Current information on the coronavirus

As the largest mail and parcel provider and one of the largest employers in Germany, we at Deutsche Post DHL Group want to help slow the further spread of the coronavirus in Germany. We also want to protect both our delivery personnel and our customers from infection as much as possible.

We have therefore decided to change our delivery processes until further notice:

• For items requiring a signature, such as registered items or parcels, we have waived the requirement for customers to sign upon receipt. Instead, our deliverers will document successful delivery with their own signature.
• As before, the deliverer will ring the doorbell and only then confirm delivery of the item.
• This minimizes both the personal contact as well as the need for customers to handle the scanner and pen.

If customers have already specified a preferred location, their item(s) will continue to be delivered to that location.

To arrange contactless receipt of your parcels we ask that you contact DHL to specify a preferred location: www.dhl.de/wunschort

When receiving a mail item or parcel, is it possible to contract the virus via the pen or hand-scanner if an infected person has handled these? 

According to the expert statements familiar to us, the risk of Covid-19 spreading via contact with objects such as parcels is unknown. Only in a few cases so far has infection with the coronavirus via contact with objects been suspected. This also applies to items originating in regions where cases of infection had been reported.

For customers nevertheless concerned about the risk of infection when receiving parcels, we recommend contacting DHL to specify a preferred location where our deliverer can drop-off your parcels (www.dhl.de/wunschort).

What happens to items that have been sent to me requiring additional payment or payment of customs duties, cash-on-delivery or an ID check?

While the current situation stands, no delivery attempt will be made for items requiring additional payment, items with the additional service COD or items with the service ID check (DHL Paket). This measure is designed to provide additional protection to recipients and delivery staff. From now on, these shipments will be taken directly to a retail outlet, from where the recipient (or a proxy authorized by the recipient) must collect the item. Retail outlets afford employees and customers better protection, and offer the option of cashless payment. This provision also applies to payment orders and items from abroad with outstanding customs duties.

Private customers:

To date, there are no major restrictions to the shipping of mail and parcels items in Germany. In order to avoid personal contact, private customers can order mail and parcel stamps online (shop.deutschepost.de). Using DHL's online franking service, customers can also purchase and print their own parcel stamps from home (Online franking). Pre-franked parcels can also be sent using our Packstations, with no registration required. To find your closest Packstation visit Postfinder.

Business customers:

To date, there are no restrictions to our regular parcel pick-up services for business customers in Germany. However, compliance with the communicated safety measures is required, e.g. maintaining sufficient distance (2m) to others or arranging for parcel handover entirely without personal contact.

To date, we are also continuing regular pick-up service including in higher-risk areas of adjacent neighboring countries as long as access to these areas is allowed.

If business customers are impacted by the current wave of closures and we determine that delivery to the relevant addresses is not possible over an extended period of time, because no drop-off is possible or no drop-off location has been specified, the items will be considered undeliverable and returned to the sender. Please understand that we cannot store items indefinitely in our retail outlets, Paketshops or other facilities.

To date, there are no major restrictions to our services in Germany.

International items may be subject to delays or restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These may be caused by changes in transport procedures (e.g. border controls), changes in international transport (e.g. cancellation of previously used flight connections) and/or changes in delivery procedures in the destination country (e.g. quarantine or other protective measures).

In addition, many of our delivery partners have adapted their delivery processes in light of the current challenges. As such, the requirement for a recipient signature upon receipt of parcels and registered mail with personal delivery is currently being waived in many areas (contactless delivery). Instead, successful delivery is being documented via alternative processes (e.g. deliverer signature etc.). If the recipient objects to this new procedure, items are brought to a Paketshop for collection or returned to sender.

If you plan to send items to international destinations, please consult this site for information on possible restrictions. We are updating the site regularly.

Current information on delivery to business addresses outside Germany:
Official administrative measures (e.g. the closure of businesses by official order) may lead to problems with the delivery of items to business addresses outside Germany (e.g. companies, retailers, public authorities, shopping centers etc.). The situation may arise whereby it is neither possible to deliver such items, nor to inform the addressees as to possible collection in a Paketshop. This may cause delays and unwanted returns. In light of this, we advise that you liaise with the recipient concerning the local situation to ensure that delivery is possible.

Current information on routing restrictions:

Argentina:
Until further notice, merchandise shipments to Argentina (DHL Paket International, Päckchen International and Warenpost International) can no longer be accepted due to problems with transport, customs clearance and/or delivery. This acceptance freeze does not affect letter mail items (i.e. documents sent as individual letter mail, kilo-rate mail, etc.).

Australia:
Until further notice, merchandise shipments to Australia (DHL Paket International, Päckchen International and Warenpost International) can no longer be accepted due to problems with transport, customs clearance and/or delivery. This acceptance freeze does not affect letter mail items (i.e. documents sent as individual letter mail, kilo-rate mail, etc.).

Austria:
At this time, delivery of DHL Europaket items is not possible to the following areas in Austria:

• Innsbruck region: 6450 Sölden, 6452 Hochsölden, 6456 Obergurgl, Gurgl, Hochgurgl, 6458 Vent, 6553 See, Kappl, Langesthei, 6555 Kappl, 6561 Ischgl, 6562 Mathon, 6563 Galtür, 6580 St. Anton am Arlberg
• Salzburg region: 5541 Altenmarkt im Pongau, 5542 Flachau, 5611 Grossarl, 5612 Hüttschlag, 5630 Bad Hofgastein, 5632 Dorfgastein, 5640 Bad Gastein, 5645 Böclstein, 5700 Zell am See, 5753 Saalbach
• Vorarlberg region: 6762 Stuben, 6763 Zürs, 6764 Lech, 6767 Warth, 6888 Schröcken, 6710 Nenzing-Dorf, Beschling

Effective immediately, the delivery of DHL Europaket items is now possible to 9844 Heiligenblut (formerly under quarantine) in the region of Kufstein.

Please use DHL Paket International as appropriate, and refer to the current information on delivery to business addresses outside Germany.

Canada
Until further notice, merchandise shipments to Canada (DHL Paket International, Päckchen International and Warenpost International) can no longer be accepted due to problems with transport, customs clearance and/or delivery. This acceptance freeze does not affect letter mail items (i.e. documents sent as individual letter mail, kilo-rate mail, etc.).

China, Hong Kong and Macao:
Until further notice, parcel shipments to China, Hong Kong and Macao (DHL Paket International, Päckchen International and Warenpost International) can no longer be accepted due to problems with transport, customs clearance and/or delivery. This acceptance freeze does not affect letter mail items (i.e. documents sent as individual letter mail, kilo-rate mail, etc.).

Czech Republic:

Delivery is currently not possible to the following areas in the Czech Republic:

• 78321
• 78324
• 78391
• 78401
• 58401

France:
In light of the current situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in France, La Poste has introduced massive restrictions within its parcel network. La Poste is reducing its delivery service to 3 days a week until further notice – a measure that will give rise to significantly reduced network capacities. As a result, we are being forced to implement the following restrictions to shipments being sent to France:

1. Acceptance and routing freeze on DHL Paket International for shipments that are longer than 60 cm on one or more sides (max. dimensions: 60 × 60 × 60 cm)
2. Acceptance and routing freeze on bulky goods shipments
3. Ideally, parcel shipment dimensions should not exceed the following maximum dimensions: 32 × 24 × 24 cm and maximum weight: 15 kg. These are the maximum dimensions that can be posted into mailboxes that are common in France and thus ensure contactless delivery.

As of Saturday, March 28, 2020, bulky goods and shipments >60 × 60 × 60 cm will be returned to you as we currently have insufficient storage and rerouting capacities at our disposal.

In addition to this, La Poste has requested that all parcel deliveries be discontinued in the following postal code areas:

• ACP Gennevilliers: 92110, 92200, 92230, 92250, 92270, 92300, 92390, 92400, 92600, 92700, 92800, 93200, 93210, 93240, 93380, 93430, 93450, 93800,
• Monaco: 98000

Parcels can now be sent to the following regions/delivery depots:
AKP Saint-Ouen Paris (postal codes 75008, 75017, 75018) and ACP Rungis (postal codes 91160, 91200, 91260, 91300, 91320, 91420, 91430, 91550, 91973, 92120, 92140, 92160, 92170, 92220, 92240, 92260, 92290, 92320, 92330, 92340, 92350, 94110, 94150, 94230, 94240, 94250, 94260, 94290, 94310, 94320, 94390, 94480, 94550)

Italy:
The Italian Post has informed us that the following reduced maximum dimensions and maximum weights shall apply to all DHL Paket International shipments with immediate effect: 

• Dimensions: the longest side no more than 120 cm; sum of length + width + height should not exceed 150 cm
• Maximum weight: 25 kg

For shipments that do not meet these requirements, we will attempt to send them with DHL Express, our second delivery partner in Italy. We do, however, encourage you to adhere to the max. dimensions and max. weight for parcel shipments to Italy as best you can, as we will not be able to guarantee the successful dispatch of parcels to DHL Express. 

At this time, delivery of DHL Europaket items is not possible to the following areas in Italy:
Medicina (40059), Ariano Irpino (83031), Polla (84035), Sala Consilina (84036), Atena Lucana (84030), Caggiano (84030), San Lucido (87038), Montebello Ionico (89064), Caulonia (89041) 

Japan:
Until further notice, merchandise shipments to Japan (DHL Paket International, Päckchen International and Warenpost International) can no longer be accepted due to problems with transport, customs clearance and/or delivery. This acceptance freeze does not affect letter mail items (i.e. documents sent as individual letter mail, kilo-rate mail, etc.).

Luxembourg:
Delivery of DHL Europaket items is now possible again in Luxembourg.
Please refer to the current information on delivery to business addresses outside Germany.

Mexico:
Until further notice, merchandise shipments to Mexico (DHL Paket International, Päckchen International and Warenpost International) can no longer be accepted due to problems with transport, customs clearance and/or delivery. This acceptance freeze does not affect letter mail items (i.e. documents sent as individual letter mail, kilo-rate mail, etc.).

New Zealand
Until further notice, merchandise shipments to New Zealand (DHL Paket International, Päckchen International and Warenpost International) can no longer be accepted due to problems with transport, customs clearance and/or delivery. This acceptance freeze does not affect letter mail items (i.e. documents sent as individual letter mail, kilo-rate mail, etc.).

Portugal:
At this time, delivery of DHL Europaket items is not possible to the following areas in Portugal: 3880-XXX to 3885-XXX

Singapore:
Until further notice, merchandise shipments to Singapore (DHL Paket International, Päckchen International and Warenpost International) can no longer be accepted due to problems with transport, customs clearance and/or delivery. This acceptance freeze does not affect letter mail items (i.e. documents sent as individual letter mail, kilo-rate mail, etc.).

Switzerland:
Swiss Post has informed us that the maximum dimensions for the shipment of bulky goods have been reduced with immediate effect.

• Max. dimensions: 150 cm × 80 cm × 60 cm
• Max. weight: 30 kg

Shipments in excess of the maximum dimensions and maximum weight requirements shall be returned to sender by Swiss Post.

Our delivery partner has also informed us that with immediate effect and in compliance with the recommendations of the Swiss authorities, COD (cash on delivery) fees will no longer be collected. Until further notice, please do not send COD (cash on delivery) shipments to Switzerland; all parcels sent to Switzerland with the COD service will be returned subject to charge. Please note that we are not liable for COD shipments assigned to us in Switzerland that are not clearly labeled or identifiable as such and as a result, not recognized as a COD item and not returned; in such cases, the item will be delivered without collection of the COD fee.

USA:
At this time, transport capacities to the USA are substantially reduced. As such, special measures are required to maintain the shipping of letters and parcels.

• It is still possible to send letter mail items (documents) to the USA.
• Warenpost and Päckchen products are no longer available for shipment to the USA until further notice.
• For private customers: Effective April 1, 2020, the only option available for sending parcels to the USA will be via the Premium service.
• For business customers: DHL Paket International items can still be sent until further notice. Please note that an international crisis surcharge of € 16 will be applied to each parcel.

For the following destinations, shipping and pick-up of items is currently not possible due to routing/delivery restrictions in the respective target destinations:

• Algeria
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Equatorial Guinea
• Aruba
• Azerbaijan
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Bermuda
• Belize
• Bhutan
• Bolivia
• Bonaire
• Botswana
• Brunei Darussalam
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Cameroon
• Cape Verde
• Cayman Islands
• Central African Republic
• Chad
• Chile
• Colombia
• Comoros, Union of the
• Congo
• Congo, Democratic Republic of the
• Cuba
• Curaçao
• Djibouti
• Dominica
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• Eswatini (Swaziland)
• Fiji
• French Polynesia
• Gabon
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guadeloupe
• Guinea
• Guinea-Bissau
• Honduras
• India
• Iran
• Ivory Coast
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Korea, Republic of
• Kuwait
• Laos
• Lebanon
• Lesotho
• Liberia
• Libya
• Madagascar
• Maldives 
• Mali 
• Martinique
• Mauritania
• Mauritius
• Moldovia
• Mongolia
• Montenegro
• Morocco
• Myanmar 
• Namibia
• Nepal
• New Caledonia
• Nicaragua
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Panama
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• Réunion
• Rwanda
• Samoa
• Saudi Arabia
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• St. Helena/Ascension/Tristan da Cunha
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Sudan
• Suriname
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Tunisia
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Uzbekistan
• Vanuatu
• Wallis and Futuna
• Western Sahara
• Zimbabwe

Please note that any items addressed to these destinations will be returned to the sender.

Business Customers Europe:
All restrictions applicable to exports from Germany also generally apply to products available to our European shipping customers outside Germany. 

Packet products are largely subject to the same restrictions as those applicable to Warenpost International. It is still possible to send Deutsche Post Packet products to the USA, until further notice. In case of doubt, please direct any queries to your sales contact.

The Federal Government’s crisis committee has excluded postal service points, such as retail outlets and DHL Paketshops, from the business closures. In light of the current situation, however, individual retail outlets or DHL Paketshops might be required to close or restrict their opening hours due to illness or lack of childcare, as daycare and kindergarten facilities have been closed. This said, the majority of our retail outlets and DHL Paketshops will remain open and continue to provide postal services nationwide. 

We are keeping a close eye on the dynamic situation and are continually adjusting our company’s business operations in the effort to mitigate potential impacts on you. Please note that are also taking the necessary protective measures in retail outlets located in areas showing higher rates of infection.

Will retail outlets keep the usual opening hours?

Due to the current situation, some retail outlet and DHL Paketshop operators might have make last-minute changes to their opening hours. We ask for your understanding. 

We will keep you informed of the most recent developments, including alternative service points and the latest business hours online Location-Finder as well mobile Post Mobil App and DHL App. 

As the situation is constantly changing, please note that the information displayed might reflect the most recent developments. The most recent information is also available and posted at all our service points and DHL Paketshops.

What happens if a parcel is being held for me for pick-up at a retail outlet that has been closed?

In the case of an unexpected closure of a retail outlet or DHL Paketshop, as per standard process our company will pick up all items from the location and make a second delivery attempt. If a service point is closed, all items requiring pick-up will be re-routed to a nearby retail outlet or DHL Paketshop or to a DHL Packstation; customers will be notified accordingly.

Will postal services also be offered on Sundays if other stores are allowed be open? 

The provision of postal services through retail outlets and DHL Paketshops is governed by the German “store closing law” (Ladenschlussgesetz). Should the law be relaxed, allowing shops to open on Sunday, business owners may choose to offer postal services as well, as many operators of small convenience stands with integrated DHL Paketshops already do.

The safety of our employees and customers is our top priority. We are working closely with local health authorities to implement the precautionary measures recommended by the authorities and international organizations such as the WHO, CDC, ECDC and Robert Koch Institute. As a company, we are focused on our contingency plans, which are designed to ensure the safety of our employees and customers, as well as continued business operations. We have also waived the requirement for a recipient signature for parcel deliveries to minimize personal contact as much as possible.

Additional information is available on Deutsche Post DHL Group's informational site
www.coronavirus.dhl

To date there are no major restrictions to our postal mail service in Germany as a result of the measures to contain COVID-19.

In addition, we are required by law to maintain our operations for transport and delivery of letter mail (up to 1,000 g), certificates of mailing, registered and cash-on-delivery items, as well as parcels up to 10 kg, even in the event of crisis or catastrophe. This involves close cooperation with local officials and health authorities. If the authorities issue restrictions for entire areas and this limits our service in any way, we will of course update you accordingly.

As a globally operating company, epidemic and pandemic risk scenarios are an integral part of the Group's continuous risk planning. Accordingly, Deutsche Post DHL Group business operations are continually adapted to mitigate potential impacts. The Group's task force closely monitors the situation, coordinates with international organizations (such as the WHO or the Robert Koch Institute) and provides the necessary information to all employees and relevant operations. The safety of our employees and our customers is paramount and we have contingency measures in place to mitigate any potential impact.