Australia Post announces Christmas mailing deadline dates

Christmas is always a busy time of year for Australia Post but with Covid in the mix and most of us likely to be sending presents instead of delivering them in person, the warning this year is to get those parcels sent early.

To make sure mail arrives on time Australia Post has announced the last dates to send mail, to ensure all letters and parcels arrive in time for Christmas.

“It’s safe to say this Christmas will be unlike any we’ve had before,” Australia Post announced online.

“We’re working hard to deliver your letters and parcels, but delivery for Christmas will take longer this year as we manage the impacts of Covid-19 and more parcels than ever before.”

Sending mail within Australia

No matter where your mail is headed, Australia Post advises the best way to make sure presents arrive on time is to “send your gifts early”.

“Sending as early as possible, and by the dates advised following, means your letters and parcels will have the best chance of arriving in time for Christmas,” Australia Post advises.

If you’re mailing parcels within Australia the last date to get them in the mail is by December 12.

If you are sending mail via express post from state to state, the due date is December 19.

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Sending mail internationally

If you are planning to post from Australia to another country, Australia Post has a full breakdown on their website listing the type of postage and when to mail it so it arrives in time for Christmas.

Australia Post has divided delivery destinations into zones and the first is New Zealand where mail can be sent no later than December 9 by Courier or December 2 if you’re sending with Express Post. Standard mail will need to be sent by November 27.

For Zone two – China, mail will need to be sent no later than December 2 if you are using Express Post or November 23 for Standard post.

Zone Three includes Japan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, with the key dates being December 9 for Courier mail, December 2 for Express Post and November 23 for Standard post.

If you are planning to mail to Canada or the USA, that’s considered Zone Four and Standard mail should be sent by November 16, Express post by November 23 and Courier by December 9.

For the UK, Ireland and the rest of the world, Standard mail should be sent by November 16, Express post by November 23 and Courier mail can be sent up until December 9.

If you miss the above dates, Australia Post said they will still deliver your mail but it may not arrive before December 25.

“We’ll still deliver items sent after these dates as quickly as possible, but it will be difficult to get them to their destinations by Christmas.”

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