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United Kingdom (including Northern Ireland)

Check our destination guide for postal restrictions and requirements

Information for businesses selling in the UK

As a result of the UK leaving the European Union, on 1 January 2021, the collection of duties and taxes for the import of commercial goods into the UK will change. All sellers, including online retailers, sellers on marketplaces and international businesses selling directly to UK consumers by phone or mail order, are likely to be impacted by this change.

 

Gifts

The United Kingdom admits private gifts intended for the personal or family use of the addressee free of duty and VAT up to a value of £39 provided the following limits are not exceeded:

  • Spirits - 1 litre, plus Wine - 2 litres
  • Tobacco products 50 cigarettes or 25 cigarillos or 10 cigars or 50 grams of tobacco

Prohibitions

The following items are prohibited from importation, meaning they won't be allowed to enter the destination country, territory or region.

To check which items are considered dangerous and prohibited for sending from Australia, download our Prohibited and Restricted item list and packaging guide (1.1MB).

  • Aerosols
  • Alcoholic beverages and liquids containing more than 24% Alcohol by volume
  • Ammunition
  • Asbestos
  • Ashes (Human Remains)
  • Batteries
  • Bladed articles and products, including but are not limited to, any knife blade, any kitchen/cooking/cutlery knife, any hobby, trade or gardening tools that could be described as a knife, any antique/bespoke/handmade knives
  • Clinical and medical waste
  • Controlled drugs and narcotics
  • Corrosive substances
  • Counterfeit currency, bank notes and postage stamps
  • Dry ice
  • Environmental waste
  • Electronic items containing any batteries exceeding 100Wh
  • Explosives
  • Flammable liquids
  • Flammable solids
  • Frozen water
  • Gases
  • Goods made in foreign prisons
  • Human and animal remains
  • Infectious substances UN2814 or UN2900
  • Lighters and refills containing flammable liquid or gas
  • Living creatures, animals and reptiles
  • Lottery tickets
  • Magnetised material
  • Matches
  • Obscene publications and pornography
  • Open razors (where the blade is exposed)
  • Oxidising materials and organic peroxides
  • Pesticides
  • Poisonous, toxic liquids, solids or gases
  • Radioactive materials
  • Scissors with sharp edges
  • Solvent-based paints, wood varnishes and enamels
  • Tickets and related advertisements for illegal lotteries
  • Waste, dirt, filth or refuse
  • Weapons, including any bladed or sharply pointed items, for example knives, axes, swords, survival knives, or machetes

Transporting food of any kind, cash and perfumes are prohibited under International Courier.

Batteries

All types of batteries and devices containing them (e.g. laptops, mobile phones, wireless headphones and equivalent, power banks, tablets, etc.) are prohibited from being sent via International Courier.

Please refer to the following websites for further information:

Medications

All types of medications are prohibited from being sent via International Courier:

  • Non doctor prescribed e.g. Panadol
  • Pharmacy only e.g. labelled with pharmacy and recipient name
  • Doctor prescribed e.g. asthma puffer, insulin tablets/needle, heart medications
  • Controlled/illegal e.g. Morphine, Methadone, Hemp Seed Oil, Cannabinoids

Import restrictions

If an item is subject to import restrictions, it means that provisions must be met before it will be released from customs in the destination country, territory or region.

We recommend you confirm import restrictions with local authorities before posting:

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Animals and animal products
  • Pharmaceutical products
  • Plants and plant products
  • Radio transmitters
  • Sealskins
  • Tobacco and tobacco products
  • Vegetables
  • Weapons.

The United Kingdom admits articles up to £15 value, except alcohol and tobacco products, free of duty and taxes.

Please note the following restrictions for International Standard articles being carried by the EMS network:

  • Ammunition
  • Animals
  • Antiques
  • Asbestos
  • Bees
  • Biological substances
  • Bullion
  • Coins
  • Counterfeit
  • Currency
  • Fur
  • Human ashes
  • Human remains
  • Ivory
  • Jewellery
  • Leeches
  • Live
  • Narcotics
  • Perfumery
  • Perishable
  • Pornography
  • Precious metals
  • Precious stones
  • Silkworms
  • Watches (only if over $150.00)
  • Weapons

Okay to send? Send responsibly.

As the sender, it's your responsibility to make sure your items don't break any laws or rules – both within Australia and in the destination country.

Restrictions and conditions can change at short notice so the information on this page should be used as a guide only. For the latest information, you should check the UPU prohibitions & restrictions (PDF 3.2MB) or contact the destination country's customs, postal trade or government authority.

It's also your responsibility to check if the destination country imposes any duties, taxes, brokerage fees or any other fees on the item you're sending. If you're unsure, please contact the consulate office of the destination country.

Special documentation

In addition to our customs forms, authorities in the destination country, territory or region require further documentation for some items.

Articles exceeding £2,000 in value require an invoice.

UK Postal authorities advise that for best delivery results packets and parcels being sent to a PO box address should also include a street address.

If a PO box is the only address known, then a (recipient) contact telephone number should be given to assist delivery.

While spacing on the packet or parcel might be questioned with having to provide extra information, there should be room at least to include a telephone number.

Use of a PO box address (only) may delay delivery because of the need to ascertain delivery details.

Delivery locations & exclusions

Before sending to this destination, it’s worth noting a few more details about our international delivery services.

  • International Express and International Standard

    Parcels will not be delivered to a Post Office Box (PO Box), but will be delivered to Post Restante addresses.

    Sending to Jersey or Guernsey? Simply just use United Kingdom as the destination country and the postcode (beginning with JE for Jersey and GY for Guernsey) will assist Royal Mail in assuring it reaches the final destination.

  • International Courier

    Check our International Courier page for more details.

    Shipments must be lodged at the counter at a participating Post Office (PDF 832kB) by the cut-off time, which may vary by outlet. Please fill out the online CN23 customs form prior to visiting the outlet.

    International Courier does not deliver to a Post Office Box or Poste Restante.

    Metropolitan delivery to (valid postcodes in brackets):
    • London (E1 to E98, EC1 to EC4, N1 to N22, NW1 to NW11, SE1 to SE27, SW1 to SW9, W1A to W14, WC1A to WC2R)
    • Birmingham (B1 to B98)
    • Leeds (LS1 to LS98)
    • Sheffield (S1 to S98)
    • Bradford (BD1 to BD99)
    • Glasgow (G1 to G79)
      Note: guarantee of delivery in 2 business days does not apply to G63.
    • Edinburgh (EH1 to EH17)
    • Liverpool (L1 to L75)
    • Manchester (M1 to M99)
    • Bristol (BS1 to BS99)

For more information from the overseas carrier, check the Royal Mail website.

Jersey GST for overseas retailers

Retailers trading outside of Jersey who sell goods to consumers in Jersey for a total value exceeding £300,000 per annum will have to register and account for Jersey GST on all these sales.

If GST is not accounted for at the point of sale, all unaccompanied imported goods into Jersey by private individuals from 1 July 2023 will be subject to GST where the value of the imported goods exceeds £60.

It is recommended that GST registration numbers are displayed on both commercial invoices and the item label or package itself.

Delivery to a neighbour

Royal Mail states they can deliver items to the addressee's nominated neighbour if the addressee has opted in to this service and is unavailable to receive the article. In order to opt in to this service, the addressee will need to apply through Royal Mail.

Read more about the delivery to neighbour service.

Make sure it's safe to send

Some items are considered dangerous and unsuitable for sending from Australia, even if they’re not prohibited by the destination country.

Download guide (PDF 1.1MB)