Postal Services and Sending Parcels in Andalucía

Reliable postal services in Andalucía are provided by the national operator, Correos, alongside several private courier firms. Understanding the distinction between stamp types and customs requirements is essential for international shipping.

Managing mail in Andalucía is straightforward if you use the correct channels. For standard letters and postcards, the national provider Correos is the primary option. For time-sensitive or heavy international parcels, private couriers like SEUR, MRW, or DHL offer faster, though more expensive, alternatives. You must provide a Spanish phone number for all parcel deliveries to ensure successful transit.

The National Post Service: Correos

Correos is the state-owned postal service. You will recognise their offices by the bright yellow signage and the post horn logo.

• Opening Hours: Major city offices (like Sevilla, Málaga, or Granada) typically open from 08:30 to 20:30, Monday to Friday, and 09:30 to 13:00 on Saturdays. In smaller villages (pueblos), offices often close by 14:00 or 14:30.
• The Ticket System: Most busy offices use a numbered ticket machine. Select "Enviar" (Send) or "Recoger" (Collect) to get your place in the queue.
• Cita Previa: You can book an appointment on the Correos website or app to skip the queue, which is highly recommended for busy city centre branches.
• Post Boxes (Buzones): These are bright yellow cylindrical or wall-mounted boxes. Ensure you use the correct slot; some boxes have separate openings for "Local", "Provincial", or "Extranjero/Resto" (Foreign/Rest of Spain).

Sending Postcards and Letters

For standard mail, you do not always need to visit a post office. Stamps (sellos) are widely available at Estancos (licensed tobacco shops), identified by a yellow "T" on a brown background.

Current Rates

Prices fluctuate annually. For exact 2026 tariffs for a 20g letter or postcard, check the official Correos price calculator (Tarifador) before sending. Rates are generally tiered for:

• Spain
• Europe (including UK)
• Rest of the World

Note: Mail to the UK or USA typically takes 5 to 10 working days. Domestic mail within Andalucía usually arrives in 2 to 3 working days.

Sending Parcels (National and International)

When sending parcels via Correos, you must choose between different service levels. All international parcels sent outside the EU (including to the UK) require a customs declaration form (CN22 or CN23).

1. Paq Estándar: The standard domestic service. Includes tracking and delivery within 48 to 72 hours.
2. Paq Premium: Faster domestic delivery (24 to 48 hours) with more robust insurance options.
3. Paq Internacional Económico: The most cost-effective way to send items abroad. The cost for a 2kg parcel to the UK depends on dimensions (check the Correos website for current pricing).
4. Paq Internacional Light: For items up to 2kg that do not require a signature, primarily for documents or small goods.

Packaging Requirements

Correos is strict about packaging. Use plain cardboard boxes. If you reuse a box, ensure all old barcodes and addresses are completely covered or blacked out. You can buy "Línea Verde" packaging at the post office, which includes the price of carbon-neutral shipping in the box cost for certain weight tiers.

Private Courier Services

For urgent items or large shipments, private couriers are often more efficient than the national post. They provide door-to-door service, which is vital if you do not have a vehicle to carry heavy boxes to a Correos office.

• MRW: Excellent for domestic next-day delivery. They have many physical "Points" where you can drop off or collect items.
• SEUR: Part of the DPD group. Reliable for European road freight. Their "Predict" service gives recipients a one-hour delivery window.
• GLS / DHL: Best for high-value international shipments. DHL Express is the fastest way to get documents to the UK or North America (often 24 to 48 hours).
• Packlink / Genei: These are comparison websites. You enter the weight and dimensions, and they provide quotes from all major couriers. This is usually significantly cheaper than booking directly with the courier.

Address Formats in Andalucía

Incorrectly addressed mail is a frequent cause of non-delivery in Spain. Always follow this format:

NAME SURNAME
CALLE/AVENIDA NAME, NUMBER, FLOOR, DOOR
POSTCODE CITY (PROVINCE)
SPAIN

Example:
Juan Pérez
Calle Sierpes, 14, 2º B
41004 Sevilla
Spain

2º B indicates the second floor, door B. Bajo means ground floor, and Izquierda (Izq) or Derecha (Der) indicate left or right doors.

Receiving Mail and CityPaq

If you are an expat or staying in a holiday rental, receiving mail can be difficult if the building lacks a clear intercom or the courier cannot access the lobby.

• CityPaq: Correos provides yellow automated lockers in supermarkets (like Carrefour or Mercadona) and petrol stations. You can register for a free account (check the Correos app or website for the latest registration steps), receive a unique code, and have your parcels delivered to a locker for collection at your convenience.
• Puntos de Recogida: Many local shops (kiosks, florists, hardware stores) act as collection points for Amazon, SEUR, and GLS. Choosing a collection point is often more reliable than home delivery if you are not home during the day.

Certified Mail and the Burofax

If you live in Andalucía, or are buying property, dealing with a landlord, or cancelling a contract, two Correos services matter far more than stamps:

• Carta certificada (registered letter): Tracked and signed for on delivery. This is the standard way to send anything you may later need to prove was posted, such as official correspondence with a town hall or utility company. Add an acuse de recibo (proof of receipt) and Correos returns a card confirming who signed and when.
• Burofax: The heavyweight option, and a fixture of Spanish administrative life. A burofax certifies not just delivery but the content of the document, giving it legal weight. It is the standard method for formally notifying a tenant, ending a contract, or making a claim before going to court. It can be sent from any Correos office or online, and costs considerably more than a normal letter. If a Spanish lawyer tells you to "send a burofax", this is what they mean.

For residents dealing with Spanish bureaucracy more broadly, our living in Andalucía guides cover the paperwork side in detail.

Receiving Parcels from Outside the EU

Since Brexit, this catches out British families constantly: parcels sent from the UK (and any non-EU country) pass through Spanish customs, and the recipient often pays before delivery.

• Customs charges: Import VAT applies to most goods regardless of value, and customs duty can apply above certain thresholds. Correos or the courier will also add their own handling fee for doing the customs paperwork.
• Gifts are not exempt in practice: Even parcels marked as gifts can attract VAT and handling fees. A box of birthday presents from the UK can easily arrive with a charge of €20 or more to release it.
• The notification: You will typically receive a letter, email or SMS asking you to pay online or at the post office before the parcel is released. Unclaimed parcels are returned after a holding period.
• The workaround: For anything valuable, ask the sender to complete the customs declaration (CN22/CN23) accurately and attach the invoice. Vague declarations cause the longest delays at the Madrid customs hub.

The Correos App and Digital Tools

The Correos mobile app has quietly become genuinely useful: track deliveries, receive advance notice of a delivery day, redirect a parcel to a CityPaq locker or a different address, and pay customs charges without queueing. You can also buy digital stamps: the app gives you a code to hand-write on the envelope in place of a physical stamp, which solves the perennial problem of finding an estanco open on a Sunday.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I miss a delivery?

If Correos fails to deliver, they will leave a small yellow slip (aviso de llegada) in your letterbox. You must wait until the following working day to collect the item from the specific post office listed on the slip. Bring the slip and your original ID (Passport or TIE/NIE).

How do I send a parcel to the UK post-Brexit?

You must complete a customs form (CN23) detailing the contents, weight, and value. Items marked as "Gift" are still subject to inspection. If the value exceeds £39 (or current HMRC gift threshold), the recipient in the UK may be required to pay VAT, customs duty, and a handling fee before delivery.

Can I buy stamps online?

Yes, the Correos website allows you to purchase and print "Etiquetas de Envío" (shipping labels) or digital stamps. However, for most tourists, buying physical stamps at an Estanco remains the simplest method.

Where do I find my postcode?

Postcodes in Spain consist of five digits. The first two digits indicate the province (e.g., 41 for Sevilla, 29 for Málaga, 18 for Granada, 11 for Cádiz, 04 for Almería). You can use the "Codigos Postales" search tool on the Correos website.

Summary

• Buy stamps for postcards at Estancos to avoid post office queues.
• Always include a Spanish mobile number on parcel labels for delivery alerts.
• Use Packlink to compare prices for large international shipments.
• Carry a valid ID (Passport/TIE) when collecting any mail from a Correos office.

Note: Postal rates and customs regulations for non-EU countries are subject to frequent change. Verify costs at the counter before sending high-value items.