expensive, some options are more affordable than others, and if you’re on a budget, flat-rate shipping can save you hundreds of dollars!
Great Information-!
Shipped a small package via USPS and after about 3 weeks (quoted 7-10 business days) I saw some progress in delivery only to see a surprised update saying, “Your item could not be delivered… due to payment of charges it is being held while the addressee is notified.”
Apparently there’s customs/delivery fees that aren’t included when shipping via USPS.