How long does royal mail keep your parcel for

Royal Mail, the UK's postal service, has a standard retention period for parcels, which is typically 12 months. This means that they will keep your parcel for a minimum of 12 months before it is considered abandoned and disposed of.

However, there are some exceptions and additional factors that can affect the retention period:

  1. Special Delivery: If you've used Royal Mail's Special Delivery service, which provides a tracking number and signature on delivery, the retention period is typically 12 months from the date of delivery.
  2. International parcels: For international parcels, the retention period may be longer, typically up to 18 months, depending on the destination country's customs regulations.
  3. Unclaimed parcels: If a parcel is not collected or claimed within the standard retention period, it may be returned to the sender or disposed of.
  4. Customs clearance: If a parcel is held by customs for any reason, the retention period may be extended while the customs clearance process is ongoing.
  5. Special circumstances: In exceptional cases, Royal Mail may retain a parcel for a longer period if there are issues with the parcel's contents, such as hazardous materials or restricted items.

It's essential to note that Royal Mail may also dispose of a parcel earlier if:

If you're concerned about the status of a parcel or want to retrieve a parcel that's been retained by Royal Mail, you can contact their customer service team for assistance.