International reply coupon: Difference between revisions
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→To Buy and Exchange: in accordance with zh:澳门邮电局关于国际回信券兑付相关法规与公示信息之间存在的困惑之处的复函 |
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* IRCs are sold online in post entities of some places, such as Germany and France. | * IRCs are sold online in post entities of some places, such as Germany and France. | ||
* UK suspended the issue of | * UK suspended the issue of IRCs since December 31, 2011 due to the lack of needs, but still accept IRCs to redeem postage. | ||
* Some entities can't exchange IRCs issued by themselves, such as South Korea. | * Some entities can't exchange IRCs issued by themselves, such as South Korea. | ||
* The Holy See can exchange IRCs issued by themselves immediately, which allows customer to buy postage stamps with discount in an indirect way. Using 1.3 EUR to buy an IRC allows to redeem 3.35 EUR for an unregistered airmail destinated to Australia.<ref>[https://www.xiaohongshu.com/discovery/item/68cef569000000001300c7a1 <nowiki>如何使用回信券（便宜购买邮票）—梵蒂冈 [How to use IRCs (to buy postage stamps with discount - The Holy See]</nowiki>]<small>🔐</small>. REDnote. September 21, 2025. [Last accessed on May 25, 2026]. <small>(in Simplified Chinese)</small></ref> | * The Holy See can exchange IRCs issued by themselves immediately, which allows customer to buy postage stamps with discount in an indirect way. Using 1.3 EUR to buy an IRC allows to redeem 3.35 EUR for an unregistered airmail destinated to Australia.<ref name=":0">[https://www.xiaohongshu.com/discovery/item/68cef569000000001300c7a1 <nowiki>如何使用回信券（便宜购买邮票）—梵蒂冈 [How to use IRCs (to buy postage stamps with discount) - The Holy See]</nowiki>]<small>🔐</small>. REDnote. September 21, 2025. [Last accessed on May 25, 2026]. <small>(in Simplified Chinese)</small></ref> | ||
* The chart below shows some basic information to buy and exchange IRCs: | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
!Post Operator | |||
!To buy | |||
!To exchange | |||
!Currency | |||
|- | |||
|China Post | |||
|12 | |||
|7.4 | |||
|CNY | |||
|- | |||
|Hong Kong Post | |||
|19 | |||
|5.5 | |||
|HKD | |||
|- | |||
|Macau Post | |||
|15 | |||
|6 | |||
|MOP | |||
|- | |||
|Chunghwa Post <small>(Taiwan)</small> | |||
|N/A | |||
|13 (Japan IRC only) | |||
|TWD | |||
|- | |||
|Japan Post | |||
|180 | |||
|160 | |||
|JPY | |||
|- | |||
|Deutsche Post <small>(Germany)</small> | |||
|2 | |||
|1.25 | |||
|EUR | |||
|- | |||
|La Poste <small>(France)</small> | |||
|1.8 | |||
|TBC | |||
|EUR | |||
|- | |||
|Korea Post <small>(S. Korea)</small> | |||
|1450 | |||
|850 | |||
|KRW | |||
|- | |||
|Australia Post | |||
|4.55 | |||
|4.3 | |||
|AUD | |||
|- | |||
|Royal Mail <small>(U.K.)</small> | |||
|TBC | |||
|3.6 | |||
|GBP | |||
|- | |||
|Poste Vaticane <small>(The Holy See)</small><ref name=":0" /> | |||
|1.3 | |||
|3.55 maximum | |||
|EUR | |||
|- | |||
|Malta Post<ref>[https://www.xiaohongshu.com/discovery/item/689719710000000003030670 <nowiki>如何在马耳他用国际回信卷（奇遇 [How to use IRC in Malta (special experience]</nowiki>]<small>🔐</small>. REDnote. August 9. 2025. [Last accessed on May 25, 2026]. <small>(in Simplified Chinese)</small></ref> | |||
|TBC | |||
|1.91 | |||
|EUR | |||
|} | |||
== Extended Reading == | == Extended Reading == | ||
* [https://www.ctt.gov.mo/MacauPost/Contents/IRCoupons.aspx?lang=en-us 10 versions of IRC - Macau Post] | * [https://www.ctt.gov.mo/MacauPost/Contents/IRCoupons.aspx?lang=en-us 10 versions of IRC - Macau Post] | ||
* [https://www.upu.int/en/universal-postal-union/activities/philately-ircs/international-reply-coupons-ircs/upu-irc-specimens UPU IRC spicemens] | |||
== Reference == | == Reference == | ||
Latest revision as of 06:38, 3 August 2026
International reply coupon, or simply IRC, is a coupon that can be exchanged at any Universal Postal Union (UPU) members. This coupon was introduced during the Rome Congress in 1907.[1]
On 17 September 2025, at the 28th Universal Postal Congress in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), the UPU member countries decided, with a view to adapting and simplifying the universal services, to discontinue the IRC as of 31 December 2026. In celebration of the exceptional legacy of the IRC, a special commemorative product will be released.[2]
To Buy and Exchange
- IRCs are sold online in post entities of some places, such as Germany and France.
- UK suspended the issue of IRCs since December 31, 2011 due to the lack of needs, but still accept IRCs to redeem postage.
- Some entities can't exchange IRCs issued by themselves, such as South Korea.
- The Holy See can exchange IRCs issued by themselves immediately, which allows customer to buy postage stamps with discount in an indirect way. Using 1.3 EUR to buy an IRC allows to redeem 3.35 EUR for an unregistered airmail destinated to Australia.[3]
- The chart below shows some basic information to buy and exchange IRCs:
| Post Operator | To buy | To exchange | Currency |
|---|---|---|---|
| China Post | 12 | 7.4 | CNY |
| Hong Kong Post | 19 | 5.5 | HKD |
| Macau Post | 15 | 6 | MOP |
| Chunghwa Post (Taiwan) | N/A | 13 (Japan IRC only) | TWD |
| Japan Post | 180 | 160 | JPY |
| Deutsche Post (Germany) | 2 | 1.25 | EUR |
| La Poste (France) | 1.8 | TBC | EUR |
| Korea Post (S. Korea) | 1450 | 850 | KRW |
| Australia Post | 4.55 | 4.3 | AUD |
| Royal Mail (U.K.) | TBC | 3.6 | GBP |
| Poste Vaticane (The Holy See)[3] | 1.3 | 3.55 maximum | EUR |
| Malta Post[4] | TBC | 1.91 | EUR |
Extended Reading
Reference
- ↑ International Reply Coupons. UPU. [Last accessed on May 25, 2026]
- ↑ Press Release: End of a chapter, start of a legacy – the international reply coupon enters the history books. UPU. December 15, 2025. [Last accessed on March 11, 2026].
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 如何使用回信券（便宜购买邮票）—梵蒂冈 [How to use IRCs (to buy postage stamps with discount) - The Holy See]🔐. REDnote. September 21, 2025. [Last accessed on May 25, 2026]. (in Simplified Chinese)
- ↑ 如何在马耳他用国际回信卷（奇遇 [How to use IRC in Malta (special experience]🔐. REDnote. August 9. 2025. [Last accessed on May 25, 2026]. (in Simplified Chinese)
