Australia Post reveals international Christmas parcel and letter cut-off dates

Australia Post has revealed its Christmas cut-off dates for international parcels and letters in order for millions of senders to avoid disappointment.

Australia Post has revealed its Christmas cut-off dates for international parcels and letters in order for millions of senders to avoid disappointment.

After record online shopping numbers and Covid lockdowns recently brought mail delivery to a brief halt, customers are being urged to make sure they lodge parcels as early as possible to have the best chance of arriving in time for Christmas.

The international lodgement dates vary depending on destination and the chosen delivery service.

Those sending mail to New Zealand have a better chance than others of getting parcels across the ditch.

The cut-off is December 2 for standard parcels and December 7 for express parcels and letters.

For mail being sent to the US, Singapore, Hong Kong and Thailand, standard parcels must be sent by November 30 and express parcels and letters must be sent by December 7.

Standard parcels to India have a cut-off date of November 22, while express parcels and letters have been suspended.

Israel, Russia, Qatar, UAE. Pakistan, New Caledonia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Macao have the same cut-off date for receiving standard parcels by November 22, but the last date for express parcels and letters is November 26.

Australia Post Melbourne Parcel Facility in full swing. Picture: Mark Stewart

Those keen to send standard parcels to the UK have until November 26, and until December 3 for express parcels and letters.

An Australia Post spokesperson said that they will do what they can to deliver parcels sent after these dates, but warned there could be other factors that affect when the mail will arrive.

“While we’ll deliver items sent after these dates as quickly as we can they may not arrive until after Christmas, and International Christmas deliveries may also be affected by factors beyond our control such as customs delays, overseas postal disruptions, and COVID-19 restrictions in other countries,” she said.

As for domestic cut-off dates, it said it was still finalising dates for domestic parcel post and express post.

“While we’ll be delivering right up to Christmas, including Christmas Eve, we recommend sending as early as you can to give presents and Christmas cards the best chance of arriving in time,” she said.

“We encourage people to keep up to date with what’s happening in our network by downloading the Australia Post mobile app, or checking our website.”

For more countries and their cut-off dates, go to Australia Post’s website.