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.
Royal Mail Postal Delivery Drivers, or Posties, collect, sort and deliver letters and parcels safely and on time across an assigned route. The role requires a full UK or equivalent driving licence, safe and confident driving, good physical fitness, reliability and the ability to work outdoors in changing weather. Candidates should be customer-focused, organised and comfortable walking, lifting and carrying mail, sometimes for extended periods. You must follow Royal Mail security, health and safety and vehicle procedures, work independently and maintain professional standards when dealing with customers. Flexibility is important because shifts may include mornings, weekends and busy seasonal periods. Previous delivery experience is helpful but training is generally provided.
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 postal operation, Royal Mail, delivers letters and parcels to homes and businesses throughout the UK, while the wider group also provides international and parcel services through associated businesses. The company operates a large nationwide network of delivery offices, processing centres, vehicles and distribution facilities, supported by thousands of frontline colleagues. Posties are central to this network, connecting communities and businesses every day. Royal Mail places emphasis on dependable service, customer care, operational safety and secure handling of mail. The organisation has a long-established presence in British life and continues to adapt to changing customer expectations, e-commerce growth and the increasing importance of parcel delivery.