Service Updates

UK

Any service issues will be detailed below;

Service Issues:

UK Service Messages - (Advisory / Suspensions)

Last updated today at 9:48

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

Last Updated: 21st September 2023
 
Message Status Issue Date Raised Details
Advisory Deliveries today 21 Sep 2023

We are temporarily experiencing delays to deliveries in a number of depots today due to local issues such as high levels of sickness, resourcing or other local issues. 

We're sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. We will regularly update customers on the depots most impacted here:

  • Poole
  • Solent

If you need to collect an item for which we've left an 'attempted delivery' card, you can collect your item from the depot indicated on the card that was left along with a form of ID.

International

If there are any service issues, they appear below;

Service Issues:

Europe

Last updated today at 7:01

Please see below for information on sending to specific countries.

Last updated: 20th of September 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: 20th of September 2023

Important Notices:

Import Control System 2 (ICS2) 
ICS2 is a regulatory change required by the EU, focused on continuing to improve the security of parcels shipped internationally. It allows customs authorities to identify items which may require control earlier in the supply chain and take the appropriate action. Sending countries must provide the required parcel/customs information. This means that any item that requires a customs declaration (including gifts, samples, goods and other categories) must have the relevant customs documentation attached and associated Electronic Data must also be supplied. You can use an approved Parcelforce or Third-Party Shipping Solution where this is captured so you can continue exporting with the required compliant electronic data. From the 1st July 2023 any items containing goods that do not have mandatory data fields completed will be at risk of being delayed, returned, or even destroyed. Please see here and here for more information.

Account Customer Questionnaire

At Parcelforce Worldwide we are really interested in your feedback. We're conducting some account customer research regarding our International services, this survey will take around 5 minutes to complete and will be valuable for improving the services we offer to you. All responses are anonymous. Please click here to complete the survey.

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. 20th September 2023
Gibraltar Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is three times a week 17th January 2023
Greece Rainstorm and Flooding / Strikes 

Incident 1:

Hellenic Post Office of Greece have informed us that the GR territory has been hit by heavy rainstorms, flooding and landslides. This has effected many areas of the country, especially in Central and Northern Greece impacting on the transport and delivery of all mail types. Delays are to be expected during this period

Incident 2:

Hellenic Post Office of Greece have informed us that the association of civil servants have announced a 24 hour strike on Thursday 21st September. As a result delays are to be expected during and immediately after the strike owing to any backlog this may cause.

20th September 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
Italy Flooding /  Severe Weather / Customs Backlog

Incident 1 - Poste Italiane have informed us that due to a fire at the Catania airport the location has had to close temporarily. As a result delays are to be expected for postal items to and from the below areas during this time until the airport can resume operation:

Agrigento: 92xxx
Caltanissetta: 93xxx
Catania: 95xxx
Enna: 94xxx
Messina: 98xxx
Palermo: 90xxx
Ragusa: 97xxx
Syracuse: 96xxx
Trapani: 91xxx 

Incident 2 - Poste Italiane have informed us that adverse weather conditions at Milans Malpensa Airport have caused severe damage to it's facilities and infrastructure which is causing severe disruption in the mail unit. Disruption is therefore expected and delays are likely to be observed during this period.

Incident 3 - Poste Italiane have informed us that there is a backlog of items awaiting clearance from outside of the EU currently owing to an issue with the national customs IT system. The backlog is also causing capacity issues in the warehouse which is effecting lower value items and those covered by the IOSS scheme. Poste Italiane are working with the customs authorities on this and will update further in due course

20th September 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. 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. 26th June 2023
Norway  Extreme Weather  Norway Post have informed that extreme weather has been ravaging central and southern parts of Norway since earlier in the week. Heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides have caused road closures and affected infrastructure but things are now improving. Delivery of parcels and mail within Southern Norway (0001-6999) has now been restored and Northern Norway ((7000-9999). Delays should still be expected outside of this  31st August 2023
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
Slovenia  Flooding Slovenian Post have informed us that a state of emergency has been declared in the North and North East of Slovenia due to heavy rain fall and flooding. Some places are innacessible and many roads are impassable with facilities damaged including Post Offices which will be closed until the situation improves. Delays are to be expected until the situation improves  7th August 2023
Spain Customs Delays  The Spanish Post Office have informed us that due to the implementation of a customs related IT system they are currently experiencing delays on any items subject to customs review. They are working to resolve these issues as quickly as possible and in the meantime are continuing to process items via a non automated process. Delays may be experienced during this time. 20th September 2023
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 today at 7:01

Please see below for information on sending to specific countries.

Last updated: 15th of September 2023
Important update below
 

Service update: 15th of September 2023

Account Customer Questionnaire

At Parcelforce Worldwide we are really interested in your feedback. We're conducting some account customer research regarding our International services, this survey will take around 5 minutes to complete and will be valuable for improving the services we offer to you. All responses are anonymous. Please click here to complete the survey.

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
Ascension Island & St Helena Infrequent dispatch

We have been notified that air transportation to Ascension Island & St Helena is greatly reduced. Unfortunately, given the location of the countries, there is no viable alternative. Customers can continue to send mail but there will be significant delays in the delivery of all products. Please note that mail to the Falkland Island is not affected. The situation is likely to be ongoing until Airport/runway rebuilding work is complete.

17th April 2023
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
Canada  Wildfires Canada Post have advised that unprecedented wildfires are currently raging across the North West and British Columbia forcing a number of relocations. A state of emergency has been declared and delays are to be expected in these areas until further notice. 23rd August 2023
Cuba Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 17th January 2023
The Democratic Republic of Congo Flooding

The Democratic Republic of Congo Postal Service have informed that floods occured on the 4th May 2023 in Kalehe in the East of the country which has resulted in infrastructure damages. Delays are to expected throughout this period 

19th May 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
Grenada Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 17th January 2023
Guinea-Bissau Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is infrequent and therefore longer transit times should be expected 29th June 2023
Guyana  Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is once a week 17th January 2023
Jamaica Infrequent dispatch Dispatch is twice a week 17th January 2023
Kiribati

Infrequent Despatch 

Connecting flights to Kiribati have been available again since the 15th of December. However, please note this service is infrequent and therefore customers should expect items to take between 2-3 months to reach their final destination.

29th June 2023
Laos Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is twice a week 17th January 2023
Libya Internet Disruption

Libya Post have notified us that they are encountering disruption to postal services currently owing to an internet connectivity issue caused by a cyber attack. It is expected that it will take several days to resolve this issue and a further update will be issued in due course. As a result of the issue delays may be experienced during this period 

7th September 2023
Mauritius

Infrequent dispatch 

 

Dispatch is once a week

 

28th February 2023
New Zealand

Torrential Rain

Cyclone

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 Hawkes Bay and deliveries are now operating as normal again without restrictions. Although there are some road closures still in place in the Tairawhiti region deliveries are taking place, with a one to two day delay expected in effected areas.

28th July 2023
Niger Postal Operation Suspended Niger Post has informed that due to the temporary closure of land and air borders since August 6th they have suspended all postal operations inbound and outbound and declared a force majeure. As a result the service is suspended until further notice and any items already in the pipeline will be returned to sender. 1st September 2023
Niue Service Availability We are no longer able to offer a Globalpriority service to Niue 13th July 2023
Paraguay Infrequent dispatch  Dispatch is once a week 17th January 2023
Phillipines Central Office Fire Philpost have informed us that a fire has resulted in significant damage to the Central Manila Post Office. The Office of Exchange is unaffected and will remain open and operational. Delays are expected for all items sent to Manila throughout this period. 31st May 2023
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

Infrequent Despatch 

Connecting flights to Tuvalu have been available again since the 15th of December. However, please note this service is infrequent and therefore customers should expect items to take between 2-3 months to reach their final destination.

29th June 2023
Uruguay Infrequent Dispatch Dispatch is once per week 17th January 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 today at 7:01

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 today at 7:01

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

Last Reviewed: 28th April 2023
 
       
Service Temporarily Suspended globalbulk direct April 2023 We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Service Temporarily Suspended

europriorityimport 

April 2023
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.
 
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 

April 2023

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.