Mail and Parcels from the UK to Argentina: What Gets Through and What Gets Stuck

The postal relationship between the UK and Argentina is one of the more frustrating aspects of expat life. Sending a letter is fine. Receiving a parcel containing anything of value triggers an encounter with Aduana (Argentine customs) that can take days, cost money, and test your patience in ways you did not think possible.

Sending letters from the UK

For related context, see Driving in Argentina with a UK Licence: What You Need to Know.

Royal Mail International Standard (not tracked): 10-15 working days to Buenos Aires. Cost: approximately £1.85 for a standard letter. Reliable for documents but slow.

Royal Mail International Tracked: 7-12 working days. Cost: £6-10. Tracking works until the parcel enters Argentina, then becomes intermittent.

DHL Express: 3-5 working days. Cost: £25-60 for a document envelope. Full tracking door-to-door. The gold standard for important documents.

Receiving parcels from the UK

This is where things get complicated. Argentine customs treats incoming international parcels with scrutiny. The process depends on the declared value and the courier used.

Small parcels (under USD 50 declared value)

If someone sends you a small, low-value parcel via Royal Mail or standard post:

1. It arrives at Correo Argentino (the Argentine postal service) international hub

2. If the declared value is under USD 50 and the customs officer believes it, it passes through

3. Delivery to your Argentine address within 5-10 days of clearing customs

4. No duties or taxes on the first 5 parcels per year under USD 50

Parcels over USD 50 declared value

If the parcel exceeds USD 50 (or customs suspects it does):

1. The parcel is held at the Aduana section of Correo Argentino's international hub (Retiro or Ezeiza)

2. You receive a notification (email or postal) that a parcel is waiting

3. You must go in person to the customs hub with your passport/DNI and the notification

4. Customs opens the parcel in front of you and assesses duties

5. You pay 50% of the assessed value as import duty (this can be significant)

6. You collect the parcel

The process takes 1-3 hours at the customs hub, plus travel time. It is genuinely unpleasant but functional.

Using DHL/FedEx/UPS

International couriers handle customs clearance on your behalf:

• DHL — clears customs and delivers to your door. They bill you for any duties separately. Cost: USD 50-150 for UK-Argentina delivery. 5-7 working days.
• FedEx — similar process and pricing. Good for heavy or bulky items.
• UPS — works but slower and less reliable than DHL for Argentina.

Courier customs clearance is faster (usually same-day) and avoids the in-person customs visit. You pay duties through the courier's invoice system.

The puerta a puerta regime

Argentina has a specific regime for personal international imports called puerta a puerta (door to door):

• Each person can receive up to 5 parcels per year through the postal service with simplified customs
• The combined value cannot exceed USD 3,000 per year
• Parcels above USD 50 individual value are taxed at 50% of the excess
• You need to register each import on the AFIP website (afip.gob.ar) before collection

This registration is done online through AFIP's portal using your CUIT or CUIL. It takes 10-15 minutes and generates a voucher (volante de pago) for any duties owed.

What gets stuck

Items that commonly trigger extended customs review:

• Electronics (phones, laptops, tablets) — always flagged, always taxed
• Clothing in bulk — more than 2-3 items of the same type triggers commercial import suspicion
• Medication — requires ANMAT approval in theory; small personal quantities usually pass
• Books — generally exempt from duty under international convention
• Food and beverages — restricted or prohibited depending on the product

Practical tips for UK families

1. Amazon UK does not deliver to Argentina. Use a parcel forwarding service (MyUS, Stackry) that consolidates purchases and ships via courier.

2. Ask family to under-declare. Controversial but common. Declaring a £100 gift as "used clothing, value £20" often avoids customs scrutiny. Technically illegal; practically widespread.

3. Use DHL for important items. The courier premium is worth avoiding the in-person customs ordeal.

4. Bring things in your luggage. Personal effects in luggage are not subject to postal customs. If you are visiting the UK, fill your suitcase with items you need rather than having them posted.

5. Register puerta a puerta imports immediately. Do not wait for the customs notification — register on AFIP's portal as soon as you know a parcel has been sent.

Sending parcels FROM Argentina to the UK

Outbound parcels are simpler:

• Correo Argentino International — slow (15-30 days) but cheap. Track capability limited.
• DHL/FedEx — 5-7 days, fully tracked. Cost: USD 40-120.
• OCA (domestic courier with international service) — sometimes cheaper than Correo Argentino

UK customs applies import duty on goods above £135 in value and VAT on all goods. HMRC collects at the point of delivery.

Not legal or customs advice. Argentine customs rules change frequently and enforcement is inconsistent. Verify current puerta a puerta limits and procedures on AFIP's website before expecting any parcel.

Worth reading next

• Driving in Argentina with a UK Licence: What You Need to Know
• Learning Spanish in Buenos Aires as a British Expat: Schools, Apps and Honest Timelines
• Argentine Christmas as a British Expat: What to Expect at 35°C