Please Note
- An estimate based on public data for similar roles. Not provided by the employer.
Postal Delivery Driver (Postie)
Role summary
Written by MyIslandJob from the job title and employer. See the employer's page for the full description.
The Postal Delivery Driver (Postie) delivers letters and parcels safely and on time, often working outdoors in varied weather and covering a defined route on foot or by vehicle. Candidates normally need a full UK driving licence if the role involves driving, good physical fitness, reliability, customer-service skills and the ability to work independently. The role may require lifting and carrying mail, early starts, route organisation and accurate handling of deliveries. Royal Mail expects candidates to be dependable, safety-conscious, courteous with customers and willing to complete training and background checks. Previous delivery or driving experience can help, but enthusiasm and a strong work ethic are also important.
Can I work in the UK?
Never pay anyone for a visa or a job offer. A real employer pays the permit costs and never asks you for money.
How it works
How it works: Warehouse, driver and operations jobs are below degree level and cannot be sponsored; only managers can, and logistics managers only while on the shortage list.
Before you apply: Driver jobs need a licence that counts in that country, and a foreign one may not carry over: Japan's truck-driver visa asks for a class 1 licence, Qatar residents sit a driving test, and Ireland's permit list asks for a CE or C1E truck licence or one it recognises.
Watch for: Logistics managers are on the interim shortage list today, but the July 2026 review did not recommend them from January 2027. Youth schemes are the usual way in for Canadians, Australians and Indians.
Official source: GOV.UK: Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Occupations. Checked November 2026.
What the job usually comes with in the UK
Usual for Logistics jobs in the UK, varies by employer. Checked November 2026.
| Housing | Not usually provided; you rent privately |
|---|---|
| Relocation | Visa fee is yours (GBP 819; GBP 324 health and care) unless the employer pays; moving help varies |
| Flights | Not standard; varies by employer and seniority |
| Pay and overtime | Pay starts at the National Living Wage, GBP 12.71 an hour from 1 April 2026 (age 21 and over, by law) |
| Contract | Permanent is usual; sponsored work visas last up to 5 years at a time |
| Leave | At least 28 days for a 5-day week (by law); employers may count bank holidays in it |
| Income tax | 0% to GBP 12,570, 20% to GBP 50,270, then 40%; plus 8% National Insurance (Scotland differs) |
Senior staff often get more than line staff, for example a single room or a yearly home flight. Ask the employer what the job includes before you accept.
Guidance, not legal advice. Rules change; your employer confirms the details for your case.
Working in the UK
Who can work there by passport, what a job usually includes, and island life.
About Royal Mail Group
Royal Mail Group is one of the United Kingdom’s best-known delivery and logistics organisations. Its principal businesses include Royal Mail, which provides letter and parcel delivery across the UK, and international parcel operator GLS. The group serves households, businesses and public-sector customers through a large network of delivery offices, sorting centres, vehicles and postal workers. Royal Mail plays an important role in connecting communities, particularly through its universal postal service. Employees work in operational, transport, engineering, technology, customer-service and corporate roles. The organisation places emphasis on reliable delivery, safety, customer service and adapting to the growth of online shopping and parcel volumes. Working for Royal Mail can offer structured training, employee benefits, union representation in many operational roles and opportunities to progress into supervisory, transport or wider logistics positions.