Guidance

The BFPO Christmas postage deadlines

Updated 24 October 2022

© Crown copyright 2022

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-forces-post-office-last-dates-of-posting/the-bfpo-christmas-postage-deadlines-are-published-in-the-autumn-every-year

BFPO Christmas Mail Services

Here are the recommended latest dates of posting for Christmas 2022 for airmail and surface mail from BFPO to UK addresses, UK to Operational/ Static BFPOs and  for BFPO to BFPO addresses.

The dates set in the table are a guide for airmail and surface mail despatches both to and from the UK for delivery in time for Christmas. BFPO customers are reminded that due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, service frequencies remain inconsistent and worldwide mail conveyance networks are constantly changing.

BFPO Static Locations – rest of world (RoW)

BFPO COUNTRY BFPO to UK 1st Class (To reach UK by) BFPO to UK 2nd Class (To reach UK by) UK to BFPO Static or Operations Airmail UK to BFPO Surface Inter Command Intra Command
2 USA Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
4 Nepal Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 25 Nov 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
6 Portugal Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
8 Italy Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
10 Kenya Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
11 Brunei Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 25 Nov 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
12 Belize Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
14 Canada Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
16 Germany Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
19 Germany Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
26 Belgium Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
28 Holland Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
44 Germany Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 25 Nov 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
46 Germany Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 25 Nov 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
49 Belgium Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
50 Norway Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
52 Gibraltar Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
53 Cyprus Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Thu 10 Nov 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
56 Spain Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
57 Cyprus Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Thu 10 Nov 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
58 Cyprus Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Thu 10 Nov 22    
59 Cyprus Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Thu 10 Nov 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
61 Italy Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
63 USA Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 25 Nov 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
64 USA Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
65 Italy Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
66 USA Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
68 Italy Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
75 USA Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
80 USA Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
84 USA Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
86 USA Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
105 Germany Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 25 Nov 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
109 Germany Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 25 Nov 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
599 Turkey Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
622 Sierra Leone Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
642 Kuwait Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
644 Jordan Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
655 Falklands Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Wed 5 Oct 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
677 Ascensions Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
678 Ascensions Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
680 Kenya Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
769 Oman Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 N/A Fri 18 Nov 22 N/A
801 N Ireland Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
805 N Ireland Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
806 N Ireland Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
808 N Ireland Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22
825 N Ireland Wed 21 Dec 22 Mon 19 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 2 Dec 22 Fri 18 Nov 22 Fri 02 Dec 22

Latest recommend Posting dates for Christmas Families Free Mail Service (CFFMS)

BFPO No Location/ HM Ship Operation Title Entitled to CFFMS Entitled to EFFMS
501 ELGIN ELGIN Yes Yes
550 SHADER SHADER Yes Yes
556 SHADER SHADER Yes Yes
561 ELGIN ELGIN Yes Yes
566 CABRIT CABRIT Yes Yes
567 TOSCA TOSCA Yes Yes
571 PENISCOLA PENISCOLA Yes Yes
584 CABRIT CABRIT Yes Yes
590 ORBITAL ORBITAL Yes Yes
598 SHADER SHADER Yes Yes
602 NEWCOMBE NEWCOMBE Yes Yes
604 TURUS TURUS Yes Yes
605 TURUS TURUS Yes Yes
606 PERCIVAL PERCIVAL Yes Yes
607 VOGUL VOGUL Yes Yes
608 NEWCOMBE NEWCOMBE Yes Yes
611 MATCHMAKER MATCHMAKER Yes Yes
613 NEWCOMBE NEWCOMBE Yes Yes
616 CATAN CATAN Yes Yes
617 BACKWELL BACKWELL Yes Yes
626 SHADER SHADER Yes Yes
630 UK SO NODE (EA) UK SO NODE (EA) Yes Yes
631 TANGHAM TANGHAM Yes Yes
632 KIPION KIPION Yes Yes
633 CROSSWAYS CROSSWAYS Yes Yes
634 CROSSWAYS CROSSWAYS Yes Yes
636 SHADER SHADER Yes Yes
639 KIPION KIPION Yes Yes
648 TANGHAM TANGHAM Yes Yes
649 SHADER SHADER Yes Yes
651 VERITAS VERITAS Yes Yes
655 SOUTH ATLANTIC FALKLAND ISLANDS Yes No
660 SHADER SHADER Yes Yes
662 BROADSHARE BROADSHARE Yes Yes
663 BROADSHARE BROADSHARE Yes Yes
664 BRANTA BRANTA Yes Yes
668 CORDED CORDED Yes Yes
673 SHADER SHADER Yes Yes
675 SHADER SHADER Yes Yes
677 SOUTH ATLANTIC ASCENSION ISLANDS Yes No
678 SOUTH ATLANTIC ASCENSION ISLANDS Yes No
684 SHADER SHADER Yes Yes
685 TRAMAL/TAILPIN TRAMAL/TAILPIN Yes Yes
687 KINGPIN KINGPIN Yes Yes
689 HALLEX/FAIRFIELD HALLEX/FAIRFIELD Yes Yes
690 RECOMPOSE RECOMPOSE Yes Yes
695 TURUS TURUS Yes Yes
767 KIPION KIPION Yes Yes
779 KIPION KIPION Yes Yes
HM SHIPS        
214 HMS ASUTE   Yes Yes
222 HMS BANGOR   Yes Yes
254 HMS CHIDDINGFOLD   Yes Yes
267 HMS DEFENDER   Yes No
276 HMS DIAMOND   Yes Yes
286 HMS FORTH   Yes Yes
318 HMS KENT   Yes Yes
332 HMS MEDWAY   Yes Yes
335 HMS MIDDLETON   Yes Yes
339 HMS MONTROSE   Yes Yes
358 HMS PENZANCE   Yes Yes
365 HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH   Yes Yes
367 HMS PROTECTOR   Yes Yes
375 HMS RICHMOND   Yes Yes
381 HMS SCOTT   Yes Yes
397 HMS SPEY   Yes Yes
400 HMS TAMAR   Yes Yes
411 HMS TRENT   Yes Yes
426 HMS WESTMINSTER   Yes Yes
432 RFA WAVE KNIGHT   Yes Yes
442 RFA FORT VICTORIA   Yes Yes
447 RFA LYME BAY   Yes Yes
457 RFA TIDE SPRING   Yes Yes
458 RFA TIDE SURGE   Yes Yes
485 DIEGO GARCIA BIOT Yes No
494 NP 2010 FALKLAND ISLANDS Yes No

Letters to Santa Claus/Father Christmas.

Letters to Santa must arrive in UK by Fri 25 Nov 2022 to receive a reply in time for Christmas.

The address for all correspondence to Santa Claus/Father Christmas is:

Father Christmas
Santa’s Grotto
Reindeer Land
XM4 5HQ

Back to top