Sending documents in Spain via courier or post

We all need to send documents and post out and let’s face it, we do need to be sure that items arrive on time and to the right address/person.

Despite some bad press, Correos, the Spanish postal service is pretty reliable, especially if you use one of their premium services, but unfortunately, not everyone is able to receive postal deliveries at their home address and this is where courier services can come to the rescue.

Upsticks send out important documents all the time, so here’s our top tips for the best options to use, depending on the circumstances.

Correos – Carta Certificada – Registered Post
This is the service we use for both national and international packages that aren’t time-sensitive, but need to reach their destination safely. The advantages of Certificada over the standard service are:

• Each shipment is individually identified and registered with a unique barcode
• Deliveries have to be signed for and a note is left if delivery can’t be completed, saying where the package can be collected
• Online tracking available
• Ship up to 2kg, delivery between 1-4 days nationally, 7-10 days internationally
• Written/electronic proof of delivery (subject to destination country)
• Good value, prices start at €4.50 for national deliveries

You can register for a “My Correos” online account, so you can prepare your package, pre-pay the postage and then just take the parcel to the Correos office – ideally before 14.00 to make sure the package is sent out that day.

Courier Service
Use a courier service when you’re not 100% certain that post can be delivered to the recipient’s address and/or if the package needs to be delivered quickly (next working day). 

There’s normally a courier office (or two or three) in every town, but generally Upsticks use one of these three companies:

MRW
GLS Spain
Tipsa

All these companies offer online and app-based tracking (pretty much in real time) and it costs around €14 for a next day delivery (based on under 2kg weight, Spanish mainland address).

IMPORTANT – Courier companies always ask for a SPANISH mobile phone contact number – if you don’t have a Spanish number then it just makes the delivery process more complicated and increases the chances of the delivery not happening at all.

If you’re still using your non-Spanish mobile phone, Upsticks are registered resellers for Lobster mobile, so if you’d like to find out more, email lobster@upsticks.es and we’ll send you all the details.

Finally, if you ever need to send us anything, here’s the Upsticks address:
Atn: Upsticks, Calle Isaac Albéniz, 1, Vivero de Empresas Oficina 18, 29130 Alhaurín de la Torre, Málaga