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The festive season is here and the rush to get presents sent by post will be bigger than ever with Royal Mail strikes likely to cause disruption. Members of the Communication Workers Union are taking national strike action on December 9, 11, 14, 15, 23 and 24, 2022 – after seeing their pay cut in real terms.
With this in mind, it is more important than ever to understand what date you need to get your letters and parcels away by, to avoid any disappointment on the big day. Unfortunately for some, they may have already missed a deadline – but faster options are available.
According to data, the service delivered almost 500 million parcels over the Christmas quarter of 2020 and expects similar numbers this time around.
Read more: BBC Christmas Day schedule as Disney blockbuster to follow first King’s Speech
Royal Mail post deadlines
“Allow plenty of time for posting,” Royal Mail says, “Please post items and gifts for Christmas early, particularly for international deliveries”.
Royal Mail Bulk Mail Economy – send by Friday, December 16
2nd Class, 2nd Class, Signed For Royal Mail 48 – Monday, December 19
1st Class, 1st Class Signed For, Royal Mail 24, Royal Mail Tracked 48 – Wednesday, December 21
Special Delivery Guaranteed, Royal Mail Tracked 24 – Thursday, December 22
Special Delivery Guaranteed with Saturday Guarantee – Friday, December 23
International delivery deadlines
International Standard & International tracking and signature services
British Virgin Islands, Dominica and Anguilla – send by Friday, October 7
Australia and New Zealand – Thursday, December 1
China (People’s Republic) – Friday, December 2
All remaining Caribbean destinations – Monday, December 5
Africa, Asia (except China, People’s Republic), Central and South America, Far and Middle East – Wednesday, December 7
Cyprus, Malta, Greece, Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia) and Turkey – Thursday, December 8
Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, USA – Saturday, 10 December
Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland – Monday, 12 December
Belgium, France, Luxembourg – Tuesday, 13 December
Unfortunately, some may have already missed their chance to get their parcels away in time for Christmas delivery overseas if you wanted to choose ‘International Economy’.
International Economy
All non-European destinations (unless listed below) – send by Monday, September 12
Far and Middle East, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa – Friday, October 14
Canada and USA – Monday, October 31
Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Turkey – Friday, November 25
Western Europe – Monday, November 28
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