how long does a package stay at the post office in dublin
How long does a package stay at the post office in Dublin?
In Dublin, An Post will keep a missed or uncollected parcel for 5 working days in most cases, but the exact time depends on the type of post and whether it came from abroad. If you don’t collect it within that period, it is normally returned to the sender (if a legible address is available).
Quick numbers by post type
Type of item| How long An Post holds it in Dublin/post depot
---|---
Standard Post / Express Post| 5 working days
Registered Post| 3 working days
Parcels received from abroad| 16 working days
These are the official holding periods listed on An Post’s website and in their FAQs. “Working days” means Monday–Friday and exclude weekends and bank holidays.
Why your package might be sitting there
- Large parcels often go to a depot or local post office instead of being left at your door.
- If you were not home when the courier tried to deliver, An Post will return the parcel to the local Delivery Service Unit and hold it for the periods above.
- For items sent by some third‑party couriers (e.g. DPD, DHL, Evri, Royal Mail via UK Post Office), different rules can apply, but those are UK Post Office policies, not An Post’s Irish rules.
What happens if you don’t collect it?
- After the holding period ends, An Post will return the parcel to the sender if the sender’s address is legible.
- A sticker explaining why delivery failed is usually attached to the item.
- In practice, forum users report that after “a few months” the item is almost certainly gone back to the sender.
How to speed things up
- Check your notification letter/docket or email/SMS from An Post; it usually states the exact deadline and which office to visit.
- Bring proof of identity (e.g. passport, driving licence) when collecting, especially if someone else is picking it up on your behalf.
- If the deadline is close, call or visit your local post office/depositing depot to ask if they can still hold it or re‑attempt delivery.
TL;DR
- Most Dublin parcels: 5 working days
- Registered post: 3 working days
- International parcels: 16 working days
- After that: returned to sender unless you collect in time.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.