India to resume all postal services to US from Oct 15; Here’s what changes for senders

India will resume all categories of international postal services to the United States from October 15, 2025, following a nearly two-month suspension that began in August after the US administration imposed new customs regulations.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Department of Posts said it has completed necessary system upgrades and established a compliant mechanism to meet the regulatory requirements introduced by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Postal shipments to the US were suspended on August 22, 2025, after Washington withdrew the de minimis treatment for postal consignments and mandated upfront collection and remittance of import duties.

“After extensive system development, coordination with CBP-approved Qualified Parties, and successful operational trials in the Delhi and Maharashtra Circles, India Post has now established a compliant mechanism for Delivery Duty Paid (DDP) processing,” the ministry said.

New DDP mechanism for duty collection

Under the new system, all applicable customs duties, levied at a flat rate of 50% of the declared Free on Board (FOB) value, will be collected in India at the time of booking and remitted directly to the US CBP through authorised intermediaries.

“This ensures full regulatory compliance, faster customs clearance, and seamless delivery to addressees in the USA without any additional duty or delay,” it added.

No additional charges, tariffs unchanged

The postal department clarified that no extra charges will be imposed for facilitating DDP services. Existing postal tariffs will remain unchanged, making the postal export channel an affordable option for exporters, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), artisans, small traders, and e-commerce sellers.

“This measure has been introduced to maintain affordability, support MSMEs, and boost India’s exports through the postal channel,” the department said.

Booking opens across all postal centres

With the resumption, customers can now book all types of international mail for delivery to the US from any post office, International Business Centre (IBC), or Dak Ghar Niryat Kendra (DNK). Bookings can also be made through India Post’s self-service portal.

Boost to cross-border trade and MSMEs

The DDP mechanism is expected to simplify export processes, improve cost predictability, and enhance delivery reliability for cross-border shipments.

The resumption of postal links with the US “marks a major milestone in strengthening India’s international postal and export logistics network,” the ministry said, adding that it reflects India Post’s growing role in supporting inclusive, export-driven economic growth.