Acts of the Union and other decisions

Permanent Acts

Constitution

The Constitution is the basic Act of the Union. It contains the organic rules of the Union and is not subject to reservations.

The Constitution currently includes ten Additional Protocols.

General Regulations

The General Regulations embody those provisions which ensure the application of the Constitution and the working of the Union. They are binding on all member countries and are not subject to reservations.

The General Regulations currently include two Additional Protocols.

Non-permanent Acts

Universal Postal Convention

The Universal Postal Convention and its Regulations embody the rules applicable throughout the international postal service and the provisions concerning the letter-post and postal parcels services. These Acts are binding on all member countries. Member countries must ensure that their designated operators fulfil the obligations arising from the Convention and its Regulations.

Postal Payment Services Agreement

The Postal Payment Services Agreement, its Additional/Final Protocol, and its Regulations are binding only on the countries that are parties to the Agreement.

The Agreements of the Union, and their Regulations, regulate the services other than those of the letter post and postal parcels between those member countries which are parties to them. They are binding on those member countries only. Signatory member countries must ensure that their designated operators fulfil the obligations arising from the Agreements and their Regulations.

The Regulations, which contain the rules of application necessary for the implementation of the Convention and of the Agreements, are drawn up by the Postal Operations Council, bearing in mind the decisions taken by Congress.

Models

Member countries that did not sign the Acts adopted at Congress are required to accede to them as soon as possible.

In accordance with article 26 of the UPU Constitution, the instruments of ratification of the Constitution and the Additional Protocols thereto and, where appropriate, of approval of the other Acts of the Union must be deposited as soon as possible with the Director General of the International Bureau.

Acts of current cycle

  • Part I – Eleventh Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union – Third Additional Protocol to the General Regulations of the Universal Postal Union – Universal Postal Convention – Final Protocol to the Universal Postal Convention – Postal Payment Services Agreement – Final Protocol to the Postal Payment Services Agreement – Declarations made on signature of the Acts – Rules of Procedure of Congresses – Decisions of the 2021 Abidjan Congress other than those amending the Acts
     
    Part II – Constitution of the Universal Postal Union – General Regulations of the Universal Postal Union – Universal Postal Convention – Final Protocol to the Universal Postal Convention – Postal Payment Services Agreement – Final Protocol to the Postal Payment Services Agreement

Acts of previous Congresses

Final texts of acts and decisions other than those amending acts.

Permanent Acts

The permanent Acts of the Union are the Constitution of the 1964 Vienna Congress and its Additional Protocols (1969–2018), and the General Regulations and its Additional Protocols (2016–2018).

The Constitution currently includes ten Additional Protocols. The provisions relating to the application of the Constitution and the operation of the Union are contained in the General Regulations, which are revised at each Congress. The General Regulations currently include two Additional Protocols.

  • The Vienna Constitution is the first Constitution of the Universal Postal Union.
  • Article I (article 8 amended) Restricted Unions. Special Agreements
    Article II (article 11 amended) Accession or admission to the Union. Procedure
    Article III (article 13 amended) The Union's bodies
    Article IV (article 18 amended) Consultative Council for Postal Studies
    Article V (article 21 amended) Expenditure of the Union. Contributions of Member countries
    Article VI (article 26 amended) Notification of ratifications and other forms of approval of the Acts of the Union
    Article VII Accession to the Additional Protocol and to the other Acts of the Union
    Article VIII Entry into force of the Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union
  • Article I (article 21 amended) Expenditure of the Union. Contributions of Member countries
    Article II Choice of contribution class
    Article III Accession to the Additional Protocol and to the other Acts of the Union
    Article IV Entry into force and duration of the Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union
  • Article I (article 13 amended) Bodies of the Union
    Article II (article 16 deleted) Administrative Conference
    Article III (article 19 deleted) Special Committees
    Article IV (article 20 amended) International Bureau
    Article V (article 31 amended) Amendment of the General Regulations, the Convention and the Agreements
    Article VI Accession to the Additional Protocol and to the other Acts of the Union
    Article VII Entry into force and duration of the Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union
  • Article I (article 7 amended) Monetary unit
    Article II (article 11 amended) Accession or admission to the Union. Procedure
    Article III (article 12 amended) Withdrawal from the Union. Procedure
    Article IV (article 21 amended) Expenditure of the Union. Contributions of Member countries
    Article V (article 22 amended) Acts of the Union
    Article VI (article 23 amended) Application of the Acts of the Union to territories for whose international relations a Member country is responsible
    Article VII (article 25 amended) Signature, authentication, ratification and other forms of approval of the Acts of the Union
    Article VIII (article 26 amended) Notifications of ratifications and other forms of approval of the Acts of the Union
    Article IX Notification of accession to the Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union
    Article X Accession to the Additional Protocol and to the other Acts of the Union
    Article XI Entry into force and duration of the Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union
  • Article I (article 8 amended) Restricted Unions. Special Agreements
    Article II (article 13 amended) Bodies of the Union
    Article III (article 17 amended) Council of Administration
    Article IV (article 18 amended) Postal Operations Council
    Article V (article 20 amended) International Bureau
    Article VI (article 22 amended) Acts of the Union
    Article VII (article 25 amended) Signature, authentication, ratification and other forms of approval of the Acts of the Union
    Article VIII Accession to the Additional Protocol and to the other Acts of the Union
    Article IX Entry into force and duration of the Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union
  • Article I (article 22 amended) Acts of the Union
    Article II (article 25 amended) Signature, authentication, ratification and other forms of approval of the Acts of the Union
    Article III (article 29 amended) Presentation of proposals
    Article IV Accession to the Additional Protocol and to the other Acts of the Union
    Article V Entry into force and duration of the Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union
  • Article I (preamble amended)
    Article II (article 1bis added) Definitions
    Article III (article 22 amended) Acts of the Union
    Article IV (article 30 amended) Amendment of the Constitution
    Article V (article 31 amended) Amendment of the General Regulations, the Convention and the Agreements
    Article VI Accession to the Additional Protocol and to the others Acts of the Union
    Article VII Entry into force and duration of the Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union
  • The plenipotentiaries of the governments of the member countries of the Universal Postal Union, met in Congress at Geneva, in view of article 30.2 of the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union concluded at Vienna on 10 July 1964, have adopted, subject to ratification, the amendments to that Constitution.
  • Article I. (Art. 1 amended) Scope and objectives of the Union
    Article II. (Art. 1bis amended) Definitions
    Article III. (Art. 22 amended) Acts of the Union
    Article IV. Coming into operation and duration of the Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union

  • Article I. (Art. 1 amended) Scope and objectives of the Union
    Article II. (Art. 8 amended) Restricted Unions. Special Agreements
    Article III. (Art. 18 amended) Postal Operations Council
    Article IV. Entry into force and duration of the Additional Protocol to the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union

  • General Regulations of the Universal Postal Union
    (Recast and adopted by the 2012 Doha Congress)
  • Article I. (art. 103 amended) Functions of Congress
    Article II. (art. 106 amended) Composition and functioning of the CA
    Article III. (art. 112 amended) Composition and functioning of the POC
    Article IV. (art. 113 amended) Functions of the POC
    Article V. (art. 119 amended) Composition of the CC
    Article VI. (art. 127 amended) Duties of the Director General
    Article VII. (art. 130 amended) Preparation and distribution of documents of the Union bodies
    Article VIII. (art. 138 amended) Procedure for submitting proposals to Congress
    Article IX. (art. 138bis added) Procedure for amending proposals submitted in accordance with article 138
    Article X. (art. 140 amended) Consideration of proposals amending the Convention or the Agreements between Congresses
    Article XI. (art. 142 amended) Amendment of the Regulations by the Postal Operations Council
    Article XII. (art. 145 amended) Fixing of the expenditure of the Union
    Article XIII. (art. 146 amended) Regulation of member
    Article XIV. (art. 149 amended) Automatic sanctions
  • Article I. (Art. 103 amended) Functions of Congress
    Article II. (Art. 104 amended) Rules of Procedure of Congresses
    Article III. (Art. 105 amended) Observers to the Union’s bodies
    Article IV. (Art. 106 amended) Composition and functioning of the CA
    Article V. (Art. 107 amended) Functions of the CA
    Article VI. (Art. 108 amended) Organization of CA sessions
    Article VII. (Art. 109 amended) Observers
    Article VIII. (Art. 110 amended) Reimbursement of travel expenses
    Article IX. (Art. 112 amended) Composition and functioning of the POC
    Article X. (Art. 113 amended) Functions of the POC
    Article XI. (Art. 114 amended) Organization of POC sessions
    Article XII. (Art. 115 amended) Observers
    Article XIII. (Art. 116 amended) Reimbursement of travel expenses
    Article XIV. (Art. 117bis added) Coordination Committee for the Permanent Bodies of the Union
    Article XV. (Art. 123 amended) Representatives of the Consultative Committee at the Council of Administration, the Postal Operations Council and Congress
    Article XVI. (Art. 127 amended) Duties of the Director General
    Article XVII. (Art. 130 amended) Preparation and distribution of documents of the Union bodies
    Article XVIII. (Art. 138 amended) Procedure for submitting proposals to Congress
    Article XIX. (Art. 144 amended) Entry into force of the Regulations and of the other decisions adopted between Congresses
    Article XX. (Art. 146 amended) Regulation of member countries’ contributions
    Article XXI. (Art. 150 amended) Contribution classes
    Article XXII. (Art. 152 amended) Organization of user-funded subsidiary bodies
    Article XXIII. Entry into force and duration of the Additional Protocol to the General Regulations of the Universal Postal Union

Non-permanent Acts

The non-permanent Acts (limited to one Congress cycle) are the Universal Postal Convention, its Additional/Final Protocol, and its Regulations, as well as the Postal Payment Services Agreement, its Additional/Final Protocol, and its Regulations.

The Convention and the Agreements enter into force simultaneously and have the same duration. As from the day fixed by Congress for the entry into force of these Acts, the corresponding Acts of the preceding Congress are abrogated.

Manuals in three volumes

  • Postal Payment Services Manual
    28.05.2021
    Update 1: September 2018.
    This manual includes the provisions of the Postal Payment Services Agreement as drawn up by the 2016 Istanbul Congress, those of its Regulations as revised by the Postal Operations Council in March 2017, and the commentary made by the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union.
    English English – Update 1
  • Convention Manual
    28.05.2021
    Update 3: May 2021.
    This manual includes the provisions of the Universal Postal Convention as revised by the 2016 Istanbul Congress applicable to letter post and parcel post, those of the Regulations to the Convention as revised by the Postal Operations Council at both of its sessions in 2017, and commentary by the International Bureau.
    English English – Update 1 English – Update 2 English – Update 3
  • Update: August 2018.
    This publication includes the provisions of the UPU Constitution and General Regulations together with the amendments made by the 2016 Istanbul Congress. It provides a historical overview of the UPU, the list of UPU member countries, the Additional Protocols, etc.

Compendium of Congress decisions

  • The present Compendium was prepared in application of resolution C 1/Lausanne 1974, which instructed the Director General of the International Bureau to update the Compendium of Congress decisions after each Congress. The Compendium contains the Congress decisions other than those amending the Acts.

Countries' legal situation

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Archives of Congresses

Archives of Congresses