Service Updates

Thank you for your patience, loyalty and continued support during the challenging and unprecedented times that Covid-19 has presented. On occasion, local resourcing issues, associated self-isolation and safety measures impact our normal high levels of service. We continually monitor the effects it has on our operations and will advise you of any affected areas or countries in the service updates below.

UK

Any service issues will be detailed below;

Service Issues:

UK Service Messages - (Advisory / Suspensions)

Last updated today at 7:00

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

Last Updated: 12th August 2022
 
Message Status Issue Date Raised Details
Service Guarantee Suspension Road Traffic Accident 12 Aug 2022

There will be delivery delays in the Swansea area due to a road traffic accident on the A40, resulting in a delayed trailer. The postcodes below are affected.  

  • SA1-20, SA31-48, SA61-73 & SA99​
Advisory Industrial strike 11 Aug 2022 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
Advisory

Commonwealth Games 2022 Birmingham

 18 July 2022

The Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham from the 28th July until 8th August. Please be aware that due to the games’ location, deliveries and collections from our Birmingham and Coventry depots may be affected. Road closures, restricted areas, lockdowns, and congestion in these areas may impact some of our services during this period.

We will keep you updated, below, on any suspension of service guarantees if they occur during the games.

International

If there are any service issues, they appear below;

Service Issues:

Europe

Last updated today at 7:00

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: 10th of August 2022

Updates have been provided for: Italy

 

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. 

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 the current potential delays to delivery and consider this before shipping. Details on permitted perishable items can be found here.
 

HS Code Update January 2022
On January 1st 2022, the World Customs Organisation (WCO), an independent intergovernmental body that serves as the voice of the customs community, implemented the 7th edition of its Harmonised System. This means the data requirements will change in areas including HS codes and duty and VAT rates, as well as having implications for prohibited and restricted goods screening. For a full-list of updates please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-goods-classification-2022-tariff-stop-pre... or visit the HMRC Trade Tariff tool here: https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff  for more information, in order to minimise delays through customs or items being returned to sender.

Customs declarations
All customers need to complete and attach a customs declaration (CP72 and/or CN23) when sending goods to all destinations abroad. Otherwise items may be delayed or returned. To avoid delays/returns due to customs compliance please see our help pages:

Please note:  Each destination is responsible for setting their own import controls on restricted goods. Customers are advised to identify whether items being imported into a specific destination will require licences/certificates or incur additional charges. To identify specific Country requirements, please visit our individual country pages here https://www.parcelforce.com/worldwide-directory
 
 

 

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

Country
Ireland 

Cyprus

Country updates

Country Issue Current Status  Latest Update
Albania  Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
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
Bosnia & Herzegovina Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
Bulgaria  Customs delays / IT issue 

Incident one:
Items posted to Bulgaria are still experiencing customs delays as a result of changes to the EU’s VAT rules for items from non-EU destinations from 1st July. 

 

 15th July 2022
Czech Republic Customs delays  Items posted to Czech Republic are still experiencing customs delays as a result of changes to the EU’s VAT rules for items from non-EU destinations from 1st July.  16th June 2022
Estonia  Customs delays 

Items posted to Estonia are still experiencing customs delays as a result of changes to the EU’s VAT rules for items from non-EU destinations from 1st July. 

 16th June 2022
Gibraltar Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is twice a week 28th March 2022
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.

 17th May 2022
Italy  Delays  We continue to see delays for items destined for Italy. To allow your items to be processed as quickly as possible, please provide full and accurate data before posting your items. An update will be provided once the situation has improved. 10th August 2022
Lithuania Customs delays Items posted to Lithuania are still experiencing customs delays as a result of changes to the EU’s VAT rules for items from non-EU destinations from 1st July.  16th June 2022
Malta Customs data

Malta Post has provided an update that in order to avoid delays, it is important that complete and accurate electronic customs data is provided along with customs documents (CN22/23). Provision of the recipient’s mobile phone number (including country code) and/or recipient email address in electronic data is also recommended to assist in timely delivery of items. Items that do not fulfil these requirements will be manually processed by Malta Post which is likely to lead to delays. In some cases, items will be held until the recipient can be contacted in order to provide any missing information and/or in the case of certain products any supplementary documentation that may be required.

 18th July 2022
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
Montenegro Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
Poland  Delivery delays

Poland Post has advised that they are currently experiencing a significant increase in the volume 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.

 24th May 2022
Portugal  Customs delays Items posted to Portugal are still experiencing customs delays as a result of changes to the EU’s VAT rules for items from non-EU destinations from 1st July.  16th June 2022
Russia  Global Express service temporarily suspended

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

Russia can be reached via our Global Priority service. 

 

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

 

 11th April 2022
Serbia (and Kosovo) Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
Slovakia  Customs delays  Items posted to Slovakia are still experiencing customs delays as a result of changes to the EU’s VAT rules for items from non-EU destinations from 1st July.  16th June 2022
Slovenia  Customs delays  Items posted to Slovenia are still experiencing customs delays as a result of changes to the EU’s VAT rules for items from non-EU destinations from 1st July.  16th June 2022
Spain Customs information 

Customers sending goods (including low value consignments) to the Canary Islands, Ceuta and Melilla now need to electronically report these items to the Spanish customs. To do this, items must be accompanied by the necessary electronic customs data and compliant customs declarations (CN22/CN23). Items that do not fulfil these requirements will be manually processed which is likely to lead to delays and in some cases held until the recipient can be contacted in order to provide any missing information and/or in the case of certain products any supplementary documentation that may be required.

Please note: IOSS can be used to send items into mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands but not into the Canaries, Ceuta and Melilla.

 22nd June 2022
Ukraine  Global Express suspension/ delays

Latest Update 

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
The Ukrainian postal service 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 are to be expected because of queues at the border and difficult road connections inside Ukraine. Ukrposhta remains committed to maintaining its postal operations, but will not be able to guarantee compliance with the agreed standards.

Additional information on open post offices and their working hours is updated daily on Ukrposhta’s webpage at: offices.ukrposhta.ua. with further update to be provided when available from the Post.

 17th June 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 today at 7:00

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: 10th of August 2022
Updates have been provided for: China and Japan

 

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 the current potential delays to delivery and consider this before shipping. Details on permitted perishable items can be found here
 
HS Code Update January 2022
On January 1st 2022, the World Customs Organisation (WCO), an independent intergovernmental body that serves as the voice of the customs community, implemented the 7th edition of its Harmonised System. This means the data requirements will change in areas including HS codes and duty and VAT rates, as well as having implications for prohibited and restricted goods screening. For a full-list of updates please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-goods-classification-2022-tariff-stop-pre... or visit the HMRC Trade Tariff tool here: https://www.gov.uk/trade-tariff  for more information, in order to minimise delays through customs or items being returned to sender.
 

Customs declarations
All customers need to complete and attach a customs declaration (CP72 and/or CN23) when sending goods to all destinations abroad. Otherwise items may be delayed or returned. To avoid delays/returns due to customs compliance please see our help pages:

Please note:  Each destination is responsible for setting their own import controls on restricted goods. Customers are advised to identify whether items being imported into a specific destination will require licences/certificates or incur additional charges. To identify specific Country requirements, please visit our individual country pages here https://www.parcelforce.com/worldwide-directory

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  Tropical storm Aruba Post has updated that the tropical storm warning has been lifted and postal operations have resumed as of 1 July 2022. 4th July 2022
Ascension Island & St Helena Infrequent dispatch

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

 `1st August 2022
Australia  Coronavirus/ Airline capacity 

Incident one
Australian Post has updated that the processing and delivery of postal items will resume as normal with effect from 1 August 2022

Incident two
Items destined for Australia are still currently experiencing delays due to ongoing airline capacity issues. We are continuing to work with Australia Post and the airlines to rectify this issue and we will provide an update once the situation has improved.

 1st August 2022
Bahamas Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
Barbados Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is twice a week 28th March 2022
Belarus Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is twice a week 28th March 2022
Bermuda Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is twice a week 28th March 2022
Bolivia Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
Brunei Darussalam Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is every 6 weeks 28th March 2022
Canada  Toronto processing delays Canada Post have informed of an ongoing problem at their Toronto processing plant. This problem may have an impact on the current processing time and delivery performance. Parcelforce has been working with Canada Post to move items from Toronto to Montreal in order to resume processing. However, the situation has improved and the normal process into Toronto will resume from 8th of August with normal levels of service expected from that point onwards. 4th August 2022
Central African Republic Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
China Coronavirus

China Post has notified that they are still working to clear the backlog of items currently held up due to quarantine measures at the airport. Covid-19 restrictions also remain in place in China and continue to directly impact the processing, transiting and delivery of items. As a result, the post is unable to guarantee compliance with the agreed delivery standards and delays should be expected for items destined for China. We are continuing to work with China post and will provide an update once the situation has improved.

 10th August 2022
Cuba Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
Dominica  Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch to Dominica is made via sea and therefore longer transit times should be expected 20th July 2022
Dominican Republic Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
Ecuador Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
Ecuador

Service only available via Globalexpress

 All remaining services are temporarily suspended due to carrier issues  5th April 2022
Grenada Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 28th March 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 28th March 2022
Hong Kong  Weather warning Hong Kong Post has informed that a tropical storm warning was issued from 1st to 2nd of July 2022 during the passage of Typhoon Chaba. During that period, the processing and delivery of mail suffered disruption. Therefore delays should be expected to items destined to Hong Kong during this time period. 7th July 2022
India  Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is three times a week 28th March 2022
India  Coronavirus India Post has updated that the situation remains the same and restrictions have been reintroduced due to the current COVID-19 situation. India Post continues to accept inbound international mail but cannot guarantee the delivery standard. 8th Dec 2021
Indonesia Coronavirus Indonesian Post has updated that the covid-19 situation in Indonesia has improved. However, there are still limited flights outside of Java Island and as a result, the post is still not able to meet delivery standards until further notice. 29th June 2022
Israel  Coronavirus  Israeli Post has updated that that mail distribution and collection in the south/centre of the country are no longer subject to interruptions and delays as a result of the security situation. However, the health restrictions communicated previously are still in place and will continue to affect the processing and delivery of items until further notice. 7th April 2022
Jamaica IT Issue

Incident one
Jamaica Post has informed that their international mail processing centre has been experiencing IT issues affecting connectivity and customs-related procedures, since 25 April 2022 which has prevented the processing of International Mail. As a result, delays should be expected to items destined for Jamaica. An update will be provided once this becomes available.

 

 13th May 2022
Jamaica Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is twice a week 28th March 2022
Japan  Airline capacity We have been working closely with our Japanese airline partners as well as Japan Post and are now starting to see improvements to our services to Japan. However, the closure of airspace over Russia, Ukraine and Moldova, continues to impact normal routes of some airlines flying between the UK and destinations including Japan and therefore customers are advised that minor delays may be experienced for items destined for Japan until further notice. 10th August 2022
Kenya Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
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 28th March 2022
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 has updated that all postal services have resumed from 25th of July 2022. However, Macao Post need to clear the backlog of items and therefore delays should still be expected for items destined for Macao. 1st August 2022
Malaysia Coronavirus Post Malaysia has updated that COVID-19 prevention measures are still being enforced. Selected Malaysia Post office outlets are temporarily closed owing to COVID-19 control and preventative measures, while others are open as usual. As result, the Post is unable to guarantee compliance with the agreed delivery standards. 6th April 2022
Mauritius Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
Nauru

Service Temporarily Suspended for 

globalpriority
globalvalue

 Service is suspended due to carrier issues 
 		 28th March 2022
New Caledonia  Airline capacity Issues New Caledonia Post has updated that they are currently experiencing airline capacity issues which as a result is increasing transportation times. Therefore, delays should be expected for items destined for New Caledonia. We will provide an update as soon as this is available. 9th June 2022
New Zealand Delivery delays

New Zealand Post have updated that they are currently experiencing delays due to airfreight capacity. As well as this, the Post is experiencing delays of up to 2 days for parcel delivery in North, South and East Auckland, Whangarei, Hamilton, Tauranga and Palmerston North. They are also experiencing delays for parcel delivery of up to 2 days across much of the South Island, excluding Nelson, Blenheim and Timaru. We are continuing to work with New Zealand Post and will provide an update once the situation has improved.

 7th July 2022
Pakistan Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
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 28th March 2022
Samoa Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
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
Sri Lanka Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
Sri Lanka Coronavirus restrictions  The Sri Lankan Post has updated that while previous Covid-19 restrictions still remain in place, the Sri Lankan government has also imposed a temporary restricted work plan on all government institutions. As a result, the Sri Lankan Post has reduced its working days to three days a week, with deliveries being made on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. This means that delivery standards can not be met for items destined for Sri Lanka until further notice. We are continuing to work with Sri Lanka Post and will provide and update once the situation has improved. 4th July 2022
St Kitts & Nevis Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
St Lucia Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
St Vincent & The Grenadines Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 20th July 2022
Syria  No service There is currently no service to this country / territory. 28th March 2022
Thailand  Coronavirus  Thailand Post has updated that the state of emergency in Thailand has been extended to at least the 30th September 2022. The Post still has to comply with restrictions and safety guidelines which may impact the processing and delivery of international items. As result, Thailand Post is unable to comply with the agreed standards until further notice. 25th July 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
Uganda Infrequent Dispatch Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022
Uruguay Infrequent Dispatch Dispatch is once every two weeks 28th March 2022
Venezuela Infrequent Dispatch Dispatch is once a week 28th July 2022
Vietnam Coronavirus Vietnam Post has updated that the COVID-19 situation in Vietnam has now improved sufficiently for operations of Vietnam Post to return to normal. As a result, a normal service can be expected for items destined for Vietnam. 1st August 2022
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
Zambia Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 28th March 2022


 

 

Imports into the UK

Last updated today at 7:00

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.

Service Advice/ Suspensions

Last updated today at 7:00

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.