Sending Christmas cards and parcels abroad? Better hurry

If you’ve got friends or family living abroad, and you’d like to send them a Christmas card or gift, you’d better get your skates on.

Today is the last day for posting standard and registered letters and parcels to arrive at addresses further afield than Ireland, Europe and the US, by December 25th.

It’s also the last day for guaranteed delivery for standard parcels and registered letters bound for the US, but you have until December 12th to get standard delivery Christmas cards in the post to the US.

But just don't plan on ticking the gift box by including a voucher within the card – those with monetary face value are among the things that are restricted from outbound international mail services at An Post, unless sent as registered post. Registered mail must also be selected for posting passports, bank drafts, jewellery and precious metals, cash and coins.

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Parcels bound for Europe need to be on their way by December 13th, with both registered and standard letters following by the 18th, which is also the last date for all post, letters and parcels, going to the UK.

Cut-off date

December 19th is the cut-off date for post destined for Northern Ireland, with the rest of Ireland following a day later. In both cases, you've got an extra day's leeway if you opt for registered post.

To ensure a speedy arrival, An Post recommends that care be taken when packing and sealing parcels and envelopes, and always include a return address.

This year, An Post's Christmas stamps have been designed by Red&Grey Design, using original artwork by Liz Rackard depicting traditional Christmas scenes. Rackard is an artist and illustrator with a background in textile design. Christmas stamp booklets, with 26 self-adhesive stamps suitable for post within Ireland, can be ordered online, with free delivery, and from Post Offices.

Incoming mail

Parcels sent economy mail from Australia will have needed to be on their way by September 28th to guarantee Christmas delivery in Ireland. Economy airmail from Sydney has a 10-day suggested delivery time. The United States Postal Service has a variety of Christmas delivery options, starting from today and running until December 20th. Cards bound for Ireland with Canada Post should have been sent by December 5th, but expedited options are available, with Christmas delivery from tomorrow in the case of Xpress Post , and December 19th for Priority Worldwide.