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To track an international parcel, find the tracking number in the shipping confirmation email or on the label, then enter it on the carrier's own tracking page or app (DHL, UPS, FedEx, USPS, Royal Mail or TNT). If updates stop once the parcel leaves its origin country, enter the same number on the destination country's postal or courier website: international parcel tracking passes each shipment from one network to the next, and the number usually travels with it.
Anyone who has typed "track my international parcel" into a search bar knows the questions that follow: where is the parcel, when will it arrive, and is it stuck at customs? International parcel tracking answers all three. Below: where to find your number and how to track with six of the most-searched carriers. If you ship abroad, we also cover following every shipment from one screen with a multi-carrier track and trace tool and keep customers informed with automatic shipping notifications.
Key Takeaways
- Every tracked international parcel has a unique tracking number, found in the confirmation email or on the label.
- Tracked postal items use a 13-character international format (for example RA123456785GB) whose last two letters show the country that issued the number.
- When tracking stops after export, check the destination country's postal or courier site with the same number.
- Gaps of several days between scans are common on international legs; customs holds are often caused by missing or incomplete documents, or by unpaid duties and taxes.
- Merchants shipping with several carriers can monitor every international shipment, flag delays and update customers from one dashboard.
What is international parcel tracking?
International parcel tracking lets you follow a shipment from sender to recipient across borders. Each parcel gets a unique tracking number, and every scan (pickup, sorting hub, export, customs, delivery van) adds an event to its history.
You can enter the number on the carrier's website, in its app, or on the tracking page sent by the shop. Shops using a multi-carrier shipping platform can email that tracking link automatically, whichever of their connected carriers handles the parcel.
Whatever the carrier, the journey of a tracked international parcel follows the same four stages:
The tracking number exists as soon as the label is printed. Until the carrier physically scans the parcel, tracking usually shows only a status such as "Information received".
The parcel moves through national hubs and leaves the origin country by air, road or sea. Gaps of several days between scans are common here.
The destination country checks the customs declaration and collects any duties or import taxes before releasing the parcel.
The destination carrier or post office takes over, delivers and confirms delivery, sometimes with a signature.
Where do I find my international parcel tracking number?
The tracking number exists as soon as the label is created. Buyers find it in the shipping confirmation email, the order history or a carrier SMS. Senders find it under the barcode on the label and can share it with customers through automated shipping workflows.
Express couriers each use their own format (a DHL Express waybill, for example, is 10 digits). National postal operators identify tracked international items (parcels, EMS, registered and tracked letters) with the Universal Postal Union S10 standard, a 13-character code you can read like this:
How to read a 13-character postal tracking number
| Characters | Example (RA123456785GB) | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2: two letters | RA | Service type: R registered, C parcel post, E EMS (express), L tracked letter. |
| 3-10: eight digits | 12345678 | Unique serial number of the item. |
| 11: one digit | 5 | Check digit that validates the serial number. |
| 12-13: two letters | GB | Country that issued the number (GB, US, IT and so on). |
After handover to the destination post or courier, the origin carrier may show few updates. Check the destination operator's own site (Royal Mail recommends this). If it doesn't recognise the number, ask the sender whether the local carrier issued a separate reference.
How to track my international parcel in 4 steps
It works the same for almost every carrier:
Check the shipping confirmation email, your order page or the label.
The email or tracking link usually names it. If not, the number format is a good clue (see the table above and the carrier table below).
Paste the number exactly as written, without spaces.
After export, check the destination country's post or courier website with the same number.
DHL international parcel tracking
Each DHL Express event is time-stamped with a location, and a "Customs status updated" event shows clearance progress at destination.
- Where to track: the DHL website or the DHL Express app. You can enter several waybill numbers at once, separated by commas, spaces or semicolons, or email up to 50 to DHL's tracking address.
- Number format: according to DHL's tracking FAQ, Express shipments use a 10-digit waybill number. A number with letters or a different length usually belongs to DHL eCommerce, which has its own tracking page.
- No number? DHL Express offers Shipper's Reference Tracking, using the reference number the shipper gave the parcel.
UPS international tracking
United Parcel Service international tracking runs on ups.com, where you can search by tracking number or by another reference attached to the package or shipment.
- Several parcels: according to UPS's tracking help, you can enter up to 25 tracking numbers per request, which is handy for multi-parcel orders.
FedEx international parcel tracking
FedEx tracking works on fedex.com or in the FedEx Mobile app, which can also send automatic tracking alerts.
- Several parcels: enter up to 30 tracking numbers at once, one per line.
- No number? The FedEx tracking help explains how to track by the shipper's reference: without an account number, add the ship date, destination country and destination postal code.
- Missed delivery: door tag numbers start with "DT" followed by 12 digits and can be tracked like a normal number.
TNT international parcel tracking
TNT has been part of FedEx since 2016, and in some countries it now operates under the FedEx name. On the TNT site, track with the shipment number from your confirmation email (also printed under the barcode on the collection manifest), or with your own reference if you added one at booking. Several numbers can be entered at once, separated by commas.
USPS international parcel tracking
Tracking depends on the service. According to USPS, Priority Mail Express International and most Priority Mail International shipments include USPS Tracking (not Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Boxes), with limits for some destinations. First-Class Package International offers delivery confirmation to select countries only, and First-Class Mail International has no tracking.
Royal Mail international parcel tracking
Royal Mail offers three levels: International Tracked & Signed (UK and abroad, plus signature), International Tracked (UK and abroad) and International Signed (UK only, plus signature).
Abroad, parcels pass to the destination's postal operator (or GLS for some European countries). If Royal Mail's tracker shows nothing new, Royal Mail suggests checking the destination post's own website, where some operators offer more detail.
International parcel tracking by carrier: quick comparison
| Carrier | Number to use | Where to track | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | 10-digit waybill | DHL website or DHL Express app | Shipper's reference tracking |
| UPS | UPS tracking number or reference | ups.com | Up to 25 numbers per request |
| FedEx | Tracking number, door tag ("DT" + 12 digits) or reference | fedex.com or FedEx Mobile | Up to 30 numbers at once |
| TNT | Shipment number or booking reference | TNT site (FedEx where TNT operates as FedEx) | Comma-separate several numbers |
| USPS | USPS tracking number | USPS site, then destination post | Depends on service |
| Royal Mail | Royal Mail reference number | Royal Mail site, then destination post | Abroad: destination post or GLS |
Product & Resources
Track & Trace
A branded tracking page with delivery progress and an estimated date.
Explore Track & Trace →Shipping Notifications
Automatic updates every time a parcel changes status.
See notifications →Shipping Platform
Labels and shipments across carriers, in one place.
Discover the platform →Track every international shipment from one screen
Connect your carriers and stores, and follow every parcel without switching between tracking sites.
Why is my international parcel tracking not updating?
When tracking an international parcel, a page that hasn't moved for days is usually just a gap between scans. Here's when to act.
What does it mean when a package is in transit?
"In transit" means the parcel is travelling between scan points. On international routes that leg can be a flight or a truck across several countries, so it's common to go several days without a new event. If a package is delayed in transit for more than a week with no update, we'd suggest contacting the carrier.
How long will customs hold a package?
There's no fixed time: DHL Express, for example, notes that clearance can start while the parcel is still in its network and continue after it arrives. Holds get longer when the commercial invoice is missing or incomplete, the HS code or declared value is wrong, or duties are unpaid. Duties are usually the receiver's to pay, and in most cases the parcel isn't delivered until they are.
| Tracking status | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Information received / label created | The label exists but the parcel hasn't been scanned yet. | If nothing changes a couple of days after the ship date, contact the sender. |
| In transit, no update for days | The parcel is on a long leg between scan points. | After a week with no update, contact the carrier. |
| Held at customs / customs status updated | Customs is checking the paperwork, needs more information, or duties are due. | Look for a duties payment request; the sender may need to send documents. |
| Handed over to destination carrier | The origin carrier passed the parcel to a local post or partner. | Track on the local post or courier site. |
| Delivery attempted / exception | No one was home, or the address had a problem. | Rebook delivery or collect from the pickup point listed. |
| Returned to sender | The parcel was refused, unclaimed or undeliverable. | Sender: reship or refund, ideally with a clear returns process. |
Can I track my international parcel without a tracking number?
Sometimes. FedEx and DHL Express let you search by the shipper's reference, UPS accepts other package or shipment references, and TNT accepts a reference added at booking. Postal services need the number, so check your order page or ask the seller, who can retrieve it from their shipping system.
How merchants can track every international shipment in one place
Trackable international shipping only helps if someone is watching. Checking six carrier sites one number at a time doesn't scale, and every missed delay becomes a "where is my order?" email. ShippyPro's Tracking Solver is a shipment monitoring dashboard: it brings all your shipments into one view and sorts them by urgency, so your team sees problems before customers do.
Spot delays and customs problems early
Tracking Solver maps carrier updates to more than 40 statuses and groups shipments into tabs:
- At Risk: delays, failed delivery attempts, address or customs issues, and any shipment with no tracking update for 36 hours or more, even if its last status looked normal.
- Action Needed: parcels on hold, damaged or lost, missing customs documents, or where the carrier asks to be contacted.
- All shipments (active shipments from the last three months) and Delivered (kept for three months).
Filter by carrier and destination country
Filter by carrier, store, destination country, detailed status and date range, or search by tracking code, order number, customer name or email. Save frequent combinations as tabs, such as shipments blocked at customs outside the EU.
Keep customers informed automatically
A Delivery Forecast (in beta) adds an AI delivery estimate, independent of the carrier. Pair it with customer notifications for status changes and Internal Alerts, which warn your team when a shipment turns At Risk or Action Needed. To bring tracking for shipments created in ShippyPro into your own systems, use the ShippyPro API and its webhooks for real-time updates.
Save a view of non-EU destinations with customs-related statuses and check it daily, so missing documents go out before a parcel is returned.
International parcel tracking FAQ
How can I track my international parcel?
Enter the tracking number on the carrier's website or app. If updates stop after export, use it on the destination country's postal or courier site.
Where do I find an international parcel tracking number?
In the shipping confirmation email, your order history, or under the barcode on the label.
Does tracking still work if the parcel changes carrier?
Usually. The destination post or courier takes over and often has its own tracking site. If it doesn't recognise the number, ask the sender.
Why has my parcel been "in transit" for days?
International legs often run several days without a scan. After a week with no update, contact the carrier.
What does "awaiting customs clearance" mean?
Customs is checking the paperwork or waiting for duties and taxes. Missing information is a common cause of delay, and parcels usually aren't delivered until duties are paid.
Can I track an international parcel without a tracking number?
With DHL Express and FedEx you can use the shipper's reference, with UPS another shipment reference, and with TNT a booking reference. For postal services, ask the sender.
Can I track several international parcels at once?
Yes. FedEx accepts up to 30 numbers at once, UPS up to 25 and DHL Express several, separated by commas.
Who do I contact if my international parcel is lost?
Buyers should contact the seller, who holds the carrier contract and can open a claim. Senders should contact the carrier with the tracking number.
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Start your free trial and see every international shipment, delay and customs hold in one dashboard.
As Growth Manager at ShippyPro, I help ecommerce businesses optimize fulfillment, automate logistics workflows, and scale more efficiently. My work centers on the intersection of ecommerce operations, customer experience, and technology. I write about shipping innovation, automation, and the future of ecommerce logistics.