Why is my envelope priced as a parcel?
Since 1 January 2026, Czech Post's international registered letter service carries only documents. An envelope with a SIM card, bank card, gift card or any other item ships as a parcel. An envelope with documents only can still go as a letter, at the lower letter price.
Most likely because it contains something other than documents. Since 1 January 2026, Czech Post's international registered letter service may carry only documents and written messages. An envelope with a SIM card, a bank card, a gift card or any other item can't go at the letter rate, so it ships, and is priced, as a parcel.
Which shipments this affects
The rule comes from Czech Post. It applies to envelopes we send with Czech Post's registered letter service with tracking, which we use from the Czech and German warehouses. You can see the Czech Post services on the delivery methods page.
An envelope heavier than 2 kg also ships as a parcel, because the letter service takes up to 2 kg.
What can go as a letter
| Envelope contents | Letter rate? |
|---|---|
| Documents only: paperwork, certificates, written letters | Yes |
| SIM cards | No |
| Credit or debit cards | No |
| Gift cards | No |
| Documents together with any card or other item | No |
A single card is enough to make the whole envelope a parcel, even if everything else is paper.
What it costs
Parcel services cost more than the letter service. Check the parcel prices for your destination in the shipping cost calculator. If you're waiting for a new bank card or SIM card, plan for the parcel price.
Your envelope contains only documents
Then it can still go as a registered letter, and we price it as a letter instead of a parcel. Write to us through Contact us from the email address of your Tiptrans account, and include:
- the package ID of the envelope, for example #1234A,
- a confirmation that it contains only documents and no cards of any kind.
If you requested dispatch by the letter service and we canceled the request, see Why was my shipment request canceled?