Lettermail™
The following sections are covered in this chapter:
2 | What Is Lettermail? |  |
Lettermail is the most convenient and cost-effective way in Canada to send personal messages, business correspondence, invoices, and billing statements within Canada.
Lettermail can include:
- a letter
- a postcard
- a card
- a receipt or invoice
- notice of voting for federal, provincial or municipal events
- a self-mailer
- an annual, semi-annual or quarterly report (or similar document containing financial information)
- product/service information
- a CD or DVD
- flexible magnets
- any other mail that the sender chooses to post at the Lettermail price and which meets the regulatory requirements.
Lettermail falls into two categories:
- Standard Mail– mail that has a maximum length of 245 mm (235 mm if card or postcard), a maximum width of 156 mm (120 mm if card or postcard), a maximum thickness of 5 mm, that weighs 50 g or less and which otherwise meets the regulatory requirements for Standard Mail.
- Other Lettermail (Non-standard/Oversize) – mail that does not qualify as Standard Mail and which does not exceed a maximum length of 380 mm, a maximum width of 270 mm, a maximum thickness of 20 mm and a maximum weight of 500 g.
No Lettermail item may be less than 140 mm in length, 90 mm in width or 0.18 mm in thickness.
Any item that exceeds the maximum Lettermail size or weight may qualify for one of the Parcel services.
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NOTE :
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Lettermail with a postal indicia and tendered with an Order (Statement of Mailing) is subject to the terms and conditions outlined in General Terms and Conditions. See in particular the section entitled “Entire Agreement”.
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3 | Unacceptable Items | |
The following items cannot be mailed as Standard Lettermail:
- bottle caps
- coins
- food stuffs
- glass
- jewellery
- keys
- liquids
- pencils
- pens
- powders
- seeds
- anything fragile or perishable
- anything that may soil or harm other mail, postal equipment, or can cause injuries to persons handling them.
The above items may be mailed as Other Lettermail (Non-standard/Oversize) and the applicable price shall be charged.
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NOTE 1:
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In order to qualify for Standard Mail prices, place punched or perforated cards, or self-mailers with a pin-feed hold strip in sealed envelopes.
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2:
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Staples are not permitted on the outside of a Standard Lettermail item.
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4 | Enclosures | |
Enclosures are acceptable as long as they are securely wrapped to prevent loss of or damage to the items, damage to postal equipment or the other mail and injury to persons handling them.
5 | Size and Weight | |
Each Lettermail item must meet the size and weight specifications shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Lettermail Size and Weight
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Aspect ratio is the relationship between the length and the width. |
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Recommended by Canada Post.
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NOTE 1:
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A self-mailer is an article other than a card, postcard, magazine or catalogue that does not have an outer cover, wrapping or envelope in addition to the paper or material on which the communication is written. |
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2:
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Any item that exceeds the maximum size or weight of Oversize Lettermail no longer qualifies as Lettermail and may qualify for one of the Parcel Services.
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Standard Lettermail envelopes and self-mailers must be fully sealed on all sides. Customers mailing unsealed envelopes or brochures, fanfolds or newsletters not enclosed in envelopes, will be charged the applicable Other Lettermail price.
When supported by two level supports located no more than 10 mm from the left and right edges, Standard Lettermail may not sag more than 10 mm in the middle.
On an item of Standard Lettermail, graphics or other printing shall not be less than 45 mm from the bottom of the front of the item, nor in the area prescribed for postage. Additional regulatory requirements apply to Standard Lettermail paid by postage meter or postal indicia. Visit the Lettermail Regulations at
http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showtdm/cr/SOR-88-430 or visit www.canadapost.ca/postalstandards for information regarding Lettermail format.
6 | Pricing Information | |
To obtain information on pricing:
7 | Payment Options | |
Table 2 lists the acceptable proofs of payment for Lettermail items. Some restrictions or conditions may apply.
Table 2: Lettermail Proofs of Payment
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A postage stamp cannot be applied to a Lettermail item as a method of payment for Orders prepared using Electronic Shipping Tools (EST). |
Table 3 lists the acceptable methods of payment for Lettermail items. Some restrictions or conditions may apply.
Table 3: Lettermail Methods of Payment
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Payment by cash, debit card or Money Order is available only to Customers paying at a post office. |
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Customers using the Electronic Shipping Tools (EST) cannot pay by postage stamp. |
For more information, see section 4.6 “Pay for the Item” of the “ABCs of Mailing” chapter.
7.2.1
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Government Mail Free of Postage
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Government Mail Free of Postage allows for mail to be sent to and from the following individuals free of postage provided that both the sender and receiver are in Canada:
- the Governor General
- the Speaker or Clerk of the Senate or House of Commons
- the Parliamentary Librarian or the Associate Parliamentary Librarian
- Members of the Senate
- Members of the House of Commons
- the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner or Senate Ethics Officer.
For more information, see the chapter “Government Mail Free of Postage” of the Canada Postal Guide.
7.2.2
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Literature for the Blind
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Materials for the use of the blind mailed in Canada for delivery in Canada may be sent free of postage. See the chapter “Literature for the Blind” for more information.
8 | Service Standards at a Glance | |
Service standards are estimates of how long it will take for the mail to be delivered from the point of deposit to the destination points. These service standards are not guaranteed.
Table 4: Lettermail Service Standards For specific service standards, see the chapter “Service Standards”
9 | Features | |
A feature is something that is provided as part of the basic service. The available features are described below.
Lettermail items that cannot be delivered as originally addressed will be redirected to the addressee while there is a Change of Address Notification (COAN) in effect.
Lettermail items that are undeliverable, or if no Change of Address Notification (COAN) is in effect, will be returned to the sender if a Canadian return address appears on the outside of the item. When the return address is on the inside of the item, it will be returned to the Customer for a fee.
10 | Options | |
An option is a service enhancement which is not included automatically as part of the basic service. The Customer must select the option by checking a box or affixing an additional label or sticker. Most options are available for an additional fee. The available options are described below.
Registered Mail secures the signature of the addressee and provides the sender with a mailing receipt, a copy of the signature and the date upon delivery of the item.
Bar-coded shipping labels allow Registered Mail items to be tracked. Delivery information is available, usually by noon on the business day following delivery, on Canada Post’s website, from the Customer Relationship Support group at 1-888-550-6333, the Electronic Shipping Tools (EST) or the Electronics Data Interchange, where links exist. Some exceptions apply in smaller centres.
Registered Mail offers Signature Copy, Delivery Confirmation and Coverage for loss or damage. For detailed information, see the chapter “Registered Mail (Domestic)”.
Letters forwarded under cover to a postmaster with a request for reposting must be endorsed “POSTED AT _______ UNDER COVER TO THE POSTMASTER AT ___________”. Items containing Lettermail prepaid by postage stamps that are sent under cover to the postmaster must bear the words “POSTMASTER, PLEASE OPEN FOR CANCELLATION AND PROCESSING” and are processed in the usual manner. The item containing the Lettermail must have the correct postage.
11 | Addressing | |
See the chapter “Addressing Guidelines” for information on addressing.
Additional regulatory requirements apply to Standard Lettermail paid by postage meter or postal indicia. Visit http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/showtdm/cr/SOR-88-430 for the Lettermail Regulations.
12 | Mail Preparation and Presortation | |
Lettermail must be securely wrapped to prevent loss of or damage to the item, damage to postal equipment or other mail and injury to persons handling the item.
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NOTE :
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Lettermail tendered with an Order ( Statement of Mailing) must be containerized as set out in the Mail Preparation and Presortation Guide. Visit the Machineable Mail Preparation and Presortation Guide at www.canadapost.ca/mailpreparation for instructions. |
13 | Deposit of Lettermail | |
Postage for Lettermail can be purchased at any post office. If sufficient postage (stamp or meter impression) is affixed to the item, it may be deposited in a street letterbox, at any post office, in a community mailbox (CMB) or at a processing plant. Items with a postal indicia cannot be dropped into a street letterbox and must be dropped off at a post office, facility or processing plant.
14 | Delivery of Lettermail | |
Lettermail items can be delivered to any of the following locations:
- to the door
- to a group mailbox
- to apartments and condominiums
- to a community mailbox
- to a rural mailbox
- to a post office box
- via general delivery
- via a container/bag service.
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