Guidance

British Forces Post Office: last dates of posting

A list of dates for friends and family of service personnel wishing to send British Forces Post Office mail in time for Christmas.

From:
Ministry of Defence and Defence Equipment and Support
Published
3 October 2013
Last updated
24 October 2022 — See all updates

Documents

The BFPO Christmas postage deadlines

HTML

The BFPO Christmas postage deadlines

Ref: print version

PDF, 87 KB, 3 pages

Latest recommended posting dates for Christmas 2022 – rest of world

PDF, 139 KB, 4 pages

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Latest recommended posting dates for Christmas families free mail service (CFFMS)

PDF, 56.3 KB, 2 pages

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Details

We understand the importance of sending loved ones their all-important gifts for the festive period, and would like to remind all BFPO customers of the importance of ensuring your mail parcel does not contain any dangerous air cargo items such as aerosols, liquids, perfumes, aftershaves and nail varnish.

Please follow our top tips below, to ensure your parcel can be delivered in time:

  • Post early: avoid the Christmas rush by posting early
  • Customs form: all mail parcels for BFPO must have a customs declaration form completed and attached
  • Prohibited items: check your item is safe before sending
  • Returns address: all parcels must have a clear returns address label
  • Package carefully: prevent leaks and breakages by packing carefully
  • Don’t know, don’t send: please do not send mail to service personnel you do not know

BFPO Christmas postage list contains dates for the:

  • last recommended posting dates for letters (both air and surface)
  • latest recommended posting dates for worldwide parcels
  • ‘Christmas Families Free Mail Service’ to operations and HM ships in support
  • letters to Santa Claus/Father Christmas

Find out how to send mail with the British Forces Post Office (BFPO) including what you can and can’t send.

Published 3 October 2013
Last updated 24 October 2022 + show all updates

  1. 'Latest recommended posting dates for Christmas 2022 – Rest of world' and 'Latest recommended posting dates for Christmas families free mail service (CFFMS)' updated. 'BFPO’s children’s Christmas competition 2021' and 'BFPO’s children’s Christmas competition 2021 - Terms and conditions' removed.

  2. Page updated with details of the BFPO’s Children’s Christmas Competition and terms and conditions document.

  3. Added acronym definition to the list.

  4. Added last postage dates for Christmas 2021.

  5. Added an announcements section regarding Christmas postage.

  6. Added BFPO: last dates of posting for Christmas 2020.

  7. Added a note stating when the next Christmas postage dates will be published and removed the old dates.

  8. Updated the attachment for 2018.

  9. Added updated list of last dates of posting for Christmas 2017.

  10. Added last days of posting for Christmas 2017.

  11. Added last dates for Christmas 2016.

  12. Updated the last dates of posting guide.

  13. Added last dates of posting for 2015.

  14. Added updated last dates of posting document.

  15. Added updated last dates of posting for Christmas 2014.

  16. Added amended version of the last dates for Christmas posting.

  17. Added new last posting dates for Christmas 2014.

  18. Updated "last dates of posting" document with new version.

  19. First published.

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