Christmas package for a missionary, 2026

USPS mail-by dates for Christmas 2026

For delivery by December 25, USPS recommends mailing by:

Ground Advantage to Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories takes 10 days or more, so check the USPS service lookup. USPS says to plan to mail early. These are recommendations, not guarantees, and they don’t include time inside the destination country’s customs.

Source: USPS 2026 Holiday Shipping Deadlines, USPS Newsroom, Sept 22, 2026

MTC or mission field?

• At the MTC: the MTC mailing address includes a tentative departure date. Time the package to arrive well before it. Your missionary gets the full address by email several days before arriving; MTC staff can’t give it out.
• In the field: use the address from your missionary or the mission office. Offices move, so confirm first. Mail between countries can take weeks, so send early.

Source: Provo MTC: Communicating with Missionaries, New Era, “Missionary Mail”

What the Church says not to send

• To the Provo MTC: nothing that needs a fridge, fast food or frozen treats, ice packs or coolers, dairy or cream desserts, meat or seafood (jerky is okay), or fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Use U.S. Mail or a carrier like UPS, FedEx or Amazon. Don’t drop gifts at the security booth or use food apps.
• To the field: don’t send cash (it’s illegal to mail cash internationally), and skip bulky items, books and games, since missionaries move with two suitcases.

Source: Package Guidelines for Missionary Health, Provo MTC, New Era, “Missionary Mail”

Customs and duties

• Every package to another country needs a customs form, with a specific description and value for each item (“wool socks,” not “gifts”). If it’s wrong, the country may return or destroy the package.
• Each country has its own rules and banned items. Check the USPS country listings before you pack.
• Since July 1, 2026, new EU import duties may apply to packages valued up to €150.
• Fees can be high. The Church’s New Era notes some missionaries paid $200 or more to pick up Christmas packages. Small padded envelopes often cost less.

Source: USPS Customs Forms, USPS International Mail Manual, New Era

Get the address right

Never guess an address. Ask your missionary, or check your mission’s page here: it shows the office address when the Church publishes one. Your missionary’s own instructions are in the Missionary Portal.

Find your mission →

Small ideas

• A letter or photos from home. Flat items mail easily.
• Shelf-stable treats (for the MTC, follow the list above).
• Something small that fits in a suitcase.
• Missionaries read mail during the week and reply on preparation day, so a note is never wasted.

Source: Missionary Standards, ch. 3

Common questions

When should I mail a Christmas package to a missionary abroad in 2026?

USPS recommends mailing by December 9, 2026 for First-Class Package International and Priority Mail International, or December 16 for Priority Mail Express International, for delivery by December 25.

What is the 2026 USPS Christmas deadline inside the U.S.?

For the lower 48 states: December 17 for Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail, December 18 for Priority Mail and December 19 for Priority Mail Express.

What should I not send to the Provo MTC?

Nothing that needs refrigeration, fast food, frozen treats, ice packs, dairy, meat or seafood (jerky is okay), or fresh produce, per the Provo MTC package guidelines.

Will my missionary pay customs fees?

Possibly. Every international package needs a customs form, and the destination country may charge duties. The New Era notes some missionaries paid $200 or more for Christmas packages.