Editor in chief at IamExpat Media
Once again, lots of us will probably be sending cards and Christmas gifts in the post in Germany this year. Deutsche Post has already said that it is expecting to process record numbers of deliveries in the run-up to the public holiday. To make sure your post reaches its intended recipient in plenty of time, make sure you stick to these Christmas posting dates.
Christmas is always a busy time for postal workers across the world, and coronavirus has only exacerbated the situation. Deutsche Post is preparing for a deluge of letters and parcels this year by taking on thousands of extra workers over the festive period.
As a general guideline, the postal company is recommending that you send your items as soon as possible to give them the best chance of arriving in time for Christmas Eve. But if you’re not much of an early bird, here are the final, firm deadlines you need to stick to if you want your cards and presents to be opened on the big day:
So long as the weather plays ball and doesn’t cause unforeseen delays, you’ve got a few days (or even weeks - depending on destination) to get your items in the post. The final deadline for getting your Germany-bound parcels in the post is December 20 in 2021. If they’re heading abroad, the deadline depends on the destination country.
For neighbouring countries like the Netherlands (but not France), it’s December 15. For France and Italy, it’s December 14, and for all other European countries, it’s December 10. If your package is heading outside of Europe, the deadline for snail mail has already passed, but if you make use of the premium service and get them in the post by Tuesday, December 7, they should arrive in time.
For Christmas cards, letters and postcards, the time frames are a bit roomier. For deliveries within Germany, you need to pop them in the postbox by December 22. If your letter is destined for a European country, the date is December 14, and for other countries around the world, the cut-off date is December 7.
To guarantee delivery by December 24, DPD recommends that you drop off your parcels by midday on Friday, December 17, if they’re heading to an address within Europe. For deliveries within Germany, the deadline is Tuesday, December 21, but priority and express parcels should arrive on time even if they are posted as late as midday on Thursday, December 23.
If you’re sending a package within Germany via Hermes, you’ve got until December 20 to drop it off at your local PaketShop. If you want it collected from your home, the cut-off date is also December 20, but it needs to be confirmed with Hermes by 8 pm on December 19.
The deadlines for packets heading abroad vary from country to country. Generally, for countries within Europe, the deadline is December 14, 2021, but it may be possible to post your packages later than that for some destinations. You can check the exact deadlines via the Hermes website.
GLS is also expecting another mega Christmas in 2021, and is anticipating double-digit growth compared to last year. Details are a bit thin on the ground, but the general recommendation is that Germany-bound parcels should be posted no later than 12 noon on Tuesday, December 21. For parcels heading abroad, leave extra wriggle room.
Of course, let’s not forget letters to Santa Claus! He’s got a lot of post to sort through this year, so if you’re planning on sending him a wish list, make sure it reaches him at his address in Germany by Sunday, December 5 to give him time to reply. He’s got a busy delivery day coming up on December 24!