When you need to send important papers or a valuable gift to friends and family overseas, you want peace of mind that it’s arrived safely. The added assurance of International Signed For™ costs less than you might think, and gives you:
- a signature on delivery with online delivery confirmation for some destinations
- tracking in the UK* and in some overseas destinations
- compensation for loss or damage
*when sending by Airmail
Price Finder
Find the right price for your mail and print postage from your computer.
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Why choose International Signed For™
Security
International Signed For™ mail is available worldwide and travels through a separate and secure network until it leaves the UK . Each item is individually listed and accounted for before being handed over to the airline. Proof of posting and compensation comes as standard, with the option to buy extra compensation up to £500*.
*sometimes £250, depending on the destination.
Signature on delivery
You can be sure that the item will be handed over only after it is signed for (however please be aware that a copy of the signature is not available).
Tracking
International Signed For™ items are tracked until they leave the UK when sent by Airmail. Tracking is also available in a number of overseas destinations to delivery.
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Getting started
Size and weight limits
Items in the form of a postcard, letter or parcel
Minimum: One surface at least 90mm x 140mm
No single side must be longer than 600mm.Items in the form of a roll
Minimum: length plus 2 x diameter should be at least 170mm
No single side can be shorter than 100mm.There is a weight limit on items of up to 2kg for Small Parcels and up to 5kg for Printed Papers.

Printed Papers
You can send books and pamphlets weighing up to 5kg. You can include a letter relating to the contents, but no other personalised correspondence. When using this service, please write ‘PRINTED PAPERS’ in the top left corner on the front.
Exceptions:
- no items over 2kg (including books and pamphlets) can be sent to Canada and Cambodia
- only books can be sent over 2kg to the Irish Republic.
When we deliver
We aim to deliver your mail to:
- Western Europe within three working days
- Eastern Europe within five working days
- major cities worldwide within five working days and other destinations within seven.
Addressing
Clearly addressing your item will help us deliver it faster. Get advice on international addressing. Don’t forget to write your return address on the back of your envelope or parcel.
Packing
It’s important to wrap and pack your mail securely. We have some guidelines that will help. Get advice on packing your item.
Customs
- EU - In general if you’re posting to an EU country, you don’t need a Customs declaration, but there are a few exceptions. Find out more about paying your customs.
- Rest of the world - if you’re sending parcels to a country outside the EU, you need to sign and date a declaration and include your name and address. Customs forms are available at the Post Office® and online.
- Items worth up to £270 must carry customs declaration CN22. Find out about CN22.
- Items worth over £270 must carry customs declaration CN23 and the SP126 plastic envelope.. Find out about CN23.
Prohibited goods
We have a list of prohibited and restricted goods that you cannot send.
Countries overseas also have their own rules on what they will and will not allow to be sent by post. Please check that you are able to send your item.
Compensation
You can only claim compensation for loss or damage to the item you’ve sent. We don’t pay compensation for delays or for consequential loss.
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Maximum compensation
Maximum loss or damage compensation is £50, or the value of the item - whichever is less. You can also buy extra compensation for more valuable items. -
Extra compensation
You can buy extra compensation of up to £500 - although for some countries this is limited to £250. Compensation for cash is limited to £100. -
Mobile telephones
You cannot buy extra compensation for mobile telephones (including PDAs, iPhones and Blackberry mobiles). The maximum compensation payable for mobile telephones is £50. If you send a parcel containing a mobile phone and other items, you can buy additional compensation, but this will only cover the other contents. -
Restricted items
Check to make sure that your destination will accept the items you are sending and if there are any restrictions on sending valuables there. See our country guides for more details.
Royal Mail will not pay any compensation on items that are prohibited or restricted in the country of destination. -
When to claim
We allow 20 working days for items to arrive at European destinations and 25 working days for the rest of the world. We can’t accept your claim until after that time. You must submit your claim within six months of posting and include your certificate of post as well as proof of the item’s value. You can make a claim by visiting the Help centre. Or you can complete the P58 form for lost or damaged mail. You an also pick up a P58 from Post Office® branches. Find your nearest Post Office®.
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Prices
International Signed For is a fixed charge that you add to your Airmail or Surface Mail postage price.
International Signed For Additional compensation Prices in addition to Airmail EU £5.30 £7.90 Rest of the World £5.30 £7.90 Prices are exempt from VAT
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How to buy
At the Post Office®
You can buy International Signed For™ at any Post Office®. Find your nearest branch.
Online
You can buy International Signed For™ online.
Step 1: Use our Price Finder tool.
Step 2: Using your printer, print postage directly onto envelopes or labels.
Step 3: Take your item to the Post Office® so we can apply the barcode and your Track & Trace information. Find your nearest Post Office®. -
Frequently asked questions
Search help for more answers...
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Are all International Signed For® items electronically tracked until they are delivered?
We track all International Signed For® items until they leave the UK - when they are sent with Airmail. The item is then handed over to the destination country's postal service as a priority item. The following countries have tracking overseas, a scan on arrival into the country and another on delivery:
- Argentina
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- USA
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Can I get a copy of the signature taken on delivery?
Unfortunately, we cannot provide a copy of this signature. Your item is delivered to its destination by the registered postal service of that country and a signature will be taken at the delivery address. This will not necessarily be the signature of the addressee. This means the item is not left unattended or just posted through a letterbox. If no one is available to sign for the item, it will be retained by that country’s postal administration either for another delivery or for collection by the addressee. In the case of a claim, we will request proof of signature from the postal administration there but this cannot always be provided.
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Can I send International Signed For™ items to a PO Box?
International Signed For™ items require a signature to be taken on delivery therefore they cannot be sent to PO Boxes, unless the destination country is in Africa or the Middle East.
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