Can you exchange old stamps with Royal Mail? How to get a swap form and when non-barcode stamps will expire

Royal Mail is updating stamps by adding barcodes, meaning existing stamps that do not have them will soon become obsolete.

The move allows the company to add security features, while people will also be able to watch and share videos by scanning the barcodes in the Royal Mail app.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new stamps, and how to replace your old ones.

When will old stamps become obsolete

The old stamps without barcodes will no longer be eligible for use from 1 February, 2023.

All standard stamps are being replaced. However, Royal Mail is not barcoding special issue stamps – which are created to commemorate a person or event – so these will remain valid and cannot be swapped.

Christmas stamps also will remain valid, even without a barcode.

Nick Landon, Royal Mail’s chief commercial officer, said: “As we move to this exciting new era of barcoded stamps, please check your kitchen drawers, wallets and purses for older non-barcoded stamps and make sure you use them up by 31 January, 2023.

“If you can’t use them up by then, we have set up a swap-out scheme as a simple way to swap your old stamps for our new, digitally enabled ones. Welcome to the new world of barcoded stamps.”

How can I swap my stamps?

Your non-barcoded stamps can be exchanged for the new barcoded version through the “stamp swap out” scheme.

You must complete a form and send it off with the stamps you wish to swap. Royal Mail will then send you equivalent stamps with barcodes. You can find the form here.

Up to £200 worth of non-barcoded stamps can be swapped in this way.

If you have more than £200 worth of stamps, you will need to use this “bulk stamp swap out” form. Royal Mail recommends sending bulk batches via a secure service with suitable cover.

If you don’t have access to a printer, you can request a “stamp swap out” form to be posted to you by completing this form online.

Post sent with non-barcoded stamps after 31 January, 2023 will be treated as if there is insufficient postage on the item.