International Business Reply
Encourage your international customers or prospects to respond to your business mail by offering International Business Reply - the postal version of a freephone number.
You can offer International Business Reply with all your business mail sent internationally. Post as much or as little as you like – and you’ll only be charged for the responses you receive.
We’ll deliver responses to your New Zealand Post PO Box or Private Bag address.
Delivery targets differ depending on the where the items are sent back.
Cost to receive mail by International Business Reply
The cost for International Business Reply is $3.4780 GST zero-rated per response from all countries worldwide.
| Dimensions | Minimum thickness | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cards | Min: 90mm x 140mm Max: 130mm x 235mm |
0.18mm | Paper: 140gsm Max: 10g |
| Envelopes | Min: 90mm x 140mm Max: 130mm x 235mm |
N/A | Max: 50g |
Receiving mail by International Business Reply
The first step is to apply for a NZ Post PO Box or Private Bag (if you currently do not have one) for the International Business Reply responses to be sent to. You also need to have a NZ Post Account to use this service.
The second step is to apply for a NZ Post credit account (not your PO Box account number starting with 6 or your Courier account starting with 9) for the International Business Reply mail items to be charged to.
If you do not have a NZ Post credit account, please download the Application for Credit and NZ Post Direct Debit and email with an International Business Reply application form as PDFs to [email protected].
The third step is to apply for an International Business Reply authority number by completing the International Business Reply application form (PDF - 41KB) and including an example of your response device. You cannot have an International Business Reply authority number that is already being used by someone else, or if NZ Post decides it isn't suitable.
The fourth step is to use the International Business Reply layout guide below to design your response device. When your format has been approved, you can have your printer print your International Business Reply authority number beneath the Economy, or Par Avion indicator at the top left corner of your response
Once you have completed these steps you can include your pre-printed International Business Reply card or envelope with your mail.
Format requirements
Your card or envelope design must meet the following requirements:
- Your response device must meet the above layout guidelines so that overseas postal administrations recognise that no postage is required
- Response devices must be addressed to a NZ Post PO Box or Private Bag address in New Zealand. Street addresses are not accepted
- Your response can be either a card or an envelope.
We recommend that you talk with us about your International Business Reply card or envelope design prior to printing. You can have your layout approved by emailing it to [email protected]. We’ll be in touch if we have any queries or need to suggest a change to your design. If everything is ok, we’ll let you know that your design has been approved.
As soon as your International Business Reply layout design is approved, you can go ahead and have your cards or envelopes printed.
Cancelling an authority number
You are able to use your International Business Reply authority number until it is cancelled, either by yourself, or NZPost.
Please inform us in writing by sending an email to [email protected] if you wish to cancel your International Business Reply authority number.
NZ Post reserves the right to cancel your International Business Reply authority number at any time.
Once your International Business Reply authority number is cancelled, please inform your customers that the number is no longer to be used. You’ll continue to be charged for any business mail received using your International Business Reply authority number after it has been cancelled.
Notifications and payment
When you receive International Business Reply responses, we’ll leave your responses in your NZ Post PO Box or Private Bag and we will charge the payment to your NZ Post Account.
Find out how to open a NZ Post account.
Please note: Your International Business Reply authority number is not the same as your Domestic ReplyPaid authority number.
Legal information
The standard terms and conditions of the products and services offered by New Zealand Post Limited, including information on the extent of our liability, are set out in the Public Contract and the Postal Users' Guide. They are also available for reference at PostShop stores and selected New Zealand Post retail outlets.
Delivery Targets
For the purposes of delivery targets, the day in which the item is accepted by us is day zero. If you post an item, or hand it over the counter in a New Zealand Post retail outlet after that day’s final clearance, or on Saturday or Sunday, day zero will be the next working day.
You can expect that items will usually arrive at their destination within the delivery target specified. Because New Zealand Post does not directly control all parts of the delivery chain, we cannot guarantee that your item will always reach its destination within the delivery target. Delivery to areas outside major cities, or where your item is dutiable or held in Customs, may take longer. For information on our delivery targets for international destinations, view our guide to World Zones.
Required postage
The required postage is the value of postage required for New Zealand Post to carry the item. Actual price paid may vary instore. The required postage and specifications are subject to change.
Cover for loss or damage, prohibited & restricted items
Before sending mail items, make sure your item is safe to send and will be covered if it goes missing or is damaged. Make sure you read about cover for loss or damage and prohibited & restricted items.
Sending to the United States of America and US territories
- There have been changes to the application of import duties and taxes when sending to the U.S., as implemented by the U.S. Government. These changes impact all sending from NZ from August 2025. The payment of the duties and taxes varies by service.
- To enable contact and facilitate clearance, you must supply the contact information of both sender and receiver.
- Letters and documents are not subject to taxes or duties, and may be sent by any NZ Post service, subject to completion of a consignment note.
- Bona fide gifts under NZ$150 are able to be sent by one individual to another individual with no duty and tax, via any NZ Post service. These items must be genuine gifts in line with the standards set by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and declared as Gift on the consignment note.
- For all items for which duties and taxes are due, these must be sent by Express, and the receiver is required to pay the duty or taxes. If the receiver cannot be contacted within 3 days from the first attempt by our delivery partner to arrange payment, then the item will be either returned to sender at sender’s cost or destroyed, according to instructions on the consignment note.
- These conditions may change as the situation continues to evolve. Visit International delivery updates for up to date information.
- Timelines for deliveries are guidelines only; we expect to see considerable delays with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection as they implement changes.
Trademarks and notes
All products/services mentioned are trade marks of New Zealand Post Limited.