Shipping carriers require packages going to US territories (like Puerto Rico) to follow certain address formats in order to get shipping rate quotes or create shipping labels. In many cases, you'll need to fill out customs declarations, even though the carrier counts the shipment as domestic.
Below, you'll find the requirements for the USPS, FedEx/UPS, UPS Mail Innovations, as well as a list of the two-character abbreviations for the US territories. Typically, USPS providers will require the country to be listed as the United States, while UPS and FedEx will require the country to be the territory name that is input as the State.
USPS
The USPS requires shippers to use the two-character abbreviation for the state/region and “United States” for the country.
|
If Shipping to ... |
State/Region |
Country |
Additional Details |
|
American Samoa |
AS |
US |
Choose a domestic shipping service and declare customs* |
|
Guam |
GU |
US |
|
|
Northern Mariana Islands |
MP |
US |
|
|
Micronesia |
FM |
US |
|
|
Puerto Rico |
PR |
US |
|
|
US Virgin Islands |
VI |
US |
*Note: For USPS shipments going to Puerto Rico Highway Contract Routes, the correct address line information follows this format "HC 1 BOX 18" -- please eliminate additional designations, such as names of sectors.
FedEx & UPS
FedEx and UPS generally require the two-character abbreviation for the state/region and the full territory name for the country. UPS Mail Innovations services are exceptions to this.
Note that you'll be shown international shipping services for UPS and FedEx shipments going to US Territories, however, you will be charged a domestic rate. This means that you will need to declare customs values for your order items as well.
|
If shipping to ... |
State/Region |
Country |
Additional Details |
|
American Samoa |
AS |
AS |
Choose an international shipping service and declare customs |
|
Guam |
GU |
GU |
|
|
Northern Mariana Islands |
MP |
MP |
|
|
Micronesia |
FM |
FM |
|
|
Puerto Rico |
PR |
PR |
|
|
US Virgin Islands |
VI |
VI |
UPS Mail Innovations
UPS Mail Innovations is a UPS/USPS hybrid service that has its own requirements when it comes to shipping to US Territories. For some territories, the full territory name must be filled out in the State/Region field. Some territories will even be considered international shipments, so please choose an international Mail Innovations service in those cases.
US Territories and Abbreviations
- American Samoa (AS)
- Guam (GU)
- Northern Mariana Islands (MP)
- Micronesia (FM)
- Puerto Rico (PR)
- U.S. Virgin Islands (VI)
- U.S. Minor Outlying Islands (UM): Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Midway Islands, Palmyra Atoll, Navassa Island, Wake Island
