Christmas cut-off dates, 2026

Cut-off by service

Dropping off at our Ikorodu office is always the latest you can leave it. Collection anywhere else needs extra days, and collection from Abuja or Port Harcourt needs more again, because that cargo consolidates through Lagos first.

Send earlier than you think you need to

Every year people aim for the cut-off date exactly, and every year some of them are unlucky. The cut-off is the last reasonable date, not a comfortable one. If you can send in October or early November, do.

There is a second reason beyond safety. Consolidated cargo waits for a consignment to fill before it flies, and shipping early means your cargo is on an earlier consignment rather than competing for space on the last one before Christmas.

What not to send as a Christmas gift

December is when this catches the most people out, because Christmas food is exactly what families want to send.

• No meat. Suya, kilishi, ponmo, dried meat — all banned from outside the EU, with no allowance at all. This is the most common December seizure.
• No dairy. Same rule, with only infant and medical formula excepted.
• Dried fish and crayfish are fine, up to 20kg per person.
• Garri, packaged egusi and ogbono, palm oil, groundnuts, plantain — all allowed.
• No alcohol in a personal shipment. It attracts Excise Duty separately and is excluded from duty relief.

The full list is on what you can and cannot send, and you can search any item on the food cargo page.

If you have left it late

1. Ask before you assume it is too late. Consignment timings move, and we will tell you honestly whether there is still a realistic chance.
2. Switch to air. It costs more per kilogram and it is the reason air exists.
3. Send less. A smaller shipment on an earlier consignment beats a full one that misses.
4. Consider a courier for something small and urgent. For a light parcel that absolutely must arrive, DHL will beat us, and we would rather say so than take the booking.

Common questions

When is the last day to send cargo to the UK for Christmas 2026?

Our confirmed cut-off dates for 2026 will be published on this page. Sea cargo needs the longest lead time by far, so if you are shipping by sea for Christmas, ask us now rather than waiting for the list.

What happens if I miss the cut-off?

We will still take your shipment, but we will tell you honestly that it is unlikely to arrive before Christmas rather than taking your money and hoping. In most cases air freight is the fallback, at a higher price per kilogram.

Is the cut-off a guarantee?

No, and be wary of anyone who says theirs is. The cut-off is the last date a shipment can leave and reasonably be expected to arrive in time. Customs clearance is decided by Border Force and cannot be promised by any company.

Can I send food for Christmas?

Most Nigerian food, yes — garri, dried fish within the 20kg allowance, packaged egusi and ogbono. Meat is banned outright, which catches people out every December when they try to send suya or kilishi as a gift.

Does December take longer than usual?

Consignments tend to fill faster in December, which helps. Customs and UK delivery networks are busier, which does not. Plan for the season rather than the average.

Ask about Christmas timing See prices

See also: air cargo · sea cargo · sending food · where is my shipment