Royal Mail has announced the last guaranteed dates for Christmas deliveries – including shipping abroad. But Brits better hurry if they want to save on economy delivery overseas as the last posting dates are fast approaching for some destinations.
With the pandemic still playing havoc with delivery dates and causing unforeseen delays, the postal service is urging people to “allow plenty of time” to ensure cards and gifts reach loved ones ahead of Christmas.
The Royal Mail website says: “Please post items and gifts for Christmas early, particularly for International deliveries.
“Ongoing Covid restrictions, reduced air and freight capacity, high volumes and winter weather conditions are all impacting transportation and local delivery across the globe.”
If you’re looking to beat the festive rush and get all your letters and parcels in the post on time, here are all the dates you need to be aware of:
International economy last posting dates
- November 1 – Canada and USA
- November 26 – Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Turkey
- November 29 – Western Europe
If you were hoping to send parcels to any other country than those mentioned above on an economy service, then you have left it too late. You can still send by standard delivery, although this will set you back more than economy.
International standard / International tracked and signed services last posting dates
- 1 December – Caribbean
- 6 December – Australia, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal
- 8 December – Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Far and the Middle East
- 10 December – Cyprus, Malta and Sweden
- 11 December – Eastern Europe (except the Czech Republic, Poland and
- Slovakia), Turkey
- 13 December – Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Poland, USA
- 16 December – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland
Last Christmas posting dates in the UK
- December 17 – Royal Mail bulk mail economy
- December 18 – 2nd class, 2nd class signed-for, Royal Mail 48
- December 21 – 1st class, 1st class signed for, Royal Mail 24, Royal Mail tracked 48
- December 22 – Royal Mail tracked 24
- December 23 -Special Delivery Guaranteed
