How to Send Mail to Canadian Military Personnel: CFPO/FMO Guide

Parcels require an International Customs Declaration form

All parcels sent overseas must include an International Customs Declaration form (such as a CN22, CN23, or CP72), and are subject to customs inspection in the country of destination. You can find these forms at your local Post Office or complete them online. Read more about Customs Requirements.

Addressing formats for sending military mail

How you should format military mail will vary depending on whether you're sending it to a land-based destination or to HMCS. There are also certain guidelines to follow when sending mail from a military base.

Here's a guide to help you.

For land-based deployments

When sending mail to military members stationed on land either within Canada or overseas, address items as follows:RANK/INITIALS/NAME SECTION UNIT CANADIAN CONTINGENT (If appropriate) PO BOX xxxx STN FORCES BELLEVILLE ON K8N 5W6Note: Our delivery standards are guaranteed only up to the domestic delivery point in Belleville. At this point, the CFPO determines the best time and way to send a letter or package according to its destination.

For His Majesty's Canadian Ships

For HMCS, mail is gathered at the FMO either in Halifax, Nova Scotia, or in Victoria, British Columbia. Each FMO is responsible to sort and prepare the mail for delivery to the deployed ship.

Items mailed in Canada to HMCS must be addressed to one of the following:

PO BOX 99000 STN FORCES HALIFAX NS B3K 5X5

PO BOX 17000 STN FORCES VICTORIA BC V9A 7N2

For Your Information

Examples of Proper Addressing to military destinations

FINANCE SECTION CFSU (E) DET SHAPE PO BOX 5048 STN FORCES BELLEVILLE ON K8N 5W6

MS K DUNBAR MESS #3 HMCS CALGARY FMO VICTORIA PO BOX 17000 STN FORCES VICTORIA BC V9A 7N2

PO W SMITH MESS #5 HMCS TORONTO FMO HALIFAX PO BOX 99000 STN FORCES HALIFAX NS B3K 5X5

Sending mail from an overseas Canadian Armed Forces base

If you are a member of the Canadian Armed Forces stationed overseas and you want to mail a letter or parcel to Canada:

• Address the item with the full name, street address and Postal Code

• Drop the parcel off at the CFPO where you are deployed

• The postal rate will be based on the domestic rate from Belleville, Ontario. Find a rate from Belleville to another Canadian destination.

Sending mail out of Canada as a member of a foreign military force

If you belong to a foreign military force serving in Canada and would like to send a letter or parcel out of Canada, you must use form number 43-074-078 with domestic postage affixed.

The following must also be indicated in the upper left-hand corner, under Sender's Name and Address:

Number, rank, name "COMMONWEALTH FORCES" or "NATO FORCES" / Country; address in Canada

For example: 16779 MAJOR J. SMITH NATO FORCES/ENGLAND RR1 OROMOCTO NB E2V 2G2