Last UK Posting Dates for Christmas 2023

Don’t miss the last posting dates for your cards and presents – here are the dates you need to know for Christmas 2023!

Close up of a hand posting letters into a red postbox

Once you’ve made or bought and written your cards and wrapped your Christmas gifts, you might need a little help from the Royal Mail to get them to their destination.

So here are the last posting dates for UK delivery as well as selected overseas services.

If possible, it’s a good idea to try to get your cards and parcels in the post ahead of the dates below, especially if you’re sending them overseas.

Last Posting Dates for UK Delivery

  • 18th December 2023 – 2nd Class, 2nd Class Signed For,
  • 19th December 2023 – 1st Class, 1st Class Signed For
  • 20th December 2023 – Royal Mail Tracked 48®*
  • 21st December 2023 – Royal Mail Tracked 24®*
  • 22nd December 2023 – Special Delivery Guaranteed®**

* Royal Mail Tracked 24® and Royal Mail Tracked 48® not available at Post Offices
** Guaranteed Saturday delivery available for an extra fee

International HM Forces Mail

  • 27th November 2023 – Airmail to Operational HM Forces
  • 4th December 2023 – Airmail to Static HM Forces

Last posting dates for International Economy services

  • 2nd October 2022 – All non-European destinations (except South Africa, Canada, Middle and Far East, USA)
  • 13th October 2023 – Middle and Far East, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa
  • 31st October 2023 – Canada and USA
  • 24th November 2023 – Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Turkey
  • 27th November 2023 – Western Europe

International tracked and signature services

  • 11th December 2023 – Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, Bulgaria, Caribbean, China (People’s Republic), Far and Middle East, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain
  • 12th December 2023 – Cyprus and Malta,
  • 13th December 2023 – Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eastern Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, USA

International standard services

  • 5th December 2023 – Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, China (People’s Republic), Far and Middle East, New Zealand
  • 6th December 2023 – Cyprus and Malta
  • 7th December 2023 – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic and Poland), France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye
  • 8th December 2023 – Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, USA

You can find more information about posting services and dates and tips on wrapping your post on the Royal Mail website.