In short: An Post’s last posting date for Christmas cards within Ireland is Monday 21 December 2026, and Friday 18 December for parcels. Post to the USA goes much earlier: 11 December for cards and 8 December for parcels. For the rest of the world outside Europe, cards must go by 7 December.
Published 11 November 2026. Last updated: 11 November 2026.
An Post has published its last posting dates for Christmas 2026, and the earliest deadline is less than four weeks away.
If you have family in Australia, Canada or the US, your cards and presents need to be in the post in early December. The full An Post Christmas dates table is below, with every date checked against An Post’s own website.
An Post last posting dates Christmas 2026: full table
| Service | Republic of Ireland | Northern Ireland | Great Britain | Rest of Europe | USA | Rest of the world |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard letters / large envelopes | Mon 21 Dec | Fri 18 Dec | Thu 17 Dec | Thu 17 Dec | Fri 11 Dec | Mon 7 Dec |
| Standard parcels | Fri 18 Dec | Fri 18 Dec | Thu 17 Dec | Thu 17 Dec | Tue 8 Dec | Tue 8 Dec |
| Registered post letters | Mon 21 Dec | Fri 18 Dec | Fri 18 Dec | Thu 17 Dec | Tue 8 Dec | Tue 8 Dec |
| Express post letters | Mon 21 Dec | Fri 18 Dec | Fri 18 Dec | Thu 17 Dec | Thu 10 Dec | Tue 8 Dec |
| International Courier Service* | – | – | Tue 22 Dec | Tue 22 Dec | Mon 21 Dec | Fri 18 Dec |
Last posting date for Christmas cards in Ireland
For cards and letters going anywhere in the Republic, the deadline is Monday 21 December. That applies to standard, registered and express letters. Christmas Day falls on a Friday this year, so that leaves just four days.
Parcels within Ireland must go by Friday 18 December. The same date applies to everything going to Northern Ireland.
Last posting dates to the USA, UK and Australia
USA
Standard cards and letters to the US must be posted by Friday 11 December. Standard parcels and registered letters have an earlier deadline of Tuesday 8 December. Express letters can go until Thursday 10 December.
Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Standard letters and parcels to Great Britain need to go by Thursday 17 December, with registered and express post until Friday 18 December. Everything to Northern Ireland has a deadline of Friday 18 December.
Europe
For the rest of Europe, letters, parcels, registered and express post all need to be posted by Thursday 17 December.
Australia, Canada and the rest of the world
This is the earliest deadline. Standard cards and letters must go by Monday 7 December, and parcels, registered and express post by Tuesday 8 December. If you miss it, An Post’s International Courier Service runs until 18 December, but only at selected post offices.
An Post’s advice: post early
An Post says these are the latest dates to ensure delivery before Christmas, but stresses that “we advise customers to post early”. It also warns that international delivery times are estimates and can be held up by postal operators abroad, and that the dates themselves may change.
Its message, as Extra.ie reported, is that people who sort their deliveries earlier are far less likely to face delays.
For businesses: direct mail deadline
Businesses using An Post’s PostAim direct mail service need to present their mailing at the Mail Centre by 12 noon on Friday 4 December for it to land before 23 December.
Key facts
- Cards within Ireland: Monday 21 December
- Parcels within Ireland: Friday 18 December
- Northern Ireland: Friday 18 December (all services)
- Great Britain and Europe: Thursday 17 December (standard)
- USA: 11 December (cards), 8 December (parcels)
- Rest of the world: 7 December (cards), 8 December (parcels)
- Business direct mail (PostAim): 4 December, before noon
Frequently asked questions
What is the last day to post a Christmas card in Ireland in 2026?
Monday 21 December 2026 for standard letters and cards within the Republic of Ireland, according to An Post.
What is the last posting date for parcels within Ireland?
Friday 18 December 2026 for standard post parcels to addresses in the Republic and Northern Ireland.
What is the last posting date to the USA for Christmas 2026?
Friday 11 December for standard letters and cards, and Tuesday 8 December for standard parcels. Express letters can go until Thursday 10 December.
What is the last posting date to the UK for Christmas 2026?
Thursday 17 December for standard letters and parcels to Great Britain, and Friday 18 December to Northern Ireland.
What is the last posting date to Australia and the rest of the world?
Monday 7 December for standard letters and Tuesday 8 December for standard parcels to the rest of the world, outside Europe and the USA.
Can the An Post dates change?
Yes. An Post says its last posting dates may be subject to change, and it advises customers to post early.
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