International Packets gives you 3 options for presenting your packets. From essentially just handing over a bag or york of mail and letting us do everything else, to sorting it into different zones.

A packet is either…

• Over the size of 381mm x 305mm or
• Over 20mm thick or
• Over 500g.

If your packet is smaller than this, please see our International Letters or International Flats.

*Unless combined with a UK Mailsort, Walksort, or Presstream posting.

Please note: all the options above require you to apply the necessary mail indicia such as printed postage impression (PPI), Airmail indicator, if appropriate and UK return address.

There are two options available for Packets: Priority or Economy.

Our delivery aims are:



Please note: All figures are in working days (except where weeks are stated), and exclude the day of posting.

To identify which zone a country is in please see refer to the Packets user guide in the document library.

Unsorted

All you need to do is segregate your packets by service speed - we’ll do the rest.

It also requires you to account for your daily despatches by counting and weighing that day’s mail and completing the necessary documentation.

With this service, VAT will charged on all the mail.

For full service details please refer to the user guide in the document library.

Unsorted High Volume

This is an option for customers sending bulk postings in excess of 1,000 items per mailing overseas or 1,000 items in total when combined with a UK pre-sort service such as Mailsort 1400, Presstream or Walksort where the minimum quantity is 5 international packets per service speed.

This option offers country specific pricing.

VAT will only be levied on EU traffic.

For full service details please refer to the Packets user guide in the document library.

Zone Sort

Zone Sort requires that you divide your mail into two selections: European Union and Rest of World. The purpose of this is that VAT will only be levied on EU traffic.

For details of what countries fall into the European Union, please refer to the Packets user guide in the document library.

These services can be used to send any item provided it falls within the guidelines outlined within the Packets user guide, within the document library.

There are certain prohibited items which you must not send. What is prohibited or restricted varies from country to country, and can sometimes include apparently ordinary things. If you are unsure about anything, please contact your local Royal Mail Sales Centre on 08457 950 950 or visit our Countries A to Z page.

There are specific size and weight limits for items. For details refer to the Packets user guide, within the document library.

Please ensure you address your mail correctly. You can find examples of how you should address your mail, depending on where you’re sending it to within the Packets user guide, within the document library.

One of the most important criteria being that the country name appears on its own on the last line of the address.

If you are sending an item to a destination outside the European Union, it will need a customs label if it is either:

• An item of commercial value.
• The item contains goods or gifts.
• For printed paper it is advisable to add customs declaration.

For further information, refer to the Royal Mail Customs Advice page.

Every item must have a Royal Mail approved PPI in the top right hand corner.

The design you choose must be one of those available on our PPI page. It must include the words: POSTAGE PAID, your licence number and GB.

If you are sending an item through the Priority service it must have either:

• An Airmail indicator.
• An Airmail sticker.

You may also create your own indicator, provided the words Airmail, Par Avion or Prioritaire are used. This should be positioned as close as possible to the top left hand corner on the front of the item. Failure to apply a Priority Airmail indicator will result in your packet being delayed.

Economy packets must not have an Airmail indicator.

For more information access the Packets user guide, within the document library.

We strongly recommend that you include a return address in order to reduce wastage on future postings as any undeliverable items will be returned to you free of charge.

If you would like your undeliverable packets returned, please put your UK return address on each item ideally at the edge at right angles to the delivery address and ensure there is a company identifier (i.e. a logo or company name).

However, we do recommend that you apply a UK Return address to the outside of every item as your mail may experience delays if you fail to apply a UK return address.

You must use a UK return address if sending more than 1,500 items to one country over a two week period.

The standard method of despatching packets is to use mail bags however, depending on volumes and operational capability it may be possible to use sleeved yorks. Please discuss your requirements with us by calling a Royal Mail Sales Centre on 08457 950 950.

For bags, ensure they are sealed around the neck with a bag tie and that they are securely tied with the label attached and that the label is fully completed. Your packets need to be sorted by service speed and placed in separate bags. If using Zone Sort then you will also need to use separate bags for EU and Rest of World. There are specific instructions, so for their details refer to the Packets user guide within the document library.

Sleeved yorks can be used for high volume packet traffic without the need for bags so saving you time in preparation and despatch. Your packets need to be sorted by service speed and placed in separate yorks. If using Zone Sort then you will also need to use separate yorks for EU and Rest of World. There are specific instructions, so for their details, refer to the Packets user guide within the document library.

Once you have prepared and labelled your packets, you must create and print out a sales order from the Online Business Account (OBA) system. There are specific instructions, so for their details, refer to the Packets user guide within the document library.

In addition to the sales order from OBA there a few more pieces of paperwork required, for Unsorted High Volume mailings. They are a computer planning report and a line listing. Production of these can be easily facilitated by the OBA Data Generator so for further information refer to the Packets user guide within the document library.

Unsorted and Zone Sort postings can be collected at the same time as your normal mail collection and are taken to your local mail centre.

Unsorted High Volume postings are initially handled by our Regional Distribution Centres (RDCs) before being routed to Heathrow Worldwide Distribution Centre (HWDC). .

If you experience problems downloading any of the PDFs below, please follow these instructions:

1. Launch Adobe Acrobat Reader
2. Go to 'Edit' > 'Preferences'
3. Select 'Internet option' from the list on the left hand side
4. Uncheck 'Display PDF in browser' and click on 'OK'
5. Restart your browser and open the PDF