# Provenance stamped 2026-10-07 (roadmap#943): written by an API Evangelist sweep (dated 2026-06-13 by the file itself), not
# harvested from the provider. `method: generated` so the economics campaign may replace it with a
# dated, verbatim transcription; every figure below is unverified until it does.
method: generated
generated: '2026-06-13'
specification: API Commons Rate Limits
specificationVersion: '0.1'
schema: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/interface-research/main/schema/api-commons.yml#/$defs/RateLimits
provider: Canada Post
providerId: canada-post
created: '2026-06-13'
modified: '2026-06-13'
reconciled: true
tags:
  - Rate Limiting
  - Logistics / Shipping
  - Postal
description: Canada Post references API throttle limits in its fundamentals documentation
  but does not publish specific numeric quotas publicly. Rate limits are applied per
  API key and may be adjusted by Canada Post for accounts with unusually high call
  volumes. The sandbox environment (ct.soa-gw.canadapost.ca) returns static test data
  and is subject to separate testing quotas. Developers should contact Canada Post
  support for production quota details.
sources:
  - https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/info/mc/business/productsservices/developers/services/fundamentals.jsf
headers:
  retryAfter: Retry-After
responseCodes:
  success: 200
  successNoContent: 204
  successPending: 202
  notModified: 304
  badRequest: 400
  unauthorized: 401
  forbidden: 403
  notFound: 404
  notAcceptable: 406
  preconditionFailed: 412
  unsupportedMediaType: 415
  serverError: 500
limits:
  - name: API Throttle Limit
    scope: api-key
    metric: requests
    limit: undisclosed
    notes: >-
      Canada Post applies throttle limits per API key but does not publish exact
      numeric thresholds. Contact Canada Post developer support for quota details.
      Endpoints for rating and post office lookup are free and not billed, but
      are still subject to throttling. Production shipment endpoints are billed
      at standard Canada Post postage rates per label created.
  - name: Sandbox Static Responses
    scope: environment
    metric: requests
    limit: undisclosed
    notes: >-
      The sandbox environment (https://ct.soa-gw.canadapost.ca) returns static
      test data regardless of request input. Sandbox calls are not billed. Test
      PIN is 123456789012. Test pickup request ID is 0074698052.
  - name: Label Artifact Link Expiry
    scope: resource
    metric: days
    limit: 90
    notes: >-
      Shipping label and manifest artifact links retrieved from the shipping API
      expire 90 days after creation. Return label artifacts are available for
      only 5 calendar days after creation.
  - name: AddressComplete Find Results
    scope: call
    metric: results
    limit: 8
    notes: >-
      A single call to the AddressComplete Interactive Find method returns a
      maximum of 8 address candidate results.
  - name: Pickup Advance Booking Window (with agreement)
    scope: request
    metric: days
    limit: 30
    notes: >-
      Pickup requests can be submitted up to 30 days in advance for customers
      with a Canada Post parcel agreement.
  - name: Pickup Advance Booking Window (without agreement)
    scope: request
    metric: days
    limit: 5
    notes: >-
      Pickup requests can be submitted up to 5 days in advance for customers
      without a Canada Post parcel agreement.
  - name: Rate Request Options
    scope: call
    metric: options
    limit: 20
    notes: >-
      A single rating request supports up to 20 options (e.g., SO, COV, COD,
      PA18, PA19, HFP, DNS, LAD) in the options array.
  - name: AddressComplete Credit Expiry
    scope: account
    metric: months
    limit: 12
    notes: >-
      Prepaid AddressComplete credits expire after 12 months or when the credit
      balance is exhausted, whichever occurs first.