Purpose: This article explains all you need to know in order to process Deutsche Post International labels, including how to enable the shipping method and how to create air waybills. We also give you information on the shipping conditions applied by the carriers.
Shipping with Deutsche Post International
Deutsche Post International is an international shipping method available to customers who have an existing contract with either DHL Express or Deutsche Post. Shipments will first be delivered to Frankfurt, Germany for sorting, then be delivered to their final destination. To enable Deutsche Post International as a shipping method, a contract with Deutsche Post must be enabled in your Sendcloud Panel. For help enabling your carrier contract, click here.
For all packages sent with Deutsche Post International, an Air waybill (AWB) is required to accompany the shipment on the 1st-leg journey to the Deutsche Post International Mail Centre in Frankfurt, Germany.
Deutsche Post International is an ideal shipping solution for e-commerce businesses needing a reliable and cost efficient means to deliver small packages and letters (under 2kg) containing low-value goods internationally.
What is an Air waybill?
Single parcels to be shipped with Deutsche Post International will have individual Deutsche Post (DP) labels created for them in the Sendcloud Panel. When the parcels are ready to be shipped, they are collected together in a box or parcel bag. The AWB is generated in Sendcloud as a single document that applies to all the individual parcels contained in the parcel box or bag.
When the shipment reaches the International Mail Centre in Frankfurt it will be opened and the individual parcels will be sorted and processed through the DP network. When processed, the local postal service provider of the destination country will complete the 2nd-leg journey by delivering the parcels to their final destination.
Follow the steps below to learn how to create an Air waybill and ship with Deutsche Post International through your Sendcloud Panel.
How to process Deutsche Post International labels in the Sendcloud Panel
Step 1.
In the Incoming orders overview, select the orders you want to ship with Deutsche Post International Priority/Tracked and click Create labels.
Step 2.
For labels to be shipped with Deutsche Post International, you will receive the following message to let you know that an AWB is required. Press Ok to confirm.
"Some of the labels you're creating use a Deutsche Post International shipping method. The necessary air waybill can be generated from the created labels view."
Step 3.
Go to Shipping > Orders > Created labels tab to see the labels you created. Go to Actions on the right hand-side and select Generate Air waybill from the dropdown menu to proceed. All labels requiring an AWB which do not yet have one will be included in the AWB generation.
Step 4.
The following message will appear asking you for final confirmation and to confirm the number of air waybills that you want to create. If you want to ship more than one box/parcel bag of parcels, you can use this option to indicate how many AWBs you need for the number of boxes/parcel bags you are shipping. For example, if you want to ship your parcels in 4 parcel bags, you select 4 AWB copies. Press Create to confirm.
Note: Once an AWB is created it cannot be cancelled.
Step 5.
Print the labels for the individual parcels as usual, and attach them. Put the parcels in your shipment box/parcel bag/s.
Step 6.
Print the AWB on A4 paper and attach it to the outside of the shipment box/parcel bag/s containing your parcels. Hand the bag or box in to your local DHL drop off point as usual.
Step 7.
Labels for which an AWB is generated will appear in the Created labels and Shipping tabs with the tag “Air waybill” under the tracking number. All labels in the shipment will have the same Tracking number up until the point they reach the 1st-leg destination in Frankfurt. Please note that shipments sent with Deutsche Post International Priority will not receive additional tracking information from this point. This is only available when shipping with the Deutsche Post International Tracked service.
Step 8.
You can view the AWBs you've created in the detail view of any of the parcels you included in the AWB. In the Created labels tab, click the eye icon next to a created label to enter the parcel detail view. In the parcel detail view, click the drop down Actions menu.
My AWB failed to generate/failed to announce OR my parcels have moved to the "Action required" tab - what do I do?
Check the steps below:- If you receive an error message that the AWB failed to generate we recommend waiting some minutes and trying to generate the AWB again. It could be that there is downtime on the side of the carrier.
- Parcels with a failed AWB announcement will be appear in the tab "Action required".
- In order to create an AWB, all of the labels included need to have been successful. If one of the labels you are trying to include in your AWB is not properly announced, you will receive a message asking if you want to continue to generate the AWB without including the failed parcel(s). The failed parcels will then need to be included in another AWB later.
- Alternatively, if you want to include the failed label/s in the shipment, press Cancel and reselect all the labels in your Created labels overview to try and generate the AWB again.
Shipping Conditions
Packet:
Maximum weight: 2kg
Minimum dimensions: 140mm x 90mm
Maximum dimensions: Length + width + height must not exceed 900mm / No dimension is to exceed 600mm
Delivery time indicators
Germany: 2- 4 Days
Europe: 3 - 6 Days
USA & Canada: 5 - 9 Days
Rest of World: 6 - 13 Days
Shipping Methods
Deutsche Post International Priority (Available for NL, BE, AT, FR, ES)
Possible destinations: 220+ countries
Tracking information: No*
Signature required on delivery: No*
Compensation in case of loss or damage: No**
Free return of undeliverable items: Yes***
*Shipment status will be submitted upon arrival at the DP International Mail Centre in Frankfurt. From this point onward, packages will not receive further status updates. For full tracking information, consider shipping with Deutsche Post International Tracked.
**Shipments sent with Deutsche Post International Priority are not insured by default.
***Items which cannot be delivered in the destination country are returned to you, the sender, via the DP International Mail centre. From here, items are sorted and returned on a weekly basis to the return address specified.
Deutsche Post International Tracked (Available for NL, BE, ES, FR)
Possible destinations: 50+ countries*
Tracking information: Yes
Signature required on delivery: No**
Compensation in case of loss or damage: Yes***
Free return of undeliverable items: Yes****
*Shipment to the below countries:
- NL/FR/BE: AW, AU, AT, BE, BR, CA, HR, CY, CZ, DK, DO, EE, FI, FR, DE, GI, GR, HK, HU, IS, ID, IE, IL, IT, JP, JE, KR, LV, LB, LT, LU, MY, MT, MU, MX, NL, NZ, NO, PL, PT, RU, SA, RS, SG, SK, SI, ZA, ES, SE, CH, TH, TR, GB, US
- ES:AW, AU, AT, BE, BR, CA, HR, CY, CZ, DK, ZA, EE, FI, FR, DE, GI, GR, HK, HU, IS, IS, IE, IL, IT, JP, JE, KR, LV, LB, LT, LU, MY, MT, MU, MX, NL, NZ, NO, PL, PT, RU, SA, RS, SG, SK, SI, MA, ES, SE, CH, TH, TR, GB, US
**Items sent with this service do not require a signature as they are scanned on delivery. Items are posted in the mailbox or can be picked up from a local post office, depending on the local delivery standard.
***Compensation of up to €40 can be claimed if an item sent on the Tracked service is lost or damaged by submitting an official claims form, available from your account manager.
****Items which cannot be delivered in the destination country are returned to you, the sender, via the DP International Mail centre. From here, items are sorted and returned on a weekly basis to the return address specified.
Deutsche Post International Packet Plus (Available from NL, IT, FR, BE, AT, DE, UK)
Shipping method characteristics
- Shipping to 220+ countries
- Tracking available
- Signature is required upon delivery
- No compensation in case of loss or damage
Destinations
Click here to see the destination countries
BE,NL,DE,BG,DK,EE,FI,FR,GB,HU,IE,IT,LV,LT,LU,AT,PL,PT,RO,SI,SK,ES,CZ,SE,GR,HR,NO,CH,RS,BA,LI,MC,IS,AF,AX,AL,DZ,AS,AD,AO,AI,AQ,AG,AR,AM,AW,AU,AZ,BS,BH,BD,BB,BY,BZ,BJ,BM,BT,BO,BQ,BW,BV,BR,IO,BN,BF,BI,KH,CM,CA,CV,KY,CF,TD,CL,CN,CX,CC,CO,KM,CG,CD,CK,CR,CI,CU,CW,CY,DJ,DM,DO,EC,EG,SV,GQ,ER,ET,FK,FO,FJ,GF,PF,TF,GA,GM,GE,GH,GI,GL,GD,GP,GU,GT,GG,GN,GW,GY,HT,HM,VA,HN,HK,IN,ID,IR,IQ,IM,IL,JM,JP,JE,JO,KZ,KE,KI,KP,KR,KW,KG,LA,LB,LS,LR,LY,MO,MK,MG,MW,MY,MV,ML,MT,MH,MQ,MR,MU,YT,MX,FM,MD,MN,ME,MS,MA,MZ,MM,NA,NR,NP,NC,NZ,NI,NE,NG,NU,NF,MP,OM,PK,PW,PS,PA,PG,PY,PE,PH,PN,PR,QA,RE,RU,RW,BL,SH,KN,LC,MF,PM,VC,WS,SM,ST,SA,SN,SC,SL,SG,SB,SO,ZA,GS,LK,SD,SR,SS,SJ,SZ,SY,TW,TJ,TZ,TH,TL,TG,TK,TO,TT,TN,TR,TM,TC,TV,UG,UA,AE,US,UM,UY,UZ,VU,VE,VN,VG,VI,WF,EH,YE,ZM,ZW,IC,XK
Customs declarations: If you are shipping internationally to a country which is outside of the EU, you will still need to attach a customs declaration label (CN22) to the outside of each parcel, plus three to five copies of the commercial invoice. A CN22 label will automatically be generated in label detail view when a non-EU destination country is selected.
How to Activate Deutsche Post International
To enable Deutsche Post International as a shipping method you need to have an account with Deutsche Post. Go to the settings for your Deutsche Post contract by going to Settings > Carriers & pricing > My Contracts and add the Deutsche Post client ID, (10 digit number) DHL Express EKP and client secret.
Note: It's not necessary to add an email address, password or EKP/customer number. Doing so will generate an error. Only the fields which say "Deutsche Post International only" are required. Click here for help enabling your Deutsche Post contract.
Direct contract shipping methods
If you have a direct contract with Deutsche Post International, you can easily integrate it with your Sendcloud account. Our Deutsche Post International Contract Activation guide explains how to connect your direct contract. This setup allows you to ship under your own terms and conditions.
Direct contract shipping methods
| Shipping method | Shipping method ID |
| Deutsche Post International Packet Plus | 6897 |
| Deutsche Post International Packet Plus - insured €100 | 6898 |
| Deutsche Post International Packet Plus - insured €200 | 6899 |
| Deutsche Post International Packet Plus - insured €300 | 6900 |
| Deutsche Post International Priority | 2641 |
| Deutsche Post International Tracked | 2640 |