When’s the last posting day for Christmas 2020? | News

Royal Mail is asking us to think ahead when it comes to sending gifts through the service.

We’re being urged to post items a little earlier this year so they arrive in time for Christmas.

The Post Office says it expects to be extra busy due to the increased demand caused by the pandemic.

With many of us shopping online, and fewer people choosing to travel to family for the festive season, there could be extra strain on the service, as Mark Siviter from the Post Office explains:

“We’re urging everybody to plan ahead, post early and visit Post Office branches during off peak hours where possible.”

For the UK, the last posting day is the 21st of December.

But Mark Siviter from the Post Office says the deadline for sending items abroad is much sooner:

“The latest recommended posting dates for international destinations fall between the 4th and the 18th December, but with the pandemic on a global scale, dates may change.”

WHEN DO I NEED TO POST ITEMS BY?

Here’s the latest official recommendations from the Post Office about when to get items posted to arrive in time for Christmas:

Friday 4th December – International Standard to Australia and New Zealand

Wednesday 9th December – International Standard to Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central and South America, Far and Middle East

Thursday 10th December – International Standard to Canada, Cyprus and Malta

Friday 11th December – International Standard to Greece, Turkey and Eastern Europe (except Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia)

Saturday 12th December – International Standard to Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden and USA

Wednesday 16th December – International Standard to Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain and Switzerland

Friday 18th December – 2nd Class and 2nd Class Signed For in the UK, and International Standard to Belgium, France, Ireland and Luxembourg

Monday 21st December – 1st Class, 1st Class Signed For, and Royal Mail Tracked 48

Tuesday 22nd December – Royal Mail Tracked 24

Wednesday 23rd December – Special Delivery Guaranteed

There’s more information on posting dates on the Royal Mail website.