How long do royal mail hold packages

Royal Mail, the UK's postal service, has a standard holding period for packages that are undeliverable or require additional information. Here are some general guidelines:

  1. Standard Mail: For standard mail items, Royal Mail will hold packages for 18 working days (approximately 3 weeks) before returning them to the sender.
  2. Signed For Mail: For signed-for mail items, Royal Mail will hold packages for 31 working days (approximately 5 weeks) before returning them to the sender.
  3. Special Delivery: For Special Delivery items, Royal Mail will hold packages for 12 months (1 year) before returning them to the sender.

If you're expecting a package from Royal Mail and it's been held for the maximum period, you can:

  1. Contact Royal Mail: Reach out to Royal Mail's customer service team to inquire about the status of your package. They may be able to provide additional information or help you resolve the issue.
  2. Check with the sender: If you're unable to contact Royal Mail, try contacting the sender to see if they have any information about the package's whereabouts.
  3. Claim your package: If the package is returned to the sender, you may need to contact them to arrange for it to be resent or to collect it from their premises.

Remember to always keep your address up to date with Royal Mail to ensure that your packages are delivered correctly.