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Home > Delivery Services > Delivery options - International > International Signed For™ >
 

International Signed For™


 
  1. Are all International Signed For™ items electronically tracked when they are delivered?

    We track all International Signed For™ items until they leave the UK and then the item is handed over to the destination country's postal service as a priority item. However, we can’t track your International Signed For™ item all the way to delivery in every instance or always be able to provide a confirmation of delivery.

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  2. Which countries can I send mail to with International Signed For™?

    You can use International Signed For™ to send mail to just about everywhere in the world via standard Airmail  or Surface mail.

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  3. How much compensation will I get if my item is lost or damaged?

    If your item is lost or damaged in transit, we will pay compensation of up to the value of 100 First Class stamps per item upon production of a copy of the certificate of posting and proof of item value. Extra compensation of up to £250 or up to £500 (depending on the country) is available for an extra charge of £2.20 per item (in addition to the £3.70 International Signed For™ fee).  Please note however that the maximum compensation for cash and money sent via International Signed For™ is £100 when extra compensation has been purchased.  Also cash and money cannot be sent at all to a number of countries, so you should check with Royal Mail Customer Services on 08457 740 740 before sending cash and money, etc to check that it is possible to do so.  In addition, extra compensation is not available for items containing mobile phones (so that the maximum compensation for the loss or damage to a mobile phone is the value of 100 First Class stamps per package sent.

    Please note that Royal Mail will not pay any compensation on items that are prohibited or restricted in the country of destination (see below)

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  4. How do I find out about Prohibitions and Restrictions in the country I’m sending to?

    Every country has its own list of prohibited and restricted items that cannot be sent in the post to that country.  Before sending you should check with Royal Mail customer services on  08457 740 740  to see if the contents of your item are allowed in the country of destination.

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  5. Where can I buy International Signed For™?

    You can send items with International Signed For™ from a Post Office™.

    You can use online postage to pay for International Signed For™ from your PC or Mac at home. You will need to hand your item in to the Post Office™ which will provide the necessary International Signed For™ barcoded label and proof of posting.

    If you're a business customer, you can arrange for International Signed For™ items to be collected as part of our Business Collection service.  You will also need a docket or despatch book and supply of International Signed For™ barcoded labels - contact Royal Mail Sales Centre on 0845 950 950 for more details.

    Visit our online shop to buy International Signed For™ pre-paid packs.

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  6. What size and weight can International Signed For™ mail be?

    You can use International Signed For™ to send letters, printed papers and small packets up to 2kg. Printed paper containing books, leaflets and pamphlets up to 5kg can be sent to all locations except Canada where the maximum limit for all items is 2kg and the Republic of Ireland where books only up to 5kg may be sent.

    No single side of any item you send can be longer than 60cm, whilst the length plus depth plus width must not exceed 90cm.

    Rolled items must be no greater than 90cm in length. If you’re sending rolled items please also note that the length plus twice the diameter of your item must not exceed 104cm.

    Please be aware that the maximum weight and dimensions of an item sent overseas are less than those for Inland UK mail.

    Diagram showing maximum dimensions of International Signed For packages.
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  7. How fast is International Signed For™?

    If you use International Signed For™ with Airmail delivery our target time is within three working days to Western Europe, four working days to Eastern Europe and five working days for the rest of the world. By Surface mail, it may take up to two weeks for Western Europe, four weeks for Eastern Europe, and up to eight weeks elsewhere. For faster delivery times you should use Airsure® if it's available for your destination.

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  8. Can I get a copy of the signature taken on delivery?

    Your item is delivered to its destination by the registered postal service of that country. A signature will be taken at the delivery address (please note this will not necessarily be the addressee), which means the item is not left unattended or posted through a letterbox. If no-one is available to sign for the item then it will be retained by the postal administration. for a subsequent delivery attempt or collection by the addressee. But please note that we cannot routinely provide a copy of this signature.  In the case of loss of an item we will request proof of posting from the other postal administration but this cannot always be provided.

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  9. What if I want to send something worth more than £500?

    You can still use International Signed For™ to send items worth over £500 but we don't offer compensation to cover the value of items over this amount so you should take out additional private insurance to cover the full value of your goods.

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  10. How do I make a claim?

    Visit our Customer Services to make a claim, or use form P58 which is available from your local Post Office™ branch and send it together with proof of posting to your local Customer Service Centre. Claims can take up to three months to complete because we have to wait for overseas postal administrations to respond to our enquiries.

    If your item is not delivered, please allow up to 25 days after posting before you consider it lost.  This is because your item may have been held in customs or be in the process of being returned to sender if it could not be delivered for some reason.

    Royal Mail does not accept any claims for delay as delivery times are not guaranteed.

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  11. Can I arrange for mail to be collected from my company’s offices?

    Instead of spending valuable time going out to catch the post, let us come and get it straight from your office with our Business Collection service. We’ll collect all your mail on a daily basis or on request whenever you need it. You’ll be surprised how affordable it is and you can get free collections if you spend over £15,000 a year or more on our services. Learn about Business Collections

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  12. How do I set up a business account?

    Benefit from the convenience and efficiency of setting up a business account with us. Make routine mail orders and payments simple and fast, with a service customised to meet your needs.

    Learn about setting up a business account

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  13. Can I use International Signed For™ to send mail to a BFPO (British Forces Post Office) address?

    Unfortunately, our International Signed For™ service cannot be used to send items to BFPO addresses. Learn more about our service to BFPO addresses.

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