UPDATE! Postal Shipments to the USA

UPDATED INFORMATION 1/12/2025

CBP is sharpening its focus on auditing gift exemptions and will be strictly enforcing what qualifies as a bona fide gift. Based on recent communications from CBP:

a. items acquired by the shipper (as opposed to the recipient) through purchase, barter, or similar transactions may no longer be considered gifts.

b. It is important to note that shipments sent by a business will not qualify as a bona fide gift.

c. Certain commodities may not qualify as gifts regardless of how they are acquired, such as vitamins, pharmaceuticals, and supplements.

 If a parcel qualifies as a gift, it should be clearly marked on the outside of the parcel to indicate that it is a gift.

 In order to avoid delays in the processing of the items or any additional costs, please ensure that you adhere to the above regulations and procedure.

Cyprus Post announces that as of 06/11/2025, the dispatch of postal items containing goods to the USA has resumed.

According to the Decree issued by the President of the United States, duties/taxes for items valued under $800 must be paid before the item arrives in the USA.

As a temporary solution, we have reached an agreement with the Qualified Party ZONOS to enable prepayment of duties/taxes before the items arrive in the USA using the ZONOS app.

Before sending any item containing goods to the USA:

Step 1: Download the ZONOS app (Android or iOS) from 6/11/2025 onwards.

For iOS scan QR Code.

For Android scan QR Code.

The application is also available at the following link https://dashboard.zonosprepay.com/en/ship.

Step 2: Create a free account in the app. Open the flyer by clicking here. To open the Zonos Prepaid App manual, click here.

Step 3: Enter the required details about the contents of the item you wish to send to the USA.

Step 4: Pay the amount indicated by the app.

Step 5: Create a standard Shipping Declaration (consult our announcement to see whether to use the old Shipping Tool or the new system by clicking here).

Step 6: Submit your item at the Post Office. Show the Service Agent the Declaration ID generated in the ZONOS app, which corresponds to the specific item.

Step 7: Pay the postal fees.

Step 8: Repeat steps 3–7 for each item you wish to send to the USA.

Important Notes:

1. The Declaration ID from the ZONOS app is valid for five (5) days. You must post the item within this period, otherwise the registration in the ZONOS app will be canceled.
2. A separate declaration in the ZONOS app is required for each item being sent.
3. A declaration in ZONOS app is required also for gifts (value under $ 100), as well as contents for which the duties is zero.
4. It is very important to enter the correct country of origin for the contents being sent. For example, if you are sending a shirt purchased in Cyprus but manufactured in Bangladesh, you must enter Bangladesh as the country of origin. This applies both in the ZONOS app for duty payment and when preparing the Shipping Declaration/Customs Form in the Shipping Tool (old or new system).
5. When submitting the item at the Post Office, the Shipping Declaration/Customs Form and the Declaration ID from the ZONOS app must refer to the same item.