While many people are cutting back on sending cards through the post for many it is still a key part of the Christmas festivities. But it is important that they get to their destination well in time for the big day.
The Royal Mail has advised people to post early to ensure they get their deliveries in time – and set out the last dates to send cards and parcels to guarantee delivery. It has warned it expects Monday, December 9, to be its busiest day but there is still plenty of time after that to get your cards in the post box.
It says: “Allow plenty of time for posting. Please post items and gifts for Christmas early, particularly for International deliveries.”
The latest UK posting dates
| Wednesday 18 December | 2nd Class 2nd Class Signed For |
| Friday 20 December | 1st Class 1st Class Signed For Royal Mail Tracked 48 ® |
| Saturday 21 December | Royal Mail Tracked 24 ® |
| Monday 23 December | Special Delivery Guaranteed ® |
Latest international posting dates if posting directly with Royal Mail
International Economy
| Wednesday 9 October | All non-European destinations (except South Africa, Canada, Middle and Far East, USA) |
| Monday 21 October | Hong Kong, Middle and Far East, Singapore and South Africa |
| Wednesday 6 November | Canada and USA |
| Monday 2 December | Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Turkey and Western Europe |
International Tracking and Signature services
| Saturday 7 December | Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, Romania and Sweden |
| Monday 9 December | Czech Republic, Malaysia, New Zealand, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey and United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
| Wednesday 11 December | Austria, Denmark, India, Lithuania, Philippines, Qatar, Slovakia and Slovenia |
| Friday 13 December | Belgium, Canada*, China (People’s Republic), Croatia, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Luxembourg, South Korea, Thailand and USA |
| Monday 16 December | France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland and Taiwan |
International Standard (Untracked)
| Tuesday 3 December | Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central and South America, China (People’s Republic), Far and Middle East and New Zealand |
| Wednesday 4 December | Cyprus, Malta, Portugal and Spain |
| Thursday 5 December | Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic and Poland), France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Switzerland and Turkey |
| Friday 6 December | Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden and USA |
HM Forces Mail – British Forces Post Office® (BFPO)
| Wednesday 27 November | Operational HM Forces |
| Wednesday 4 December | Static HM Forces |
Latest posting dates for customers posting at Post Office Ltd
International Economy
| Wednesday 2 October | All non-European destinations (except Canada, Middle and Far East, South Africa and USA) |
| Monday 14 October | Hong Kong, Middle and Far East, Singapore and South Africa |
| Thursday 31 October | Canada and USA |
| Monday 25 November | Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Turkey and Western Europe |
International Tracking and Signature services
| Monday 2 December | Barbados, Belgium, Finland, Lithuania, Malta, Mexico, Portugal, Romania, Russia, South Africa and Ukraine |
| Tuesday 3 December | Bulgaria, Greece, Israel, Italy and Norway |
| Friday 6 December | Australia, Austria, China (People’s Republic), Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Japan, India, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Thailand |
| Tuesday 10 December | Canada*, Ireland and USA |
International Standard (Untracked)
| Tuesday 26 November | Africa, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, Central and South America, China (People’s Republic), Far and Middle East and New Zealand |
| Wednesday 27 November | Cyprus, Malta, Portugal and Spain |
| Thursday 28 November | Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic and Poland), France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Switzerland and Turkey |
| Friday 29 November | Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, USA and Canada* |
HM Forces Mail – British Forces Post Office® (BFPO)
| Wednesday 27 November | Operational HM Forces |
| Wednesday 4 December | Static HM Forces |
*See the Royal Mail incident bulletin for the latest on the industrial action locally.