Digital adoptions are available to download from the order confirmation email sent to the purchaser. We do not send digital adoptions directly to the recipient. This is so you can control how and when you gift the adoption. In your order confirmation, you can download a plain certificate or a gift certificate that can be personalised.

If you have given us the recipient’s email address and permissions to email them, we will add the recipient’s email to our database at the beginning of the following month. For example, if you order an adoption in July, we will add the recipient to our database at the beginning of August. This allows you to order an adoption in advance, making the recipient less likely to have their surprise spoiled. If you want us to add them at an even later date, please add a note to the order or email [email protected], and we will try to accommodate where we can.

If the recipient is under 18, please specify their birth year on the product page. We collect this information to ensure that we are appropriately contacting our supporters. Anyone under 18 will not receive our monthly eNewsletter but will receive our species-specific adoption emails if opted-in. 

They can unsubscribe by using the links at the bottom of our GCT emails or by emailing [email protected]. They can also update their preferences here.

Don’t worry, all our digital adoptions are available to download immediately from your order confirmation. 

All the postal adoptions also come with the digital adoption pack, so you can print or email a digital certificate to the recipient while you wait for the postal pack.  

If you need your order to be dispatched quicker, please email [email protected] and we will see what we can do, but this cannot be guaranteed. 

In the Galapagos species postal adoption pack, there is a personalised certificate, fact-file and soft toy.

Our Galapagos species digital adoption pack includes a downloadable fact– file and two digital certificates – one that can be personalised at home and one that can be sent on or printed as is.

Our adoptions are symbolic and aim to raise awareness of the threats to particular Galapagos species rather than individual animals. Our adoptions are a vital fundraising tool and help support projects where we feel it is most needed. Therefore, we don’t give updates on individual animals but instead send exciting emails about your chosen species with links to resources, activities and more information on the threats they face and how we’re working to conserve them.

Currently, we offer our adoptions as a one-off purchase through our shop. At the end of your one-year adoption period, we invite you to repurchase another adoption. If you want to support us regularly, a really valuable way is to become a member. Becoming a member comes with benefits such as our bi-annual Galapagos Matters supporter magazine and an exclusive pin badge. 

We currently send all our orders as Royal Mail Tracked 48 hours (standard second-class postage). Royal Mail Tracked 48 is a service that delivers parcels to a delivery point in two to three working days. In the UK, it is £4.50, or £1.50 for selected smaller items. All international parcels (including to the EU) are £15.

Parcels sent in the UK should take 3 working days from the day of dispatch but can take up to 5 working days. International orders should take 7 working days, but some locations can take much longer. Orders are sent out a minimum of once per week. If you need your order to be dispatched quicker or sent first class, please email [email protected] and we will see what we can do (not guaranteed). 

Yes, international shipping is sent tracked. If you wish to know your tracking number, please email [email protected] once you have received confirmation that your order has been shipped.

Please email [email protected] after your expected date, and we can investigate further for you. Please bear in mind, even outside of busy periods, that there can be delays in postage outside of GCT’s control. 

Yes, you may need to pay customs charges for any international orders, including in the EU. This is outside of GCT’s control, and you should check the individual rules for the delivery country before ordering.

From 1st March 2026, the French Government is introducing a small parcel tax for packages sent from outside the EU to France, this applies to all parcels cleared directly in France. This is separate and additional to any current tax and duty costs you pay.

Shipping to the European Union (EU) from 1 July 2026

Why have EU import rules changed?

The European Union is introducing new customs rules for goods imported from outside the EU, including goods shipped from the United Kingdom. These changes take effect on 1 July 2026.

Will I have to pay customs charges?

Possibly.

From 1 July 2026, a new EU customs charge may apply to orders imported into the EU from non-EU countries, including the UK. Previously, many low-value shipments could enter the EU without customs duty.

How much could the charge be?

For orders valued at €150 or less, the EU is introducing a temporary customs duty of €3 per product category in a shipment.

The exact amount payable will depend on the contents of your order and how EU customs classify the products.

Does this replace VAT?

No.

EU VAT rules remain separate. Any VAT that is currently charged or collected under existing EU VAT rules continues to apply. The new customs duty is an additional customs charge and not a replacement for VAT.

Who collects these charges?

Depending on the shipping method used, customs duties, VAT and any administration fees may be collected by the courier, postal operator or customs authorities in your country before delivery.

Will this affect delivery times?

Most shipments should continue to move normally, but additional customs processing may occasionally result in longer delivery times.

What does this mean if I order from your UK store?

As a UK-based business, we continue to ship to customers across the EU. However, from 1 July 2026, some orders may be subject to additional EU customs charges that are set by EU authorities and are outside our control. We recommend checking your local customs guidance if you would like more information about potential import charges before placing an order.