Get ready for Christmas 2023
Last posting dates 2023All you need to make this Christmas a cracker
Here you’ll find helpful information to make this Christmas the best one yet, including the latest posting dates, seasonal job opportunities, and how to send your letters and parcels safely with Royal Mail.
Latest Posting Dates
Beat the festive rush and get all your letters and parcels in the post on time.
Allow plenty of time for posting. Please post items and gifts for Christmas early, particularly for International deliveries.
| Monday 18 December | 2nd Class 2nd Class Signed For Royal Mail Tracked 48®** |
| Wednesday 20 December | 1st Class 1st Class Signed For Royal Mail Tracked 24®** |
| Thursday 21 December | Special Delivery Guaranteed® |
| Friday 22 December | Special Delivery Guaranteed® (Guaranteed Saturday delivery for an extra fee) |
** Royal Mail Tracked 24® and Royal Mail Tracked 48® are not available to purchase at Post Office® branches.
Last recommended posting dates for consumer and business customers purchasing postage using Royal Mail online services
International Economy
| Monday 2 October | All non-European destinations (except South Africa, Canada, Middle and Far East, USA) |
| Friday 13 October | Middle and Far East, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa |
| Tuesday 31 October | Canada and USA |
| Friday 24 November | Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Turkey |
| Monday 27 November | Western Europe |
International Tracking and Signature services
| Monday 11 December | Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, Bulgaria, Caribbean, China (People’s Republic), Far and Middle East, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain |
| Tuesday 12 December | Cyprus and Malta |
| Wednesday 13 December | Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eastern Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, USA |
International Standard (Untracked)
| Tuesday 5 December | Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, China (People’s Republic), Far and Middle East, New Zealand |
| Wednesday 6 December | Cyprus and Malta |
| Thursday 7 December | Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic and Poland), France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey |
| Friday 8 December | Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, USA |
HM Forces Mail - British Forces Post Office® (BFPO)
| Monday 27 November | Operational HM Forces |
| Monday 4 December | Static HM Forces |
Last recommended posting dates for for customers purchasing postage at a Post Office
International Economy
| Monday 2 October | All non-European destinations (except South Africa, Canada, Middle and Far East, USA) |
| Friday 13 October | Middle and Far East, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa |
| Tuesday 31 October | Canada and USA |
| Friday 24 November | Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Turkey |
| Monday 27 November | Western Europe |
International Tracking and Signature services
| Wednesday, 6 December | Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, Bulgaria, Caribbean, China (People’s Republic), Far and Middle East, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain |
| Thursday, 7 December | Cyprus and Malta |
| Friday, 8 December | Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eastern Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, USA |
International Standard (Untracked)
| Monday 4 December | Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, China (People’s Republic), Far and Middle East, New Zealand |
| Tuesday 5 December | Cyprus, Malta, Spain, Portugal |
| Wednesday 6 December | Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic and Poland), France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Switzerland, Turkey |
| Thursday 7 December | Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, USA |
HM Forces Mail - British Forces Post Office® (BFPO)
| Monday 27 November | Operational HM Forces |
| Monday 4 December | Static HM Forces |
Latest posting dates for Christmas (PDFs)
Personal customers purchasing postage using Royal Mail online servicespdf, 139.32 KB
Personal customers purchasing postage at Post Officespdf, 132.02 KB
Business account customerspdf, 166.04 KB
Welsh versions
Personal customers purchasing postage using Royal Mail online servicespdf, 161.18 KB
Personal customers purchasing postage at Post Officespdf, 171.56 KB
Business account customerspdf, 171.68 KB
Parcelforce Worldwide
Parcelforce Worldwide has a range of international delivery services to over 225 countries across the world
Go to Parcelforce.com
Christmas and New Year deliveries and collections
Saturday 16 December 2023 - Tuesday 2 January 2024
| Date | Royal Mail Services |
|---|---|
| Saturday 16 December | Normal deliveries and Saturday collections |
| Sunday 17 December | Normal Sunday deliveries and collections |
| Monday 18 December | Normal deliveries and collections |
| Tuesday 19 December | Normal deliveries and collections |
| Wednesday 20 December | Normal deliveries and collections |
| Thursday 21 December | Normal deliveries and collections |
| Friday 22 December | Normal deliveries and collections |
| Saturday 23 December | Normal deliveries and Saturday collections for customers with a regular Saturday collection |
| Christmas Eve Sunday 24 December |
No deliveries or collections |
| Christmas Day Monday 25 December |
No deliveries or collections |
| Boxing Day Tuesday 26 December |
No deliveries or collections |
| Wednesday 27 December | Normal deliveries and collections |
| Thursday 28 December | Normal deliveries and collections |
| Friday 29 December | Normal deliveries and collections |
| Saturday 30 December | Normal deliveries and Saturday collections for customers with a regular Saturday collection |
| New Year’s Eve Sunday 31 December |
No deliveries or collections |
| New Year’s Day Monday 1 January 2024 |
No deliveries or collections |
| New Year Bank Holiday Tuesday 2 January 2024 |
Normal deliveries and collections - exception for Scotland |
Download the Delivery and Collection calendar for Christmas and New Year
English versionpdf, 122.04 KB
Welsh versionpdf, 148.53 KB
If you're planning on being away for the Christmas period, or if your business is closing for the break, we can take care of your post for you:
Preparing your post
Getting your parcels and letters to their destination safely is always our priority, especially at this time of year. Use these handy guides to help you get your items to their destinations safe and sound.
Good Addressing Guide
A handy guide to good addressing and packaging.
Some goods are restricted or prohibited from being mailed in the UK and internationally. Check before you send to make sure your item is fit for travel at royalmail.com/prohibitedgoods
Going further for you this Christmas
Later opening hours
Easier for you to collect your post
If you’re out when we try to deliver, you have the option to collect your post from one of our local Delivery Offices.
Missed a delivery?
More redelivery options
If you can't make it to the Delivery Office, you can arrange a redelivery of your Christmas post to your home, a neighbour or even your local Post Office®
Keeping you updated
Service updates
Sign up to our email alerts to stay up to date with seasonal advice and support.
Join us this Christmas
It’s one of the busiest times of the year, so we’re always looking for energetic and enthusiastic people to help us out.
Become a Christmas Casual
