• Packages may not exceed 70 lbs. (Some zip codes have lower limits)
• Packages may not exceed 130 inches in combined length and girth. (This means if you have a package that is 100" in length and 40" when you measure around it, you cannot send the item)
• All packages must be sent via the U.S. Postal System. The post office also requires companies or individuals to hand deliver packages being sent to APO/FPO addresses. (This is one reason why many merchants won't ship to APO/FPO addresses.)
• Firearms, alcohol, perishable foodstuffs and certain hazardous items also are restricted. Each zip code has a more detailed list of the restrictions for certain types of products.

• For packages, Priority Mail is only way to go.  If a merchant ships a package to your APO/FPO address using standard or "surface" mail, it will likely be a while before you see it.  This is because all Priority Mail eventually makes its way onto an airplane.  Surface mail does not.   Sending a package via surface mail may take up to 8 weeks because it will be placed on a ship instead of a plane.
• Some items just can't be shipped to APO/FPO.  Just because a merchant won't ship an item to you does not mean that they don't ship to APO/FPO addresses.  If you are planning on ordering a new range for the kitchen, you aren't going to find anyone who will (or can) ship it to you.  We take great care at Oconus.com to ensure that our merchants will ship to APO/FPO addresses within the limits imposed on them by the MPO and the law.
• "AE", "AA" and "AP"  The APO/FPO "states" of "AE", "AA", and "AP" are the only legitimate states to use for an APO/FPO addresses.  It is common knowledge that you can use "NY" for "AE", "CA" for "AP", and "FL" for "AA", but you run the risk of having your credit card rejected because the billing address they have on file (with AA, AE or AP for the state) does not match what you submitted online.  For this reason we are very hesitant to put merchants on Oconus.com who do not have the APO/FPO "states" available in their drop-down boxes.  We review all sites for this feature prior to listing them and have helped dozens of merchants improve the APO/FPO capabilities of their site.

How do I ship to an APO or FPO address?  This is a common question that we get from merchants who are exploring the possibilities of serving overseas military shoppers through their websites.  For starters you must use the United States Post Office (USPS) to send the items (see above).   While there has been some recent discussion and negotiation to allow Federal Express and UPS to send packages to these addresses, the only way to send an item to an APO or FPO address as of right now is to use the USPS.  Shipments to APO FPO addresses also require some additional customs paperwork to be filled out by the shipper.  For a complete list of requirements and restrictions for a particular APO or FPO zip code, please enter the zip code into our online validator (located in the middle of the left hand margin on every page on Oconus.com).  If your product is small enough (a patch or sticker, for example), you can probably use a regular letter envelope and avoid filling out the required customs forms.

What is an APO address or an FPO address?  APO stands for "Army Post Office," and is associated with Army or Air Force installations.  FPO stands for "Fleet Post Office," and is associated with Navy installations and ships.

The official definition of APO/FPO mail is (according to the Military Postal Service Agency):

APO/FPO Mail - domestic mail and international mail that bears a U.S. military delivery address or return address and that, in some stage of its transmission, is in the possession of the DOD.  This is mail that is being sent to or received from military installations located outside the Continental United States (CONUS).  This mail may be official or personal in nature.  This mail is centralized at certain locations such as San Francisco and New York for transport overseas.  When mail is received in the CONUS from these facilities, letter mail is normally received in sleeved half trays, flats are received in sleeved plastic flat tubs, and parcels are received in #1 sacks.

How do I make my site APO/FPO friendly?  Over 70% of our APO/FPO shoppers indicated in a recent survey that they have abandoned their shopping carts when they could not find their APO or FPO "state" in the state dropdown box.  The only legitimate APO or FPO states are "AA," "AE," and "AP." The should appear in a dropdown box like this:

AA - Armed Forces Americas AE - Armed Forces Europe AP - Armed Forces Pacific

PFC Gomer Pyle
CMR 345, Box 12334
APO AE 09250

Official Information Sources:

Military Postal Service Agency APO/FPO Questions

800-810-6098

* Please note that the MPSA also has an APO/FPO zip code database that is not current with the twice-monthly Postal Bulletin Publication. They are in the process of implementing an automated system that will keep their database current.

Should you have additional questions or comments that are not currently addressed in this section, please don't hesitate to send us an email message from this page.