SERVICE STATUS UPDATES
Last Updated: 16th August 2024
Welcome to our service status updates; a roundup of any issues that may be impacting our parcel and letter services to and from countries around the world. We keep this information as up to date as possible, with information supplied to Royal Mail by the various foreign national postal authorities.
PLEASE NOTE WE ARE CURRENTLY RECEIVING A HIGH VOLUME OF ORDERS WITH CUSTOM DELAYS IN SOME COUNTRIES DUE TO POLITICAL CONFLICTS, POSTAL STRIKES, AND OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES
Recently Updated -
- South Africa
- Israel
- Iceland
- Japan
- New Caledonia
- Georgia
- Caribbean Region
- Lebanon
- Brazil
Afganistan - On Suspension
Status: Ongoing
There is currently no route to Afghanistan as carriers have cancelled flights since Monday 16th August 2021.
Brazil – Severe Weather, Flooding, & Operational Delays (Latest Update 12th August 2024)
Status: To be advised
Severe Weather & Flooding
Brazil Post have informed us that they expect all postal operations in the state of Rio Grande do Sul to be back to normal as of the 1st September 2024.
Previously affected regions are in the Post code zone 9****-***.
Operational Delays
Mail despatched to Brazil since the 8th June is currently subject to delay due to an operational issue at the receiving post. We will provide a further update on this when information becomes available.
Caribbean Region – Hurricane Beryl (Latest Update 16th July 2024)
Status: To be advised
Due to hurricane Beryl, flights in and out of the region are being effected with a number of temporary cancellations. Postal operations locally are also being effected
As a result, delays will be observed for the following countries, subject to local recovery and until flights properly resume:- St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines (Postal services re-established in Mustique, Bequia and Kingstown only currently), Grenada (Main PO now open but disruption remains in outer offices, Carriacou and Petite Martinique) and Jamaica (Mail operations have been partially restored however delays are expected to last until at least the end of August).
Georgia, Europe – Office of Exchange (Latest Update 18th June 2024)
Status: To be advised
Georgia Post have informed us that temporary delays on all mail types may be observed while the Office of Exchange and sorting centre are going through an internal re-organisation process.
Iceland - Earthquake and Volcanic Activity (Latest Update 6th June 2024)
Status: Ongoing
Earthquake and Volcanic Activity
Icelandic Post have advised that a new volcanic eruption started just north of Grindavik in the Reykjanes peninsula on Sunday 14th January 2024.
It is deemed likely that more eruptions will occur around the town in the coming weeks, hence It is unlikely that habitants will be allowed to return to live in Grindavik in the coming weeks or months.
Iceland Post has not delivered mail in the Grindavik area since the original evacuation 13th of November 2023 and due to the area being uninhabitable it seems unlikely it will be possible to deliver mail in Grindavik in the near future. We will provide any further updates on this as they become available.
Storm
Icelandic Post have informed us that an unseasonal storm has hit resulting in road closures in the northern and south-eastern part of the country.
Heavy snow and winds have closed roads in these parts of the country since the evening of Monday 3rd June, making it impossible to transport mail in those parts of the country.
The storm is expected to last into the week and as result delays can be expected until condition improves.
Israel - Security Situation (Latest Update 22nd February 2024)
Status: Ongoing
As a result of the current situation in Israel we are experiencing delays with many flight cancellations. This is a fluid situation and may change at short notice. Throughout the country, the retention period for unclaimed items has been extended to 30 days. All items are subject to delay, and we will continue to provide updates as we receive them.
Please note at this time, we are unable to accept items addressed to Gaza or Khan Yunis and The West Bank.
Lebanon – Flight Cancellations (Latest Update 07th August 2024)
Status: To be advised
Lebanon Post have informed us that due to recent events in the region, there have been flight cancellations to and from Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport.
As a result there may be delays in the receipt and dispatch of all international mail.
Italy – Bad Weather (Latest Update 16th July 2024)
Status: Ongoing
Poste Italiane have provided an update on the severe weather and flooding in Aosta Valley.
From the 9th July 2024, thier mail delivery service will be carried out with a number of alterations.
Letter mail, will be delivered to the Cogne Post Office, located in Via Bourgeois 18/B, every Tuesday and Friday. Items are to be collected after verifying the identity of the addressees. Items that are not collected in this way will be returned to the senders with evidence – on the envelopes and/or any acknowledgements of receipt/certificates of receipt.
For International parcels, the recipients will be contacted in advance to define the delivery method and as a result delays are likely to be observed during this period.
Japan - Earthquake (Latest Update 13th June 2024)
Status: To be advised
Japan Post have updated that the situation has now improved after the impact of the earthquake in January but there is still a lot of rubble in certain areas which continues to effect their operation.
The postcode areas which remain affected are 9270000 – 9299999 and delays may be experienced as result.
Kiribati – Infrequent Service (Latest Update 26 June 2023)
Status: Ongoing
Connecting flights to Kiribati have been available again since the 15th of December 2023. However, please note this service is infrequent and therefore customers should expect items to take between 2-3 months to reach their final destination.
Moldova – Airspace Availability (Latest Update 27 February 2024)
Status: To be advised
Due to the situation in neighbouring Ukraine, we have been advised that Moldovan airspace is closed. We have an alternative route in place, however as this is a non-direct route please be advised that there may be short delays to the delivery of your item.
New Caledonia – Civil Unrest (Latest Update 16th July 2024)
Status: To be advised
New Caledonia Post have updated us that it has now resumed postal activities and is able to dispatch and receive international postal items. The case of force majeure has now been closed from 16 July 2024.
However, deliveries are still being impacted due to difficulties in unsecured areas of the territory and with road traffic still being disrupted at regular intervals. Flight frequency and airline capacity are still not back to pre-crisis levels therefore this is likely to extend transit times.
South Africa - Delays (Latest Update 1 November 2023)
Status: Ongoing
Please note that customers currently purchasing our products to deliver to South Africa may experience delays. We are continuing to export as normal however are aware of extended processing times locally at present. We will provide further updates as they become available.
Falkland Islands – Infrequent Dispatch (Latest Update 31st August 2023)
Status: Ongoing
Please note that customers currently using our Tracked Heavier services to The Falklands may experience delays. Dispatch is infrequent and longer transit times should be expected. This will also effect the tracking events which you may typically expect to see as part of this service. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Somalia – On Suspension (No Service since October 1991)
Syria – On Suspension (No Service since December 2012)
Ukraine – On Suspension (No Service for Crimea & Sevastopol since 2014, no service from us for the whole country since 2022)
Russia – On Suspension (No Service from us for the whole country since 2022)
Afghanistan – On Suspension (No Service for Crimea & Sevastopol since 2021)
Sudan – On Suspension (No Service since July 2023)
Yemen – No Service (No Service since March 2015)