Shipments to the U.S. and Puerto Rico
Starting July 1, 2026, Česká pošta will resume the acceptance of all categories of mail shipments to the United States of America (hereinafter also referred to as the “U.S.”) and Puerto Rico. Due to requirements set by U.S. customs authorities, it is now necessary for further specified shipments to complete customs clearance and pay any applicable fees before the shipment is posted, using the designated application— Zonos Prey.
The followng applies to shipments to the U. S. and Puerto Rico
- If a customs declaration is required under postal or international regulations, it must be completed exclusively in English, stating the value of the shipment in USD. A list of cases where a paper customs declaration is required is provided in the Shipment Overview.
- For shipments valued at up to 800 USD that do not fall under the exceptions listed below, the sender is required to submit a customs declaration via the Zonos Prepay application at their own expense prior to mailing the shipment and to pay the associated fees and any applicable customs duties. After fulfilling these obligations, the sender will receive a customs declaration identification number (Declaration ID), which must be provided for the shipment to be accepted for postal transport.
- For shipments containing only documents weighing up to 50 g, neither a customs declaration nor the declaration ID is required; for shipments containing only documents weighing more than 50 g, a customs declaration form must be included.
- For shipments to the United States and Puerto Rico, “documents” are defined exclusively as records of information or other communications in written form on paper that are not goods and are not intended for sale or other commercial use. Information stored in digital form, such as on a CD, DVD, or flash drive, is not considered a document.
- The “Gift” customs category, which is exempt from the payment and remittance of customs duties, may only be used for shipments with a value of up to 100 USD, where both the sender and recipient are individuals and the items are intended exclusively for personal use (they are not samples, commercial materials, or promotional materials). In all other cases, you must select the “Goods” customs category, which requires payment of assessed customs duties before the shipment arrives in the U.S. or Puerto Rico.
- “Returned goods” are defined as goods manufactured in the U.S. or Puerto Rico and shipped to the U.S. or Puerto Rico from the Czech Republic.
- Shipments valued at over 800 USD are subject to standard customs procedures in the country of destination—a declaration ID is not required; only a customs declaration must be attached.
- When sending a shipment that requires a declaration ID, a handling fee is charged in addition to the shipping fee, in accordance with the current Česká Pošta Price List.
Overview of shipments by content and submission requirements
| Content (Category) | Value | Declaration ID | Customs Declaration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Documents | x | NO | Up to 50 g: NO Over 50 g: YES |
|
| Gift | ≤ 100 USD | YES | YES | |
| Goods Returned goods Commercial samples Others |
≤ 800 USD | YES | Up to 5 000 CZK: CN 22 Over 5 000 CZK: CN 23 |
|
| Goods Returned goods Commercial samples Others |
> 800 USD | NO | CN 23 |
Declaration ID
- It is the identification number of the customs declaration (1D - a one-dimensional barcode or a 13-character alphanumeric code) that the shipper receives after the shipment has been cleared through customs and the assessed duties have been paid via the Zonos Prepay web/mobile app.
- It is valid for 5 calendar days from the date of assignment—the shipment must be submitted within this period.
- Each shipment must have its own Declaration ID; it cannot be reused.
- Submitting a customs declaration via the Zonos Prepay app is subject to a fee according to Zonos’s currently valid price list:
| Content (Category) | Fix fee (without a photo) per shipment | Fix fee (whit a photo) per shipment | Handling fee per shipment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goods and other content (excluding gifts ≤ 100 USD) up to 800 USD | 4,99 USD | 3,99 USD | 10 % of the assessed duties |
| Gifts ≤ 100 USD | 2,00 USD | 1,00 USD | does not apply |
If the shipment is not submitted within the validity period of the Declaration ID (5 calendar days), the fees and customs duties that have been paid are released from the sender’s account, so no amount is charged.
Submitting Shipments to the U. S. and Puerto Rico
When dropping off a shipment at a branch, you must provide the counter clerk with the declaration ID.
Save time by filling out and submitting your information online instead of at the branch, and avoid potential errors - we recommend using the “Send a shipment” service to prepare your shipment data. The declaration ID field has been added to the information you need to fill out.