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An Post has confirmed that the cost of sending letters will increase from Tuesday, 3 February, with changes affecting both domestic and international post.

The price of a standard national stamp will rise by 20 cent, moving from €1.65 to €1.85. For international mail, a new €3.50 stamp will be introduced for letters sent anywhere within Europe, including Britain. This represents an increase of 85 cent on existing rates.

According to An Post, the revised pricing reflects wider international trends and remains below the European Union and UK benchmark of €2.04 for a domestic next-day letter service. A separate “Rest of World” stamp, priced at €3.95, will also be launched. The company said this change is necessary to address sustained losses in global mail services, following a 38 percent decline in international letter volumes over the past three years.

An Post stated that more than half of all outgoing international letters are sent to Britain, Germany and France. The introduction of a specific Europe and Britain rate is intended to avoid applying the higher worldwide tariff to these destinations. By comparison, the equivalent European stamp in the UK costs approximately €3.90.

Further increases will apply to large envelopes, packets, over-the-counter parcels, Registered Post, and both national and international digital stamps.

The company said the updated pricing structure is designed to protect nationwide delivery services and ensure equal access across the country. Letter volumes have fallen by 7 percent in the past year and by more than 50 percent since 2016, with a similar decline expected in 2026. Rising operating costs and national pay awards for staff have also been cited as contributing factors.

An Post reiterated its commitment to maintaining a next-day delivery service to the door, supported by trained staff and an expanding fleet of emission-free vehicles. Community supports, including welfare checks on vulnerable customers during severe weather and free delivery of letters and parcels up to 1kg to nursing and care homes, will continue.

All existing stamps marked “N” for national, “W” for worldwide, or showing specific euro values will remain valid and fully usable after 3 February.

Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information and is intended for general guidance only. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy at the time of publication, details may change and errors may occur. This content does not constitute financial, legal or professional advice. Readers should seek appropriate professional guidance before making decisions. Neither the publisher nor the authors accept liability for any loss arising from reliance on this material.