New International Mail Entry Rule Pushed to January 20: How Much Time Do Direct-Mail Sellers Have?

What happened

On October 14, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that the mandatory date for new electronic entry procedures for international mail has moved from October 22, 2026 to January 20, 2027, a 90-day extension. CBP said the extension gives importers, brokers, and logistics providers more time to update their processes and helps avoid disruptions to certain international postal shipments.

Which shipments are affected

Per CBP’s release:

• The requirement comes from CBP’s June 24 Interim Final Rule, “Indefinite Suspension of the De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments and New Postal Informal Entry Process.”
• International postal shipments subject to Section 201, 232, or 301 duties, or under a Partner Government Agency’s jurisdiction, must be filed electronically in ACE through the new Entry Type 13 for informal entry; otherwise formal entry is required.
• There are no changes to international mail entry procedures before January 20, 2027.
• CBP encourages filers to start using the optional Entry Type 13 during the transition.

It may expand to all international mail

CBP noted that its October 8 proposed rule, “Low-Value Shipments,” would require the new entry and data requirements for all international mail packages except letters and flats. See our earlier coverage: CBP Proposes Tighter Rules for Low-Value Shipments. Comments on that proposal are due December 7, 2026.

What this means for cross-border sellers

Our assessment:

• Direct-mail sellers get about three more months, but the direction is unchanged: mail entries are moving toward the same advance electronic filing and data requirements as other modes.
• If your goods are subject to Section 301 or similar duties and you ship directly to U.S. consumers by international mail, this extension applies to you. After January 20, 2027, such parcels not filed through Entry Type 13 cannot use informal entry.
• If the October 8 proposal is finalized, the impact will be broader, potentially covering all international mail packages.

Our suggestions

• Confirm with your logistics and postal providers whether your parcels fall under Entry Type 13 and who will file
• Don’t wait until January 2027; CBP encourages using Entry Type 13 now
• Watch the progress of the October 8 Low-Value Shipments proposal

Sources

• CBP release: International Mail Entry Type 13 mandatory implementation date extended to Jan. 20, 2027 (Oct. 14, 2026)
• Thompson Hine SmarTrade: CBP Delays Implementation Date of De Minimis Exemption for Mail Shipments (Oct. 15, 2026)