International Express Mail Service (EMS) refers to mutual posting between designated cities with the approval of the postal service of the destination country or to a civilian-run enterprise that provides delivery service in destination country, using the fastest processing procedure and delivering the mail to the addressee in the shortest time.

The English name is International Express Mail Service (abbreviated as EMS).

EMS can be posted at any post office.

Fill out the International EMS dispatch note (Form No. 98-00-15-22) and the Commercial Invoice (Form number 98-00-15-10, if you have prepared your invoice or the content is document, no need to fill it out again); or log on to EZPost (ezpost.post.gov.tw) to declare the information of your mail and print the dispatch note and commercial invoice. Then deliver it together with your mail to the post office for posting. EMS dispatch note can be obtained at any post office.

The sender can choose to apply for additional insurance coverage up to a maximum amount of NTD 50,000.

For more information about the countries (regions) where the service is available, the items that can be posted, and the areas in which the service is available, the size and weight restrictions, and the additional insurance service, please contact at any post office.

EMS is classified into two categories, EMS document and EMS merchandise. EMS document refers to paper sheets or paper products on which words or symbols are written on, or printed materials for perusal that do not have commercial exchange value. All non-document items must be posted for EMS merchandise, and are listed below:

(1) Document: personal letters, official documents, government gazettes, all kinds of certificates, passports, academic transcripts, all kinds of application forms, written notebooks, essays, music sheets, calligraphy and paintings, written cards, written account books.

(2) Non-Document: books, contracts, deeds, catalogs, published essays, published music sheets, dictionaries, magazines, photo albums, photos, puzzles, stickers, labels, blank account books, paper samples, stationery, blank envelopes, blank letterheads, blank cards, blank notebooks, framed paintings and drawings, calendars, seals, credit cards, financial cards, memory cards, CD-ROMs.

Remark: The postage rate of EMS document within 2kg is cheaper than the EMS merchandise. However, when the weight exceeds 2 kg, the postage rate will be similar for both categories of items.

This EMS dispatch note must be completed in English or a language acceptable to destination country.

To clear your item, the Customs in the destination country (area) need to know what the contents are. You must therefore complete your declaration fully, accurately and legible. General description such as ‘foodstuffs', ‘samples', ‘spare parts' etc. are not acceptable. Otherwise, delay and inconvenience may be caused for the addressee. Moreover, a false, misleading or incomplete declaration may lead, for instance, to the seizure of the item.

The sender's signature on the dispatch note/customs declaration form indicates that the information provided is true and that the contents do not contain any dangerous prohibited items, including explosives, compressed or liquefied gases, flammable substances, oxides, toxic and infectious substances, radioactive materials, corrosive materials, 3C products containing lithium batteries, knives, swords and impact weapons, and other dangerous items (such as magnetizing and irritating substances).

The sender should identify the documents required by the destination country (e.g, certificate of origin, sanitary certificate, address pack, and so on) and attach them with the mail, if any; according to the Universal Postal Union Convention, the postal service of each country shall not be responsible for the mail sent to the customs for inspection, regardless of how the sender fills in the customs declaration and how the customs officers rule during the inspection.

1. According to the provisions of the Universal Postal Union Convention, the following items are prohibited from being sent:

Note: The "Regulations Governing the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air" has been implemented on February 25th, 2008. And the violation of the air transport of dangerous goods (all 3C products containing lithium batteries, lead-acid batteries and high-pressure spray cans are classified as such) is punishable by a fine of more than NTD 20,000 but less than NTD 100,000 according to the Civil Aviation Act.

2. Each country has its wide range of prohibited items per its laws and the authority and responsibility of its customs. In case of doubt, please contact the customs services of the destination country.