Overseas postal services

Ever wondered how your mail is delivered around the world'

Parcels and packages, letters and documents, we have been able to send them all the way to the other side of the world and back for many years. However, with email, people initially thought that the post would decline - but with ecommerce that could not have been further from the truth. Now you can research and buy a product from almost anywhere in the world using the phone in your pocket. Similarly, UK businesses can receive requests from anywhere in the world for their products.

 

How many countries can you mail to'

You can safely send your letters and parcels to over 200 countries around the world including popular shipping destinations such as the USA, Australia, Canada, Germany, France and China. The number of countries you can mail to may vary depending on certain factors, for example International sanctions. Sanctions and embargoes are political trade restrictions put in place against target countries with the aim of maintaining or restoring international peace and security. This is where having Spatial Global’s team of experts on hand can help you identify the best routes.

 

Do you know what you can and cannot send'

There are rules about what can and cannot be sent from the UK to other countries - there are some items which we are unable to carry internationally for legal or health and safety reasons. Prohibited items are items we cannot send under any circumstances. Restricted items are items we can mail out in international post, but with restrictions. When Spatial Global undertake any mailing, you will be advised on what falls into the relevant categories.

 

Who gets the postage fee'

When you pay to mail a letter overseas, part of the cost will cover the labour of postal staff in the country of origin. Another element of the charge covers the transportation to the delivery company. However your payment doesn’t directly cover the delivery cost in the destination country.

 

How do the destination countries ‘postal authorities’ get paid'

Upon arrival in the destination country, the delivery to the recipients address is all down to the structures in place in that particular country. The postal authorities used in the country of origin pay something called ‘terminal dues’ to destination countries to compensate them for the cost of local delivery. Amounts are calculated every quarter based on weight and number of items of mail, and the process is overseen by the Universal Postal Union (UPU). The UPU is the United Nations specialised agency for the postal sector. It coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system.

 

Spatial Global Mail Team – a safe pair of hands

The way your mail is distributed depends on where it is going, what it is and how much it is worth – which is why we have a team of international mail experts reviewing routes, suppliers and keeping up with international customs regulations.



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