When do old stamps expire? How long you can use non-barcode stamps and how to exchange them with Royal Mail

Barcodes are being added to all Royal Mail stamps, bringing greater security and allowing customers access to interactive content.

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The Royal Mail has set up a swap scheme for old stamps (Photo: Getty Images)

However, this means that the current, barcode-free stamps are being rendered obsolete, and you’ll no longer be able to use them for your post.

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Royal Mail second class postage stamps depicting the head of Queen Elizabeth II on postcards on 6th December 2022 in Youlgreave, United Kingdom. After 31 January 2023, regular stamps, such as these, without a new barcode will no longer be valid in the UK. (photo by Mike Kemp/In Pictures via Getty Images)

Here’s what to do with any old-fashioned stamps you have remaining, and how long you can use them before the change.

When do old stamps expire?

Your traditional stamps without barcodes will no longer be eligible for use from Wednesday 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.

This is also the case for Christmas stamps, which 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.”

The barcodes will allow customers to access new services by connecting them to the Royal Mail app, which can be downloaded to smartphones. Eventually, it will be possible to watch videos and send birthday messages.

How can you exchange stamps with Royal Mail?

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, and Royal Mail will then send you equivalent stamps with barcodes.

Postage is free of charge, and you simply have to write on the envelope “Freepost SWAP OUT”.

You can find the form here, and 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 the “bulk stamp swap out” form, which you can find here.

Royal Mail recommends sending bulk batches via a secure service with suitable cover, to the following address:

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.