General Postal Service - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the postage rate by air for letters/parcels?
Q2: How long does a local letter take to reach its destination?
Q3: What is the delivery time for air/surface parcels?
Q4: Can cash be sent through the post?
Q5: Where can I obtain postal services after 6pm and on weekends?
Q6: How can I trace/check the status of a letter/parcel which has been posted?
Q7: What is surface mail?
Q8: What is the maximum size/weight for letters/parcels being sent overseas?
Q9: What is a parcel?
Q10: Will mail with the 4-digit postal codes still be delivered?
Q11: Why can't the 6-digit postal code be incorporated in the telephone directory?
Q12: Will new editions of the postal code directory be printed annually?

Q1: What is the postage rate by air for letters/parcels?
Please refer to the letters/parcels rate table according to the zone the countries are classified.

Q2: How long does a local letter take to reach its destination?
Most letters posted before 5.00pm outside Central Business District and 7.00pm within Central Business District should be delivered to the recipient by the next working day.

Q3: What is the delivery time for air/surface parcels?
Generally, delivery time for air parcel is estimated between 6 to 15 days & surface parcels between 3 to 8 weeks depending on the destinations.

Q4: Can cash be sent through the post?
Cash cannot be sent by ordinary post. However in Singapore, cash below S$100 can be sent by registered post. It is, however, not encouraged. Money Orders or Postal Orders are recommended. For posting overseas, cash can only be sent through "insured" post provided it is not prohibited by the receiving postal administration.

Q5: Where can I obtain postal services after 6pm and on weekends?
Post Offices highlighted in yellow are opened on weekends.

Q6: How can I trace/check the status of a letter/parcel which has been posted?
To track an item, you need a tracking number.

If your item does not have a tracking number, it means that your item is sent via ordinary/normal mail.  Ordinary mail is not tracked nor traceable.  

if your item is sent via registered article service, you can track its status using the quick tool, 'Track Item' located at the top left hand to get an online update. Alternatively, you can fill up an enquiry form which is obtainable at all post offices, attach the registered article receipt and present at our post office for us to follow up with the country of destination, it takes between 1 week to 3 weeks for the country of destination to revert their finding to us.

For Speedpost packages (both worldwide and islandwide), you can track items via our website www.speedpost.com.sg or contact our Speedpost hotline 1800 222 5777 (for Singapore use only).

Q7: What is surface mail?
Surface mail is mail despatched by sea or land. Estimated delivery time for such items is between 2 to 4 weeks for letters and 3 to 8 weeks for parcels.

Q8: What is the maximum size/weight for letters/parcels being sent overseas?
The maximum weight for letters is 2kg and for parcels 10, 15, 20, 30 or 35kg depending on the destination.

Q9: What is a parcel?
Items which are not letters can be sent as parcels. Examples are machine parts, samples, goods and merchandise. In general, parcels up to 20 kg are acceptable. Strong, rigid containers are recommended to better protect fragile items. Containers are to be sealed with strong adhesive or packing tape and tied with string. The postage can be found in the postage rate table.

Q10: Will mail with the 4-digit postal codes still be delivered?
SingPost's current state-of-the-art system is designed to sort 6-digit postal code items speedier. 4-digit postal coded mails will still be delivered, but will take longer as manual sorting is required.

Q11: Why can't the 6-digit postal code be incorporated in the telephone directory?
The telephone book has listings of subscribers' names in alphabetical order. Including the postal codes against each name would not facilitate one's search as other names in the household would not be listed.

It is hence more convenient for the public to have a separate directory.

Q12: Will new editions of the postal code directory be printed annually?
The number of new addresses is small. Therefore new editions of the postal code directory will not be printed annually. However, postal codes for new addresses are available from all post offices or from this website at our 6-digit Postal Code.

Surcharged Mail

Q1 Why does SingPost levy an additional handling fee of $1 in addition to the unpaid postage if a mail is found with insufficient postage?
The handling fee of S$1 is to cover the administrative cost of collecting the unpaid postage. The postman has to personally call at the addressee’s house to deliver mail with insufficient postage instead of delivering the item into the letterbox under normal circumstances.

Q2 The sender of the mail is the one that underpays the mail postage. Why does SingPost collect the fee from the addressee rather than the sender?
There are a few reasons for this international practice:
a) The mail must be delivered as expeditiously as possible. SingPost will need time and resources to check and contact the sender and this may delay delivery;
b) Most senders also do not write their address or contact number on the mail item Hence, SingPost might not be able to trace the sender; and.
c) For confidentiality reasons, SingPost also does not open up mail items to check for such information without attempting to deliver them first.

It is also a postal practice worldwide to collect unpaid postage in addition to the handling fee from the addressee.

Q3 Does the addressees have the right to refuse payment of the handling fee and unpaid postage?
Yes, the addressee could reject the letter and hence is not obliged to pay any charges.

Q4 What happens to the mail item if the addressee rejects it?
SingPost is obliged to return the mail to the sender and claim the same charges
from the sender.

Q5 By asking the addressee to pay, isn’t this practice encouraging the sender to continue sending mail with insufficient postage?
There will be inconvenience to all parties if the correct postage is not paid. It is therefore important for the sender to check and apply the appropriate postage before posting. In this way, the mail will be processed expeditiously without delay and inconvenience to the addressee.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Find answers to most questions.

Courier Service

• Speedpost

Financial & Life Planning

• Payment Protector Basic for GE PErsonal Loan Account Holder
• Payment Protector Plus for ezyCASH Customer
• Postline  

Online Shopping

• vPost

Postal Service

• General Postal Service
• My Mail Box 
• Registered Articles  

Post Office Counter Service

• Passport Collection
• Passport - Collection (Chinese)

Remittance Services

• Remittance to India via State Bank of India (SBI)
• Remittance to Indonesia via Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI)
• Remittance to Philippines via Banco De Oro (BDO)
• Remittance to Philippines via Philippine National Bank (PNB)
• Remittance via Visa Money Transfer