Editor in chief at IamExpat Media
In-person gatherings will be more common over Christmas this year, but expats still have lots of cards and presents to send around the world in the lead-up to the holidays. If you’re sending letters and packages from Germany, when do you need to put things in the postbox to make sure they arrive in time for Christmas?
Christmas is typically the busiest time of the year for postal companies in Germany and abroad, a situation that has been exacerbated by the rising number of people doing their Christmas shopping via the internet.
This year, Deutsche Post is preparing to draft in its own office workers in the run-up to the big day to ensure there are enough hands on deck to get all the packages and Christmas cards delivered in time.
Of course, the earlier you pop your items in the post, the better chance they’ll have of arriving comfortably in time for Christmas. But if you’re up against it or like taking things to the wire, these are the delivery deadlines you need to stick to this year to ensure your friends and family don’t go empty-handed on Christmas Day.
Deutsche Post has different deadlines depending on where your items are heading, and if you’re sending a card or a parcel. For letters outside of Europe, you need to get them in by December 7 to ensure they’re delivered in time. For European destinations, the deadline is December 14, and for Germany-bound letters, you have until December 22.
The timings are a bit tighter if you’re sending a package with DHL. For countries outside of Europe, the first deadline has already passed, but you might have some luck if you pay extra for the Premium Service. Otherwise, for most European countries the deadline is December 12, with the exception of packages bound for one of Germany’s neighbouring countries, which can be dropped off until December 15 (December 14 for France and Italy). For deliveries within Germany, you’ve got until December 20.
For packages sent with Hermes, you’ve got a whole extra day. If your shipment is heading to an address in Germany, you can drop it off by 12 noon on December 21 to guarantee Christmas delivery. For other European destinations, the deadline is between December 12 and 20, depending on the distance. For deliveries outside the EU, the deadlines are all in early December, so the sooner you can drop your parcel off, the better!
DPD also promises to deliver your Germany-bound parcels in time for Christmas so long as you drop them off before 12 noon on December 21. If you want to cut it really fine, you have until midday on December 23 to get them in the post, so long as you pay for the Priority or Express service. For parcels going to other European countries, the deadline is December 17.
Over at UPS the deadlines range from December 20 for packages sent within Germany (or December 23 with the Express service), to December 19 for Europe-bound parcels. Note that UPS also charges a surcharge for its services over the Christmas period.
If you’re sending with GLS, you need to get your parcels to one of their shops by 12 noon on December 21 to guarantee Christmas delivery within Germany, December 20 for neighbouring EU countries, and December 19 for other EU countries.
And finally, if you’re sending letters to the Weihnachtsmann, Christkind or Nikolaus at one of Deutsche Post’s special Christmas post offices that are dotted all over Germany, you need to make sure your notes get there in time if you want to receive a reply. The dates vary depending on who you’re writing to, so check out the Deutsche Post website for all the details. Wishing all your letters a safe and merry journey!