Service Updates

Latest news on industrial action
We are ready to talk further with the CWU to try to avert this strike action. We are continuing to accept, process and deliver your items and have contingency plans in place to minimise disruption. Click here for more information.

UK

Any service issues will be detailed below;

Service Issues:

UK Service Messages - (Advisory / Suspensions)

Last updated 7:00 Sat. 1st Apr.

The table below shows the current advisory and suspended service changes in place across the UK. These messages are reviewed daily.

Last Updated: 29th March 2023
 
Message Status Issue Date Raised Details
Service Guarantee Suspension Delayed flights 29 March 2023

Items due for delivery on 29th March in the Isle of Man and items collected from the Isle of Man on the 28th March due to be delivered nationwide, will be delayed due to a delayed flight. The postcodes below are affected. 

  • All IM
Advisory Industrial strike March 2023

We’re doing what we can to keep services running, but customers should expect significant disruption. Click here for more information.

International

If there are any service issues, they appear below;

Service Issues:

Europe

Last updated 7:00 Sat. 1st Apr.

Please visit parcelforce.com/coronavirus for more information on sending and receiving parcels. Please see below for information on sending to specific countries.

Last updated: 31st of March 2023

Important Update below
 

Welcome to our live service update page for Europe. Below is a round-up of any issues that may be impacting our services to and from destinations in Europe. We keep this page as up-to-date as possible, with information supplied to Parcelforce from our partners. 

Service update: 31st of March 2023
Parcelforce Worldwide export services are still operating to all international destinations though customers should expect minor delays. Parcelforce's UK services are not affected by this incident.

Our teams are continuing to work around the clock to resolve this disruption and we will update you as soon as we have more information. 

Important Notices:

All countries across Europe are now under a suspension of service guarantee for delivery speed delays, unless stated in Table A. This is in place from 16 March 2020 due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation.           (000E)
 
Our partners around the globe may have changed their proof of delivery (POD) processes to adhere to local regulations.
 
We advise customers who are planning to send permitted perishable items internationally to be particularly aware of potential delays to delivery and check our country specific service updates before shipping. Details on permitted perishable items can be found here.
 
 

 

Table A - These are countries that currently have service guarantees in place

Country
Ireland 

Cyprus

Country updates

Country Issue Current Status  Latest Update
Austria  No service for Global Priority Returns Service is currently suspended until further notice. 28th March 2022
Belarus Service availability  We are still despatching items to Belarus. We are continually monitoring the situation and will provide an update if there are any changes to our service moving forward. 11th April 2022
Belgium Industrial Action Belgian Post have advised that Belgian Unions have called a 24 hour strike on Friday 10th March 2023. Delays are likely to be experienced during this period 9th March 2023
Channel Islands  Delays 

We have been advised of planned disruption to linehaul services during the Christmas and New Year period (27th December – 3rd January). Please be advised that there may be short delays to the delivery of your item during this time to the channel Islands.

 13th Decemeber 2022 
Finland Strikes Finnish Post have advised us that the Transport Workers Union (AKT) and the Postal and Logistics Union (PAU) have announced a series of strikes scheduled for February 15-21. As a result delays are likely during this period  14th February 2023
Germany 

Coronavirus 

Industrial Action

Deutsche Post of Germany has informed that due to increasing COVID-19 infections among staff, it is currently encountering challenges in delivering items within promised delivery timescales.These challenges are mainly at local or regional levels rather than nationwide but may affect different parts of Germany with delays. As a result, minor delays may be experienced for items destined for Germany until further notice.

Deutsche Post have advised of some localised Industrial Action which may result in delays to delivery.

 31st January 2023
Gibraltar Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is three times a week 17th January 2023
Greece Industrial Action The Hellenic Post Office Greece have informed us that the Association of Civil Servants has called a strike on the 16th March for 24 hours. Air Traffic controllers will also take part in this. Delays are likely to be experienced during this period 15th March 2023
Ireland  Import controls

Our service to Ireland is operating as normal. However, items that require the payment of import taxes by the recipient may take longer to be delivered as payment is required before items are released from Irish customs.

Please note: Delivered Duties Unpaid items sent to Ireland are handled as follows:
•Where a mobile number and /or email is provided, the recipient will receive a text and / or email and a letter with the amount of tax to pay plus An Post’s processing fee.
•Where just the address has been provided, the recipient will receive a letter.

In both situations the recipient will receive instructions on how to pay and will have 16 working days to make the payment before the item is returned. The pay by date is included in the customer notification.All items are held in the Dublin Mail Centre Campus before being released, once payment is received. If payment is not received by the payment due date or the customer rejects the item then it is returned to sender.

 1st September 2022
Israel  National Strike Israeli Post have advised that the workers union the nationwide strike ended on the 28th March 2023. Short delays may still be experienced whilst the post recovers  28th March 2023
Italy Industrial Action Poste Italiane have informed us that a 24 hour strike has been called for the 17th March by Unions of the Airport Handlers and all other Airport personnel. Disruption is expected and delays are likely to be observed during and immediately after the strike 14th March 2023
Moldova  Airspace currently unavailable Due to the situation in neighbouring Ukraine, we have been advised that Moldovan airspace is closed. We are working with our postal and transportation partners to put in place alternative routes. We are still accepting items for Moldova but please be advised that there may be short delays to the delivery of your item.

Latest Update
An alternative transit route is in place for Moldova. However as this is a non-direct route, please be advised that there may be short delays to the delivery of your item.		 10th March 2022
Poland  Delivery delays

Poland Post are still experiencing high volumes of items received into their network due to the aid assistance they are providing to bordering Ukraine. Poland Post is continuing to process and deliver items as soon as possible however, due to the increased volumes, delays are to be expected. We are continuing to work with Polish Post and will provide an update once the situation has improved.

 2nd September 2022
Russia  Global Express service temporarily suspended

Our Global Express Service to Russia is suspended until further notice. Shipments already in transit will be temporarily held in our network.

Russia can still be reached via our Global Priority service. 

 

Latest update
We are still despatching postal items to Russia (except via our Global Express service). We are continually monitoring the situation and will provide an update if there are any changes to our service moving forward.

 

 11th April 2022
Turkey Earthquake

Turkish Post has informed that two large earthquakes have hit the Southern and South Eastern regions of the country on the 6th February and a state of emergency has been declared.

This will severely impact mail operations and delays are to be expected across all affected areas

 9th February 2023
Ukraine  Global Express suspension/ delays

The Ukrainian postal service (Ukrposhta) has provided an update that road access for postal exchanges with Ukrposhta’s centre in Kyiv is severely limited, some international mail processing operations have been moved to Lviv. Longer transit times continue to be experienced due to queues at the border and difficult road connections within Ukraine. Ukraine Post continue to remain committed to maintaining postal operations, but will not be able to guarantee compliance with the agreed delivery standards.

To identify open post offices within Ukraine and their working hours please visit Ukrposhta’s webpage that is updated daily at: offices.ukrposhta.ua. An update will be provided once available.

Global Express suspension
Service is currently suspended until further notice.  Shipments already in transit will be temporarily held in our network.

Ukraine can be reached via our Global Priority service. 

 

Latest Update
We continue to make regular mail despatch to Ukraine transiting via our Postal Partners. Ukraine Post has updated that the country’s infrastructure has suffered severe damage. The attacks on the power grid and local energy facilities are necessitating rolling power cuts lasting from one to four hours. In some cases, following a direct missile strike, power may be cut off for several days in certain areas. In areas without active hostilities, all Ukrposhta post offices will remain open. In places with up to 24 hours power outage, Ukrposhta employees will hand out postal items and pay out money orders and upload the delivery data into the system at a later stage, once power and Internet access are restored. Sorting facilities are equipped with electricity generators to ensure uninterrupted work and maintain normal customs and sorting procedures. However, operationally there may be delays. Therefore, delays should continue to be expected for items destined to Ukraine until further notice.

 28th October 2022
Ukraine - Crimea region and other oblasts No service to the Crimea region and other Oblasts as shown in the next column 

There are 24 delivery regions in Ukraine (Oblasts) and we are currently unable to deliver to 3 of these;

Donetsk Oblast - postcodes starting 83xxx to 87xxx - including cities of Donetsk and Mariupol

Luhansk Oblast - postcodes starting 91xxx to 94xxx - including cities of Luhansk and Krasnyi Luch

Crimea (annexed by Russia in 2014) - postcodes starting 95xxx to 99xxx - including Simferopol and Sevastopol

 28th March 2022

 

 

Rest of the World

Last updated 7:00 Sat. 1st Apr.

Please visit parcelforce.com/coronavirus for more information on sending and receiving parcels. Please see below for information on sending to specific countries.

Last updated: 31st of March 2023
Important update below
 

Service update: 31st of March 2023

Parcelforce Worldwide export services are still operating to all international destinations though customers should expect minor delays. Parcelforce's UK services are not affected by this incident.

Our teams are continuing to work around the clock to resolve this disruption and we will update you as soon as we have more information. 

Important Notices:

All countries globally are now under a suspension of service guarantee for delivery speed delays, unless stated in Table A. This is in place from 18 March 2020 due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation (000R).

We advise customers who are planning to send permitted perishable items internationally to be particularly aware of potential delays to delivery and check our country specific service updates before shipping. Details on permitted perishable items can be found here

Table A - These are countries that currently have service guarantees in place 

Country
Canada
Norway
Taiwan
Thailand 
UAE
Monaco
Iceland

Country Updates

Country  Issue  Status  Last reviewed 
Afghanistan No Service except for globalexpress to some locations 

Service is suspended until further notice for our globalpriority and globalvalue services. Parcels should not be accepted and if sent will be returned to sender.

However, Afghanistan currently can be reached via our globalexpress service.

 28th March 2022
Antigua Infrequent dispatch

 

Dispatch is twice a week

 28th March 2022
Aruba  Fire damage

Aruba Post has informed that there was a fire at the international mail processing centre in Oranjestad during the night of 9 December and the early morning of 10 December 2022.

As a result of the fire and damage, the building has been temporarily closed and will not be operational for several days. Items destined for Aruba may be delayed during this period as a result.

 13th December 2022
Ascension Island & St Helena Infrequent dispatch

Infrequent (The situation is likely to be ongoing until Airport/runway rebuilding work is complete)

 `7th December 2022
Australia  Airline capacity 

The movement of items into Australia continues to be subject to airfreight supply and performance difficulties which is resulting in the delivery standards currently being outside the current advertised delivery specification. Parcelforce continue to work to find alternate capacity and on work on short term performance improvement activities.

 27th October 2022
Bahamas Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 17th January 2023
Barbados Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is twice a week 17th January 2023
Belarus Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week via a transit destination therefore longer transit times should be expected 17th January 2023
Bermuda Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is twice a week 17th January 2023
Bolivia Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 17th January 2023
Brunei Darussalam Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is every 6 weeks 28th March 2022
China Operational delays 

Items destined for China may still be experiencing delays due to operational delays within China. We are continuing to work with China post and will provide an update once the situation has improved.

 28th October 2022
Cuba Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 17th January 2023
Dominica  Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch to Dominica is made via sea and therefore longer transit times should be expected 20th July 2022
Ecuador

Service only available via Globalexpress

 All remaining services are temporarily suspended due to carrier issues  5th April 2022
El Salvador Storm Julia  El Salvador Post has informed that the heavy rainful has ceased and postal operations have resumed as normal. 15th November 2022
Grenada Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 17th January 2023
Guatemala Delays Due to a carrier backlog at the Transit hub, Guatemala Post have advised that journey time to Guatemala may be extended, and customers may experience delays. 19th October 2022
Guinea-Bissau No service  There is currently no service to this country / territory 28th March 2022
Guyana  Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 17th January 2023
Jamaica Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is twice a week 17th January 2023
Kiribati

Service Temporarily Suspended for 

globalpriority
globalvalue

Service is suspended due to carrier issues 
 

All remaining services will take 2-3 months to arrive

 28th March 2022
Laos Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is twice a week 17th January 2023
Libya No Service except for globalexpress to some locations 

Service is suspended until further notice for our globalpriority and globalvalue services. Parcels should not be accepted and if sent will be returned to sender.

However, Libya currently can be reached via our globalexpress service.

 28th March 2022
Macao  Coronavirus Macao Post have advised that the situation regarding Coronavirus has improved and postal operations have returned to normal. 17th January 2023
Malaysia Coronavirus

Incident one
Post Malaysia has updated that both Covid-19 prevention measures and the impacts of the heavy rainful have now ceased. All operations within Post Malaysia have now resumed.

 6th January 2023
Malawi Cyclone Freddy  Malawi Post have advised that Cyclone Freddy has hit the Southern Region with very strong winds, floods and landslides. Many businesses have closed and infrastructure has been severely affected. A situation of force majeure has been declared and delays are to be expected throughout this period 16th March 2023
Mauritius

Infrequent dispatch 

 

Dispatch is once a week

 

 28th February 2023
New Zealand

Torrential Rain

Cyclone

Incident one
NZ Post have informed us that torrential rain across the Auckland region has caused widespread flooding. The severe weather conditions in Auckland and surrounding regions are affecting the delivery and collection of all mail items and a state of emergency has been declared. Further weather-related disruption is expected in the coming days.

All international inbound/outbound mail handling and processing is affected as extreme flooding and road closures into and out of Auckland have impacted NZ Post’s ability to transport mail and complete deliveries in many areas. As a result, delays should be expected.

Incident two
NZ Post have informed us that a national state of emergency was lifted on the 3rd March with a number of areas now in the recovery stage. Local states of emergency were lifted in the Hawkes Bay and Tairawhiti regions on the 14th March however infrastructure damage remains and this will impact NZ Post’s ability to transport mail and complete deliveries in some areas. As a result, delays may still be experienced

 23rd March 2023
Panama  Coronavirus Panama Post has updated that all of their processing facilities are operating under normal working hours but subject to special measures established by the Ministry of Health of Panama. As result it is unable to guarantee delivery standards until further notice. 28th April 2022
Paraguay Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 17th January 2023
Peru State of emergency Peruvian Post has informed that their postal services may be disrupted due to civil unrest and protests since the 7th December. The unrest has disrupted transportation and access to certain areas. As a result delays may be experienced during this period.Peruvian Post has informed that the Government has declared a state of  27th January 2023
Samoa Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 17th January 2023
Singapore  Coronavirus Singapore post has updated that restrictions remain in place to limit spread of COVID-19 and signatures are not collected at delivery. Items of letter box size will be deposited in letter box, and items larger than letter-box size will be delivered to parcel locker stations, post offices or collection points. 3rd March 2022
Somalia No service There is currently no service to this country / territory. 28th March 2022
South Sudan No service There is currently no service to this country / territory. 28th March 2022
St Kitts & Nevis Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 17th January 2023
St Lucia Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is twice a week 17th January 2023
St Vincent & The Grenadines Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 17th January 2023
Syria  No service There is currently no service to this country / territory. 28th March 2022
Tuvalu

Service Temporarily Suspended for 

globalpriority
globalvalue

Service is suspended due to carrier issues

Remaining services will take 2-3 months to arrive

 28th March 2022
Uruguay Infrequent Dispatch Dispatch is once per week 17th January 2023
USA Winter storm  USPS has advised that mail operations have resumed following the snow storm. Some delivery delays may still be experienced due to local conditions. 9th February 2023
Vanuatu Cyclone Vanuatu Post have advised that a State of Emergency has been declared for the whole country in the wake of two cyclones which have struck the country. The state of emergency is expected to last for at least 6 months. Postal operations will continue throughout by delays should be expected  9th March 2023
Venezuela Infrequent Dispatch Dispatch is once a week 17th January 2023
Yemen No Service except for globalexpress to some locations 

Service is suspended until further notice for our globalpriority and globalvalue services. Parcels should not be accepted and if sent will be returned to sender.

However, Yemen currently can be reached via our globalexpress service.

 28th March 2022


 

 

Imports into the UK

Last updated 7:00 Sat. 1st Apr.

Imports into the UK

We are processing both GLS and postal imports with traffic flowing in both cases. Whilst there have been some short-term delays, items where duties, taxes and charges need to be paid are being processed through the depot network and recipients will be notified accordingly.

Where import items and in particular GLS imports require customs clearance these are flowing through the network but can be subject to delay due to import documentation requirements.

Please note – if you are aware that your item is being held in one of our delivery depots awaiting payment of customs charges you are not required to wait for the charge letter to arrive. Please contact the depot holding the item to arrange payment of these as soon as possible. Depot details can be located here.

Service Advice/ Suspensions

Last updated 7:00 Sat. 1st Apr.

The table below shows the current advisory and suspended service changes in place outside the UK. These messages are reviewed daily.

Last Reviewed: 8 December 2021
 
       
Service Temporarily Suspended globalbulk direct Jan 2021 We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Available

europriority

euroeconomy

 8 Dec 2021

Please be aware that services may be subject to delay in the destination country due to both new customs clearance processes and the ongoing Covid-19 measures.

Service Temporarily Suspended

europriorityimport service

 8 Dec 2021
Recent changes in customs clearance processes mean that we continue to implement further system updates to support our europriorityimport service.
 
Our europriorityimport service will be temporarily unavailable from 18 January 2021 until these updates are completed.
We will keep you updated on the progress of this.
 
Any existing parcels in our network are being processed as quickly as possible.
 
Guidance on the required customs data and documentation can be found here.
 
We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Advisory

Return to Sender Process for Account Customers 

 8 Dec 2021

We may need to return your parcels for one of the following reasons:

(1) Insufficient Customs data and/or export documentation provided.

(2) Sending Prohibited or Restricted Goods

(3) The item could not be delivered in destination country.