ROYAL Mail has announced the last posting dates that you can guarantee for your post to be delivered in time for Christmas.

It may seem like a long while away, but Christmas is fast approaching.

Many of us will, intentionally or not, leave it to the last minute to send our cards and presents in the post.

But just when is the last minute?

Well, Royal Mail has posted the last dates you can send your Christmas mail on their website.

If sending to a UK address, the last recommended posting dates are as follows:

  • Royal Mail 2nd Class and 2nd Class Signed For - Monday, December 18;
  • Royal Mail 1st Class and 1st Class Signed For - Tuesday, December 19;
  • Royal Mail Tracked 48 (only available in certain Post Office branches) - Wednesday, December 20;
  • Royal Mail Tracked 24 - Thursdau, December 21;
  • Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed - Friday, December 22.

The last recommended posting dates for consumer and business customers purchasing postage using Royal Mail online services are as follows:

International Economy

  • All non-European destinations (except South Africa, Canada, Middle and Far East, USA) - Monday, October 2
  • Middle and Far East, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa - Friday, October 13
  • Canada and USA - Tuesday, October 31
  • Cyprus, Eastern Europe, Greece, Iceland, Malta, Turkey - Friday, November 24
  • Western Europe - Monday, November 27

International Tracking and Signature Services

  • Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, Bulgaria, Caribbean, China (People’s Republic), Far and Middle East, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain - Monday, December 11
  • Cyprus and Malta - Tuesday 12 December

  • Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Eastern Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, USA - Wednesday, December 13

International Standard (Untracked)

  • Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, Caribbean, China (People’s Republic), Far and Middle East, New Zealand - Tuesday, December 5
  • Cyprus and Malta - Wednesday, December 6
  • Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic and Poland), France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey - Thursday, December 7
  • Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, USA - Friday, December 8

HM Forces Mail - British Forces Post Office (BFPO)

  • Operational HM Forces - Monday, November 27
  • Static HM Forces - Monday, December 4

Royal Mail recommends allowing plenty of time for posting, and posting items and gifts for Christmas early, particularly for International deliveries.

You can find out more information by going to royalmail.com/christmas/last-posting-dates