After nearly 120 years of service, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) has decided to discontinue the International Reply Coupon (IRC) effective 31 December 2026. First introduced on 1 October 1907, the IRC has long enabled users to prepay international reply postage, supporting global communication across 192 UPU member countries. The decision was finalized at the 28th Universal Postal Congress held in Dubai on 17 September 2025 and is part of a broader effort to modernize and simplify international postal services in line with digital transformation and changing customer behaviors.
Though the IRC will be phased out, the UPU is working to preserve its historical significance and honor its role in global postal cooperation. A special commemorative product will be issued to celebrate the IRC’s legacy, tracing its evolution through ten models and highlighting its importance in philately and international correspondence. The IRC will remain valid and available for sale and exchange through designated operators until the end of 2026.
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