Send a letter to 220+ overseas destinations
Send letters, postcards, greeting cards and Christmas cards overseas with our range of services. These items can only contain printed material with no commercial value. If your letter is larger than our maximum size and weight, it will be considered a parcel and require a customs form.
International Courier and International Express services
These are our fastest letter sending services. You can post your letters or documents via our International Courier or International Express service using your own packaging or our International Express prepaid envelopes. You can also use a prepaid international satchel.
International Courier and International Express letters and satchels must be lodged with a CN23 customs form.
International Courier can only be posted to select countries from select Post Offices (PDF 843kB)5.
For International Express, you can pay for and print a label online with a free MyPost account (including a completed customs declaration form), and post in a yellow street posting box; or you can post over the counter at any Post Office.
International Courier
- 2-3 business days1
- Pay flat rate postage up to 500g
- Signature on Delivery2
- Tracking3
- Add Extra Cover4
- Select Post Offices only (PDF 843kB)5
- Select countries only
- Use your own envelope (or a prepaid satchel shown above)
- CN23 customs form
International Express
- 3-6 business days1
- Pay flat rate postage up to 500g
- Signature on Delivery2
- Tracking3
- Add Extra Cover4
- Use your own envelope, a prepaid envelope or a prepaid satchel
- CN23 customs form
International Economy Air service
This is our non-urgent service that generally takes 15+ business days.1 You can post your letter or documents in any of our prepaid envelopes or add postage to your own envelope.
Tracking is not available with International Economy Air. For important documents we recommend using our International Courier or International Express service.
International Economy Air letters can be posted over the counter at any Post Office, or any street posting box with the correct stamps applied.
Guidelines for sending a letter overseas
Letters sent overseas can only contain printed material with no commercial value. This includes enveloped mail and letter sheets (international aerogrammes).
Check our guide to confirm if your item can be sent as a small letter, large letter, postcard or greeting card including Christmas cards. If your letter is larger than our maximum size and weight, it will be considered a parcel and require a completed customs form.
- up to 130mm x 240mm
- up to 5mm thick
- up to 250g
- up to 260mm x 360mm
- up to 20mm thick
- up to 500g
- up to 260mm x 360mm
- up to 5mm thick
- up to 50g
- card or postcard only
- endorsed with Card Only
- sealed in an envelope (excludes postcards)
Postage costs
The postage cost to send a letter or greeting card overseas depends on the destination you’re sending to, the size of your envelope (small or large) and the service (Courier, Express or Economy Air).
The postage cost to send a greeting card (including a Christmas card), or your own postcard to one of 220+ overseas destinations is $3. This is via our Economy Air service, which takes 15+ business days. Your card must be in a sealed envelope and endorsed with ‘Card only’ (excludes postcards).
The cost to send an international prepaid postcard to one of 220+ overseas destinations is $3.10. You can buy international prepaid postcards at the Post Office or through our Online Shop. This cost includes the postcard and the postage.
Use the online calculator below for costs and delivery times. Choose ‘Overseas’, enter the From and To locations, then click ‘Letters’ to view your options.
Calculate the cost and time to send your item
Estimate postage costs and delivery times with our online calculator. First select Australia or Overseas, then choose Parcels or Letters. If you need more assistance, visit your nearest Post Office.
Additional overseas mail services
Overseas mail redirection
For overseas mail redirection, visit your local Post Office to apply. Not available online.
Note, as we’re unable to redirect the following items they may be returned to sender:
- Items that require a customs form
- Items sent with our domestic services such as Registered Post, Express Post and Parcel Post
International reply coupons
If you receive a letter from overseas containing International Reply Coupons, you can redeem the coupons for stamps to send a small letter up to 50g by Economy Air.
You can also purchase International Reply Coupons to send to your receivers. They can then exchange these for their local international stamps to send you a small letter up to 50g by air mail.
Visit your local Post Office to purchase or redeem your coupons or to get more information.
Sending a letter within Australia?
Read information to get your letter, greeting card or postcard to its destination within Australia.
Are you a business customer?
View our range of international business letter services.
Service conditions apply. See the Australia Post Terms & Conditions for details.
1 Estimated delivery time between metro area of major cities, for items that are classified as low value and low risk that are pre-cleared through customs. Excludes time in customs if applicable and may be subject to delay due to causes outside of Australia Post’s control. For more information, check our International post guide and International delivery times and destination guide.
2 Additional charges apply for some services. Signature on Delivery not available all countries. For more information, check our International post guide.
3 Tracking not available for all countries. For more information, check our International post guide.
4 Our services generally come with up to $100 compensation included. Additional charges apply for Extra Cover. Extra Cover provides you with cover for the specified value of your item (up to $5,000 or part thereof except for Economy Air letters and Economy Air parcels, which can have a maximum cover of up to $500) if your item is lost or damaged while being carried by Australia Post. Visit optional extras for more information. Subject to the Australian Consumer Law, Australia Post does not accept liability for any consequential or indirect loss or damage arising due to any failure related to our service. Neither the compensation included with our service nor the purchase of Extra Cover limits any rights or remedies you may have under the Australian Consumer Law. Extra Cover not available all countries. Cover restrictions may vary depending on country. For more details, see our International post guide.
5 The cut-off time for posting may vary depending on participating Post Office location. Check cut-off times for participating Post Offices (PDF 843kB)
6 Tracking only available via our website. Excludes SMS and email notifications. Not available for all countries. For more information, check our International post guide.