Please bear in mind that although these are the official deadlines from Royal Mail there are likely to be disruptions worldwide due to the pandemic. With that in mind, it's better to err on the side of caution and try to avoid posting too close to the deadline, if you can, to avoid your presents and Christmas cards being held up by staff shortages in countries badly affected by Covid-19.
International Christmas post deadlines:
International Economy, previously Surface Mail
Monday October 5: Australia, New Zealand and all other non-European destinations (except Canada, USA, South Africa, Middle and Far East)
Monday October 12: South Africa, Hong Kong, Singapore, Middle and Far East
Monday November 2: Canada, USA, Cyprus, Greece, Eastern Europe, Iceland, Malta and Turkey
Monday November 16: Western Europe
International Standard (previously Airmail) and all International Tracking and Signature Services (previously Airsure and International Signed For)
Wednesday December 9: Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central and South America, Middle and Far East
Thursday December 10: Malta and Cyprus
Friday December 11: Eastern Europe (not including Poland, Czech Republic and Slovakia), Australia, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, and Turkey
Saturday December 12: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy and USA
Wednesday December 16: Austria, Denmark, Iceland, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Slovakia and Switzerland
Wednesday December 18: Belgium, France, Ireland and Luxembourg
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International HM Forces Mail – British Forces Post Office (BFPO)
Monday November 30: Airmail to Operational HM Forces
Friday December 7: Airmail to Static HM Forces
How to recycle your Christmas
Domestic Christmas post deadlines
Friday December 18: 2nd Class and Royal Mail 2nd Class Signed For
Monday December 21: 1st Class, Royal Mail 1st Class Signed For and Royal Mail Tracked 48*
Tuesday December 22: Royal Mail Tracked 24*
Wednesday December 23: Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed
*Please note that you can't buy Royal Mail Tracked 24 and Royal Mail Tracked 48 services at Post Office branches.
Paying for postage online
Did you know you can buy and print your own labels from home to avoid a trip to the post office? This Click & Drop service is only available online at the Royal Mail website. You can pay for and print out postage for these items at home, then drop them off at a Customer Service Point (usually found in Royal Mail Delivery Offices).
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