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Christmas is coming, and this year there’s a possibility that we may not see all our loved ones on the big day. That doesn’t mean we have to skip on the present-giving side of things, though.
To make sure your Christmas post arrives in plenty of time, it is worth noting that the deadline for second class mail is Friday, December 18 this year.
To help put your Christmas gifting mind at ease, we’ve compiled this guide to the last Christmas post and order dates for Royal Mail (plus some advice on how to send a letter to Santa).
Royal Mail’s last Christmas posting dates for 2020
Royal Mail’s latest recommended posting dates for delivery in the UK in 2020 are:
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Friday, December 18 for second class mail
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Monday, December 21 for first class mail
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Wednesday, December 23 for special delivery
When will Royal Mail not deliver post?
There will be no delivery and collection service from Christmas Day through to the Boxing Day Bank Holiday (December 28), however normal service will resume on Tuesday, December 29. On New Year’s Day there will be no deliveries or collections. In Scotland, January 4 is a Bank Holiday so there will be no deliveries or collections north of the border.
Read more: Best Christmas gifts ideas for 2020
When are the last dates for sending post abroad?
Unfortunately, the last posting dates for International Economy (formerly known as Surface Mail) destinations have mostly passed, but some places are still available:
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Monday, October 4 for all non-European destinations (except South Africa, Canada, Middle and Far East, USA)
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Monday, October 12 for Middle and Far East, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa
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Monday, November 2 for Canada, Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Turkey, USA
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Monday, November 16 for Western Europe
If you want to reach the rest of the world using the International Standard (formerly known as Airmail) service these are the latest recommended posting dates for your diary.
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Friday, December 4 for Australia, New Zealand
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Wednesday, December 9 for Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central and South America, Far and Middle East
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Thursday, December 10 for Canada, Cyprus, Malta
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Friday, December 11 for Greece, Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia) and Turkey
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Saturday, December 12 for Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, USA
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Wednesday, December 16 for Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland
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Friday, December 18 for Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg
The last dates for International HM Forces Mail for British Forces Post Offices (BFPOs) are Monday, November 4 for Airmail to Operational HM Forces and Monday, December 7 for Airmail to Static HM Forces.
Read more: Best Christmas advent calendars of 2020
