Royal Mail is advising customers to check international posting rules before sending parcels overseas, as certain items may be refused. The postal service notes on its website that some parcels cannot be sent to a number of destinations, with a list of countries where money is prohibited.
"Many countries don't allow money to be sent through their postal networks," Royal Mail explains. Because of this, "Royal Mail can't accept liability for loss or damage to money sent to" certain destinations.
Countries where money is prohibited
The list of countries includes: Armenia, Australia, Belarus, Bolivia, Botswana, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, China (excluding Hong Kong and Macao), Comoros, Cuba, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Iran, Italy, Iraq, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Laos (People's Democratic Republic of), Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malawi, Mauritius, Montenegro, Namibia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Rwanda, Serbia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Swaziland, Tajikistan, Uganda, USA, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Recommendations for sending valuables
For sending valuables, cash, or restricted items overseas—including jewellery—Royal Mail recommends using its international Tracked services. The postal service notes: "This service is available with extra compensation cover. The maximum compensation for loss or damage to international mail containing money is £100."
When packaging items, Royal Mail advises taking "care to make sure it's not visible through the envelope. Don't indicate on the outside of the packaging that money is inside." It further warns: "Don’t send coins in envelopes. Our machines might damage them, causing delays and a higher risk of loss."
Personal post and business post
For personal post, Royal Mail suggests using Royal Mail Special Delivery Guaranteed® when sending valuables, money, or jewellery. The definition of valuables includes coupons, vouchers, tickets, tokens, cards, stamps and other documents exchangeable for money, goods or services; diamonds and precious stones; watches with cases made wholly or mainly of precious metal; coins and bank notes of any currency that are legal tender at posting; articles with intrinsic value; unused postage, revenue stamps, National Insurance stamps, exchequer bills, bills of exchange, promissory notes, credit notes, bonds, bond coupons and other investment certificates; ingots; precious metal manufactured to add value, including coins used for ornament; and postal orders, cheques and dividend warrants uncrossed and payable to bearer.
For business post, Royal Mail states that if sending valuables, money, or jewellery, customers should use its Special Delivery Guaranteed®. The definition of valuables for business includes precious metal made to add a retail value greater than £150; similar articles with value other than workmanship; coupons, vouchers, tokens, cards, stamps and other documents exchangeable for money, goods or services; money, bank notes, postal orders, cheques, unused postage, revenue stamps, National Insurance stamps, exchequer bills, bills of exchange, promissory notes, credit notes, bonds, coupons and other investment certificates; articles with intrinsic value; watches with cases made totally or mainly of precious metal with retail value greater than £150; diamonds, precious stones, or precious metals with retail value greater than £150; and jewellery containing diamonds, precious metal and/or precious stones with retail value greater than £150.
