How to send a letter to Canada

How to address and send post to another country — the address layout, postage, delivery times and what you can and can’t send.

Canada

Sending post to Canada
Full name on envelopeRequired
Delivery timeApprox 6–14 business days worldwide.
PostageLetterpost, Tracked Packet/Parcel, Xpresspost/EMS.
PostcodePostal code format A1A 1A1; space required; uppercase.

✉️ Addressing the envelope

Address layout
FULL NAME
STREET NUMBER STREET NAME
MUNICIPALITY PROVINCE POSTAL CODE
CANADA
Example
SOFIA MOREAU
123 4TH AVE SW
CALGARY AB T2P 0H8
CANADA
More examples
PO Box:
Alex Chen
PO BOX 1234
TORONTO ON M5V 3L9
CANADA
Full name
Required
Full given + family name required.
Postcode
Postal code format A1A 1A1; space required; uppercase.
Language
English/French; uppercase municipality/province; no punctuation.

📮 Sending

Postage methods
Letterpost, Tracked Packet/Parcel, Xpresspost/EMS.
Delivery times
Approx 6–14 business days worldwide.

⏱️ How long letters take to reach Canada

From anywhere
about 12 days (1,001 letters)
Within Canada
about 7 days (104 letters)
From USA
about 2 weeks (259 letters)
From United Kingdom
about 10 days (114 letters)
From Germany
about 11 days (56 letters)
From Austria
about 2 weeks (49 letters)
From Australia
about 2 weeks (48 letters)

Based on letters our members logged and marked as received over the last two years, using the quicker letters on each route. A letter may arrive sooner: members don’t always mark a letter as received as soon as it arrives.

🛃 Customs and restrictions

Customs
CN22/CN23 for goods; declare value accurately.
Restrictions
Hazardous, aerosols, perishable restrictions apply.

💡 Tips

Place postal code at end of last line; one space between FSA and LDU.
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