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.
As a Postal Delivery Driver (Postie) with Royal Mail, you will sort and deliver letters and parcels safely and efficiently across an allocated route, usually on foot and by van. The role involves working outdoors in changing weather, lifting and carrying mail, using handheld technology, and providing polite, reliable customer service. Candidates should be physically fit, dependable, organised and comfortable working independently. A valid UK driving licence may be required for delivery-driver duties, together with the right to work in the UK. Royal Mail expects punctuality, safe driving, accurate deliveries, flexibility during busy periods, and a professional attitude when representing the company.
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 is one of the United Kingdom’s best-known delivery companies and part of Royal Mail Group. It provides nationwide collection and delivery services for letters, parcels and business mail, supported by a large network of delivery offices, processing centres and transport operations. The company serves households, organisations and online retailers throughout the UK, with services ranging from everyday post to tracked and express parcel delivery. Royal Mail employs a substantial operational workforce, including posties, drivers, processing staff, engineers and customer-service teams. Postal employees play an important role in connecting communities, especially in rural and remote areas. The work can be physically demanding and weather-dependent, but it offers structured routes, practical training, employee benefits and opportunities to progress into supervisory, operational or specialist positions.