COVID-19 Service Updates for USPS, UPS, FedEx, DHL Express | Overview

As the world faces disruptions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, carriers continue to provide essential services, operating under a state of emergency and shelter in place orders recently issued in the U.S. and other countries. Major carriers, including USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL Express, are coordinating with international governments and health organizations to adapt to the changing situation.

Visit the World Health Organization for information about COVID-19 health concerns.

USPS Updates for COVID-19

Effective Sept 3rd, 2021 and until further notice, USPS international service to Australia has suspended First-Class Package International Service® (FCPIS®). To avoid disruption, use Priority Mail International or GlobalPost Standard to ship your packages.

Effective May 28, 2021, and until further notice, USPS has suspended services to specific international destinations. 

To prevent you from accidentally shipping to a restricted destination, ShippingEasy will not allow USPS postage purchases for shipments destined for a currently restricted country. 

Effective September 22, 2020, and until further notice, Canada Post, utilized by the USPS to handle final delivery of shipments to Canada, has advised that the delivery procedure changes previously announced remain in effect.

Items requiring a signature, proof of age, or the collection of customs fees will continue to be delivered directly to a nearby post office for pickup by the customer. Additionally, Canada Post has recently restored the 15-day limit for customers to retrieve their parcels after receiving a card with instructions. Items will be returned to the sender if they are not collected within 15 days. Force majeure remains for all international letter-post, parcel-post, and Express Mail Service (EMS) items.

Service suspension to a particular country will not affect the delivery of Military Mail.

The suspension affects all USPS international services available from ShippingEasy, including:

• Priority Mail Express International
• Priority Mail International
• First-Class Mail International
• First-Class Package International Service
• International Priority Airmail
• International Surface Air Lift

Any items shipped to restricted destinations will be returned to the sender.

USPS will refund postage if a package is returned due to service suspension. ShippingEasy users can cancel a label for a refund through ShippingEasy. All other customers should reach out to the shipping solution used to provide postage or contact your local USPS for information and to request a refund.

If you are entitled to a refund, but the refund was denied, you may appeal the decision. Mail the original physical label to Commercial Payment at the address below, along with an explanation that this label was returned due to the international service suspension.
If the exact numerical value of postage paid is not displayed, you must submit the corresponding transaction log.

Commercial Payment
US Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza
SW Rm 3436
Washington DC 20260-4110

UPS Updates for COVID-19

Effective May 10, 2021, UPS operations will continue with daily collections and deliveries except where constrained by government restrictions.  

Any parcels that cannot be delivered will be returned to the sender.

Effective May 23, 2021, until further notice, the amount of the Peak Surcharges applied to certain international shipments originating from Asia, including China Mainland, Hong Kong SAR, and Taiwan will increase. All other previously announced Peak Surcharges will remain unchanged.

Effective for shipments sent on or after May 10, 2021, the UPS Money Back Guarantee (also known as UPS Service Guarantee) is reinstated for Express services in Europe. 

UPS will follow new guidelines for collecting signatures. For parcels requiring a signature, UPS drivers can temporarily do this on behalf of the customer to avoid unnecessary contact with handheld devices. 

FedEx Updates for COVID-19

The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted supply chains around the world. FedEx is continuing to operate in impacted areas as local conditions and restrictions allow. FedEx will adjust delivery commitment times for several FedEx Express services in order to operate more efficiently. The changes will affect shipments scheduled for delivery on, or after, September 28, 2020. View the FedEx Service Guide for more details.

Effective April 6, 2020, and until further notice, FedEx will assess a temporary Surcharge on all FedEx Express and TNT international parcel and freight shipments. Refer to FedEx.com for Surcharge details.

As of April 6, 2021, the money-back guarantee will be reinstated for select FedEx Express services for US domestic and US import/export shipments (US payors only). Services include:

• FedEx First Overnight®
• FedEx Priority Overnight®
• FedEx Standard Overnight®
• FedEx International First®
• FedEx International Priority®
• FedEx International Priority® Freight

FedEx will follow new guidelines for collecting signatures. Recipients may be asked to verify their name, rather than sign for a parcel. Surcharges still apply for signature services, as FedEx is still collecting recipient information. In addition, Adult Signature still requires a government-issued photo ID, and a physical signature may still be required.

DHL Express Updates for COVID-19

Temporary Service adjustments for DHL Express Time Definite International services arising from the COVID-19 pandemic situation as of 27th of May 2021

Contact your account manager for the operational status of your country.

To ensure successful residential deliveries, DHL Express recommends that recipients register at www.ondemand.dhl.com, where they can choose preferred delivery options, including non-contact delivery.

Effective April 1, 2020, and until further notice, DHL Express will assess an Emergency Situation Surcharge on all Time Definite International (TDI) shipments. Surcharges do not apply to Day Definite International (DDI) shipments, Time Definite Domestic (TDD) shipments, Life Science and Healthcare customers, nor DHL Medical Express (WMX) shipments. Refer to DHL.com for Emergency Situation Surcharge details.

COVID-19 Service Restrictions by Destination Country

Each carrier maintains its own list of service restrictions and affected countries, which may change at any time and without notice. Refer to individual carrier websites for the latest restrictions:

• USPS
• UPS
• FedEx
• DHL Express