Postal services

In Ireland, An Post provides the national post service and is regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).

ComReg ensures affordability, quality standards, and a basic level of service.

Stamp increases in 2024

From 1 February 2024, the standard national letter stamp will increase from €1.35 to €1.40.

The standard international letter stamp and the Digital Stamp will stay the same.

Find more postal rates on the An Post website. You can keep up to date with any customer notices on anpost.com or An Post’s social media channels.

Postal service providers

Anyone can set up a postal business once they notify ComReg.

A postal service involves clearance, sorting, transport, and distribution. Document exchange, courier services and unaddressed advertising are not considered to be postal services.

When completing the notification form, you must decide whether your postal service is within the scope of the universal postal service.

ComReg has a register of authorised providers and more information on the regulation of authorised providers.

Universal service provider

As the universal service provider, An Post must provide:

• Daily collection and delivery of letters, packets and parcels (Monday to Friday)
• Free certificates of posting, registered items service, insured items service
• Free postal services for blind or partially sighted people
• Specialist facilities such as redirection, business reply and freepost

Full details of the postal services that An Post must provide nationally and internationally are set out in the Communications Regulation (Universal Postal Service) Regulations 2012 (SI 280 of 2012).

An Post’s other services

An Post also provides:

• Postal services not under the universal service requirement
• Non-postal services such as Express Post, Post Passport, Philatelic Services (dealing with stamps), Courier Post and other financial services
• Supports for communities such as check-ins for older or vulnerable customers in their homes
• Newspaper-ordering and delivery service
• Arrangements for people who cannot collect their social welfare payments at the post office – you can nominate a temporary agent (pdf) to collect your payment

VAT and any duties apply to parcels from outside the European Union (EU). You must pay before the parcel is delivered to you.

Customs duty and VAT may apply to purchases from the UK (not Northern Ireland).

VAT and customs duties collection varies among delivery providers. They either:

• Pay the fee for you and then charge you directly
• Tell you the relevant charge and asks you to pay them before delivering the package
• Lets you deal directly with Revenue

The amount charged for clearing items through customs can vary across providers. Usually, these charges are based on a percentage of the value of the items.

Eircode is the national postcode system with a unique 7-character code for all residential and business addresses. Use the Eircode Finder to locate or verify and Eircode.

Delayed post

Standard post should be delivered within 5 working days or 15 days for international post.

Reasons for delay include incomplete addresses, posting after collection day, customs issues or posting prohibited (banned) items.

Missed deliveries

If you miss a delivery An Post will leave a ‘sorry we missed you’ notice. You have the following options:

• Collect at your local delivery service unit (bring the notice and identification)
• Nominate someone else to collect on your behalf
• Arrange redelivery online

An Post will only keep items for 5 working days (standard post), 3 working days (registered post) and 16 working days (items from abroad).

If the item has not been collected it will be returned to the sender (if their address is on the outside).

More help

You can get more information and advice on delayed post and missed deliveries from An Post’s FAQ support section.

An Post's postal services

Complain to An Post using the online contact form, the paper form your local postal or delivery office or by post or by phone.

An Post aims to acknowledge your complaint within 3 working days. You get a unique reference number. It will try to fix the problem within:

• 30 days for mail within Ireland
• 40 days for mail to Europe
• 60 days for mail to all other destinations

You can find out more from An Post’s customer charter.

Taking your complaint further

If unresolved by An Post, you can refer your complain to An Post’s Customer Advocate. Use the Customer Advocate Contact Form online or send it by post. You must do this within 30 calendar days of the final decision from An Post Customer Service. You should get a final response from the Customer Advocate within 30 days.

If you are unhappy with the outcome of An Post’s investigation, contact the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg). ComReg has more information about postal complaints.

Other authorised service providers

Contact the relevant provider if your complaint relates to services other than An Post.

You can check the register of authorised service providers on ComReg’s website.

Read more about shipping and deliveries.

ComReg has a list of Postal Services FAQs.

You can get more information and advice from An Post’s FAQ support section.