My item hasn’t arrived yet, what should I do?

Important information:
International deliveries - We're working with our airline and postal/courier partners across the globe to maintain services, however delays should be expected.
Visit royalmail.com/internationalupdates for more information.

 

When your parcel or letter will arrive depends on the service used to send it.

Click on the service used to find out about our delivery aims and when you should let us know it’s delayed.

Related help

Situations when Royal Mail can’t deliver mail

Labelling on the letter/parcel was incorrect

What is Track your item and how do I use it?

Concerns about the size or contents of an item

Claims Centre

Items sent using our Inland services:

(incl Royal Mail Signed For® 1st Class, Royal Mail 24®, 1st Class Parcels)

  • We aim to deliver by the next working day.
    (Please add an extra working day if there's a Redirection in place.)
  • Exceptions and what's classed as a working day differ for each service. See Royal Mail Signed For® 1st Class and 1st Class Parcels for more details.
  • If the item hasn’t been delivered by the due date plus 10 working days the sender might be able to claim for compensation. Check eligibility on our Claims Centre. (Please note, early claims cannot be processed.)
    If you’re the recipient please contact the sender. They will contact us to make enquiries on your behalf.

(incl Royal Mail Signed For® 2nd Class, Royal Mail 48®, 2nd Class Parcels)

  • We aim to deliver within 2 - 3 working days. (Please add an extra working day if there's a Redirection in place.)
  • Exceptions and what's classed as a working day differ for each service. See Royal Mail Signed For® 2nd Class and 2nd Class Parcels for more details.
  • If the item hasn’t been delivered by the due date plus 10 working days the sender might be able to claim for compensation. Check eligibility on our Claims Centre. (Please note, early claims cannot be processed.)
    If you’re the recipient please contact the sender. They will contact us to make enquiries on your behalf.

 
Changes to Special Delivery Guaranteed

From Tuesday 31st August we are reinstating our timed guarantees for our Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9am and 1pm services.

  • For items posted from Tuesday 31st August 2021 onwards, our guaranteed delivery for Special Delivery Guaranteed by 9am the next working day will return to  by 9.00am the next working day*
  • Our guaranteed delivery for Special Delivery Guaranteed by 1pm the next working day will return to by 1.00pm the next working day*.
  • This includes items where a Saturday guarantee has been purchased.

*existing postcode exceptions apply

Find out more about previous Special Delivery Guaranteed changes.

(incl Royal Mail Tracked 24®, Royal Mail Tracked 48®, Royal Mail Tracked Returns)

  • We aim to deliver Tracked 24® the next working day and Tracked 48® / Tracked Returns with 2-3 working days. (Please add an extra working day if there's a Redirection in place).
  • If the item hasn't been delivered by the due date plus 7 working days the sender might be able to claim for compensation. Check eligibility on our claims centre. (Please note, early claims cannot be processed). 
    If you're the recipient please contact the sender. They will contact us to make enquiries on your behalf.

Items sent using our International services:

  • For delivery in Europe

    • We aim to deliver within 3 - 5 working days.
    • If the item hasn’t been delivered by the due date plus 20 working days the sender might be able to claim for compensation. Check eligibility on our Claims Centre. (Please note, early claims cannot be processed.)
  • For delivery in the Rest of the World
    • We aim to deliver within 5 - 7 working days.
    • We endeavour to meet our delivery aims, however for extremely remote locations (e.g. South Pacific Islands) this may not be possible
    • If the item hasn’t been delivered by the due date plus 25 working days the sender might be able to claim for compensation. Check eligibility on our Claims Centre. (Please note, early claims cannot be processed.)
  • For delivery in Europe

    • We aim to deliver within 3 - 5 working days.
    • If the item hasn’t been delivered by the due date plus 20 working days the sender might be able to claim for compensation. Check eligibility on our Claims Centre. (Please note, early claims cannot be processed.)
  • For delivery worldwide
    • We aim to deliver within 6 - 7 working days.
    • We endeavour to meet our delivery aims, however for extremely remote locations (e.g. South Pacific Islands) this may not be possible
    • If the item been delivered by the due date plus 25 working days the sender might be able to claim for compensation. Check eligibility on our Claims Centre. (Please note, early claims cannot be processed.)
We're working with our airline and postal/courier partners across the globe to maintain services, however delays should be expected. Visit royalmail.com/internationalupdates for more information.

 

I've had my delivery today and the item I was expecting didn't arrive. When will I get it?

There are occasions when we deliver an item separately from your usual delivery; for example, a large item or a Special Delivery Guaranteed item. So your item may still arrive today.

If you have a reference number you can check the status of your delivery using Track your item. If your item is 'ready for delivery, it should arrive with you the next time we deliver to your address.

Find out more if the status of your item hasn't changed as expected.

 

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