Changes to International Registered Maxi Letter Service from January
Due to changes in the requirements of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), from 1 January the International Registered Maxi Letter service will only be available for sending documents and other private or business papers. Shipments containing goods sent abroad can no longer be accepted as International Registered Maxi Letters and should instead be sent as parcels.
“The Registered Maxi Letter is a service specifically designed for the secure transmission of documents. However, people around the world have also used this service to send small items. The postal union has now decided to clearly distinguish between document-only mail and shipments containing goods and has updated the applicable international requirements. Going forward, International Registered Maxi Letters may contain documents only, such as paperwork and invitations. It will no longer be possible to send other small items, calendars, books, magazines, or similar goods abroad as Registered Maxi Letters,” explained Omniva’s Chief Commercial Officer Sven Kukemelk.
Regular (non-registered) Maxi Letters may still be used to send small items abroad, but Omniva reminds customers that unregistered letters are not trackable. This means that neither the customer nor Omniva can check the location of the letter or confirm whether it has been delivered. The letter is delivered directly to the recipient’s mailbox, without personal delivery or delivery confirmation. For this reason, unregistered Maxi Letters cannot be insured.
Therefore, Omniva recommends using international parcel services for sending goods. The fastest and most convenient way is to register a parcel in the self-service environment or mobile app and drop it off at the nearest parcel locker or post office. In the self-service environment and app, customers can view all tracking codes, see the location and journey of their parcels, change the pickup location for incoming parcels, and extend storage time. Parcels can also be sent directly from post offices. More information about international parcel options is available on the Omniva website.
“Parcel services are designed specifically for sending goods – they include guidelines for secure packaging, appropriate handling and transport, and the ability to track the parcel throughout its journey,” Kukemelk added.
Omniva wishes all customers a smooth transition to the new shipping solutions.