Send a letter or a parcel to Australia

You can’t post the following items:

• Perishable goods or foods, such as fresh fruit and frozen or chilled foodstuffs.
• Alcoholic beverages containing more than 70% ABV, such as spirits
• Aerosols
• Biological samples
• Compressed air and/or empty cylinders
• Drugs
• Hazardous items, including aerosols, lighters, fireworks, Christmas crackers, or flammable/explosive items
• Weapons, including replica weapons
• Poisonous liquids, such as pesticides

If you’re unsure what you can and can’t send to Australia, read Australia’s customs guidelines to see their full list of prohibited and restricted goods. Please ensure that what you are sending also complies with Royal Mails prohibition and restrictions list.

Australian customs requirements

All items sent internationally from the UK need to have the relevant customs documents attached and electronic data provided. They help local customs authorities identify if the items you’re sending internationally are allowed into their country, and work out if any additional duties or taxes need to be paid. 

It’s vital you complete the right customs paperwork to ensure your parcel arrives without delays. You’ll need to provide a detailed, itemised description of the item(s) you’re sending. 

If you buy postage online with our Click & Drop service, the customs label will be generated automatically, and we will also send customs data in advance of your parcel arriving abroad.

Alternatively, customs declaration labels are available online or in a Post Office® branch. Staff there can help you if you have any questions. You may also read our help with customs guide to get familiar with customs forms. 

Which customs form will I need to send a parcel to Australia?

• For items with a value up to £270, you will need customs form CN22
• For items with a value over £270, you will need customs form CN23 and clear plastic wallet SP 126, also available at any Post Office® branch

How to send a package or parcel to Australia with Royal Mail

• Make sure your package or parcel is securely sealed - our packaging requirements will help you make sure your parcel is secure
• Check from our list above that you haven’t included any prohibited items which you can’t send to Australia
• Make sure you’ve addressed your mail correctly - we’ve provided more guidelines on how to correctly address parcels to Australia below
• You’ll need to fill out a customs declaration in order to give details about the goods that are being imported or exported
• Click ‘Buy online’ to purchase postage online

Addressing a letter or parcel to an Australian  address

If you’re unsure how to address a letter or parcel being posted to Australia, here’s how you format the address: 

• Write the apartment number, then a forward slash, followed by the building number
• Do you have a floor number? State the apartment or suite number on the second line – then the floor number, building number and street name on a third line
• Write the town or suburb, territory, and four-digit postcode on one line – in capitals without punctuation
• Please write 'AUSTRALIA' in capital letters on the last line of the address

Examples of Australian addresses: 

This is for apartment 10, at 17 Western Terrace: 

Mrs Wendy Davies 

10/17 Western Terrace 

ROBERTSON NSW 4755 

AUSTRALIA 

This is for suite 490, on the 6th floor, at 65 Wollongong Street: 

The Clever Agency 

Suite 490 

Floor 6  65 Wollongong Street 

SOUTHPORT QLD 4215 

AUSTRALIA

How long does it take to send a parcel to Australia

It depends on which service you use.

Our International Tracked services aim to deliver parcels and letters to Australia in 5-7 working days. 

Our International Standard service aims to deliver your mail within 6-7 working days.

If your parcel or letter doesn’t need to arrive quickly, our International Economy service is the cheapest option - and we aim to deliver within 84 days.

Sending business mail to Australia

Electronic customs data is now mandatory when you send items abroad (excluding personal correspondence).

The easiest way to provide electronic customs data is by using one of Royal Mail’s shipping platforms such as Click & Drop or Pro Shipping, or by integrating your system with Royal Mail’s API Shipping.

Top tips for sending mail to Australia:

• Use a trusted shipping solution - such as Click and Drop to ensure you provide the correct electronic customs data
• Make sure your customs data and customs declaration contains a clear description of your parcel’s contents, written in English
• To help customs clearance, please provide recipient contact details (email address and/or local phone number) so that recipients are contactable if any information is missing or incorrect. Contact details should be provided within the electronic customs data or in the case of a CN22 or CN23 on the physical declaration.
• If possible, please include the postage cost and the parcel’s weight in the electronic customs data
• Check your item doesn't contain anything that is prohibited or restricted either at this end or in country.
• Package your parcel up well, using strong boxes and bubble wrap
• For all untracked items, ensure that an S10 compliant barcode label has been applied.