Royal Mail international shipping changes: June 2026

If you ship internationally with Royal Mail, there are two changes coming on 1 June 2026 that are worth knowing about before they land.

What's changing

The first is an update to how you categorise your shipments. Right now, you can select "Sale of Goods" as the category when sending items of commercial value abroad. From June, that option splits into two:

• B2B (Commercial sale of goods) — for sales from your business to an overseas business
• B2C (eCommerce goods) — for sales from your business directly to an overseas consumer

The "Mixed" category is also being removed, so you'll need to pick one or the other going forward.

The second change is to the customs form. Royal Mail is standardising on the CN23 form across all postal services and shipping solutions. The CN22 will no longer be available, except when you're using combined labels, where it will still apply.

What you need to do

For most ecommerce merchants shipping directly to consumers, B2C will be the right category to select. If you also sell wholesale to overseas businesses, make sure you're selecting B2B for those orders.

If you're using a shipping platform, the category selection and customs form requirements should be handled automatically. Zenstores, for example, pulls the relevant order data to determine the correct classification and keeps customs requirements up to date as regulations change, so you're not manually tracking every update like this one. Worth checking with your provider if you're unsure.

The changes take effect from 1 June 2026. Royal Mail's full guidance on export data requirements is available on their website.

About Zenstores

Zenstores is a shipping automation platform used by around 1,000 ecommerce brands in the UK. It connects directly with where your business sells and your carriers, automating the data flow from order to label so you're not manually managing customs classifications, form requirements, or carrier rules.

When regulations change, Zenstores updates automatically, so your shipping process stays compliant without any extra work on your end. If you're shipping internationally with Royal Mail or any other carrier, you can try Zenstores free at zenstores.com.

FAQ

What is a CN23 form? 

A CN23 is a customs declaration form required for international postal shipments of commercial value. It includes details about the contents, value, and origin of the goods, and is used by customs authorities in the destination country to assess duties and taxes. From 1 June 2026, Royal Mail is standardising on CN23 across all its services.

What's the difference between CN22 and CN23? 

Both are customs declaration forms, but CN22 is a simplified version used for lower-value shipments, while CN23 is more detailed. Royal Mail is removing CN22 as a standalone option from June 2026, with the exception of combined label formats where it will still apply.

How do I know whether to select B2B or B2C? 

If you're selling directly to consumers, select B2C. If you're selling to another business, select B2B. For most Shopify merchants fulfilling online orders, B2C will be the right choice for the majority of shipments.

Do I need to do anything to prepare? 

If you're managing customs data manually, you'll need to make sure you're selecting the correct B2B or B2C category from 1 June. If you're using a shipping platform like Zenstores, this should be handled automatically.

Does this affect all international Royal Mail services? 

The changes apply to all international postal items of commercial value sent via Royal Mail. If you're shipping with other carriers, their requirements may differ, so it's worth checking separately.

Will these changes affect my shipping costs? 

No. These are changes to customs data requirements, not pricing. They affect how your shipments are classified and declared, not what you pay to send them.