Press Releases

Deposit of the Instruments of Acceptance of and Accession to the Additional Protocols to the Acts of the Universal Postal Union

July 6, 2026
Japanese
  1. On July 6 (the same day local time), Japan deposited its instruments of acceptance of and accession to the following Additional Protocols with the Director General of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) in Bern, Switzerland:
      　
    1. Twelfth Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (the Instrument of Acceptance)
      2. 　
    2. Fourth Additional Protocol to the General Regulations of the Universal Postal Union (the Instrument of Accession)
      3. 　
    3. Fifth Additional Protocol to the General Regulations of the Universal Postal Union (the Instrument of Acceptance)
      4. 　
    4. First Additional Protocol to the Universal Postal Convention (the Instrument of Accession)
      5. 　
    5. Second Additional Protocol to the Universal Postal Convention (the Instrument of Acceptance)

  2. These Protocols will enter into force for Japan on the following dates:
      　
    1. The Twelfth Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union, the Fifth Additional Protocol to the General Regulations of the Universal Postal Union and the Second Additional Protocol to the Universal Postal Convention: January 1, 2027
      *Certain provisions of the latter two Additional Protocols will however enter into force on July 6, 2026.
      2. 　
    2. The Fourth Additional Protocol to the General Regulations of the Universal Postal Union and the First Additional Protocol to the Universal Postal Convention: July 6, 2026

    3. 　
  3. As a member state of the UPU, Japan will continue to steadily implement international postal services through its activities in UPU.

(Reference)Overview of the aforementioned Additional Protocols

  1. The Additional Protocols listed in 1 (1), (3) and (5) were adopted on September 19, 2025, at the 28th Universal Postal Congress held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Additional Protocols listed in 1 (2) and (4) were adopted on October 5, 2023, at the UPU Extraordinary Congress held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 　
  2. These Additional Protocols amend the UPU Constitution, the UPU General Regulations, and the Universal Postal Convention to make necessary changes concerning matters related to, inter alia, the operation of the UPU and international postal services. 　
  3. The National Diet of Japan approved the conclusion of these Additional Protocols on May 29, 2026.
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