United Kingdom
Check our destination guide for postal restrictions and requirements
Prohibitions
The following items are prohibited from importation, meaning they won't be allowed to enter the destination country, territory or region.
To check which items are considered dangerous and prohibited for sending from Australia, download our dangerous goods guide (1.2MB).
- Aerosols
- Alcoholic beverages and liquids containing more than 24% Alcohol by volume
- Ammunition
- Asbestos
- Ashes (Human Remains)
- Batteries
- Clinical and medical waste
- Controlled drugs and narcotics
- Corrosive substances
- Counterfeit currency, bank notes and postage stamps
- Dry ice
- Environmental waste
- Electronic items containing any batteries exceeding 100Wh
- Explosives
- Flammable liquids
- Flammable solids
- Frozen water
- Gases
- Goods made in foreign prisons
- Human and animal remains
- Infectious substances UN2814 or UN2900
- Lighters and refills containing flammable liquid or gas
- Living creatures, animals and reptiles
- Lottery tickets
- Magnetised material
- Matches
- Obscene publications and pornography
- Oxidising materials and organic peroxides
- Pesticides
- Poisonous, toxic liquids, solids or gases
- Radioactive materials
- Solvent-based paints, wood varnishes and enamels
- Tickets and related advertisements for illegal lotteries
- Waste, dirt, filth or refuse
- Weapons
Transporting food of any kind is prohibited under International Courier.
Lithium batteries
Lithium batteries and devices containing them are prohibited from being sent via International Courier services.
Please refer to the following websites for further information:
Import restrictions
If an item is subject to import restrictions, it means that provisions must be met before it will be released from customs in the destination country, territory or region.
We recommend you confirm import restrictions with local authorities before posting:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Animals and animal products
- Pharmaceutical products
- Plants and plant products
- Radio transmitters
- Sealskins
- Tobacco and tobacco products
- Vegetables
- Weapons.
The United Kingdom admits articles up to £15 value, except alcohol and tobacco products, free of duty and taxes.
Please note the following restrictions for International Standard articles being carried by the EMS network:
- Ammunition
- Animals
- Antiques
- Asbestos
- Bees
- Biological substances
- Bullion
- Coins
- Counterfeit
- Currency
- Fur
- Human ashes
- Human remains
- Ivory
- Jewellery
- Leeches
- Live
- Narcotics
- Perfumery
- Perishable
- Pornography
- Precious metals
- Precious stones
- Silkworms
- Watches (only if over $150.00)
- Weapons
Gifts
The United Kingdom admits private gifts intended for the personal or family use of the addressee free of duty and VAT up to a value of £36 provided the following limits are not exceeded:
- Spirits - 1 litre, plus Wine - 2 litres
- Tobacco products 50 cigarettes or 25 cigarillos or 10 cigars or 50 grams of tobacco
Okay to send? Send responsibly.
As the sender, it's your responsibility to make sure your items don't break any laws or rules – both within Australia and in the destination country.
Restrictions and conditions can change at short notice so the information on this page should be used as a guide only. For the latest information, you should check the UPU prohibitions & restrictions (PDF 7.2MB) or contact the destination country's customs, postal trade or government authority.
It's also your responsibility to check if the destination country imposes any duties, taxes, brokerage fees or any other fees on the item you're sending. If you're unsure, please contact the consulate office of the destination country.
Special documentation
In addition to our customs forms, authorities in the destination country, territory or region require further documentation for some items.
Articles exceeding £2,000 in value require an invoice.
UK Postal authorities advise that for best delivery results packets and parcels being sent to a PO box address should also include a street address.
If a PO box is the only address known, then a (recipient) contact telephone number should be given to assist delivery.
While spacing on the packet or parcel might be questioned with having to provide extra information, there should be room at least to include a telephone number.
Use of a PO box address (only) may delay delivery because of the need to ascertain delivery details.
Delivery locations & exclusions
Before sending to this destination, i