Package tracking statuses explained

Carriers describe the same steps in different words. This glossary groups the statuses you are most likely to see, from the label to the door, with what each one usually means and what, if anything, to do.

The exact wording varies by carrier and country, and a status is a record of an event, not a live location. When the event text gives instructions, those come first.

Before the carrier has the package

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  Label created, shipment information received, pre-shipment, awaiting item: The shipment is registered with the carrier, which hasn't recorded the package yet. See shipment information received.
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  Not found, no information, invalid number: The carrier has no record for the number: too early, the wrong carrier or a typo. See tracking number not found.
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  Accepted, picked up, collected, received: The carrier has the package. From here, events follow as it moves.

On the way

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  In transit, on the way, processed, arrived at / departed facility: Moving through the carrier's network between sorting centers. Gaps between these events are normal; see tracking not updating.
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  Export, departed from origin country, dispatched to destination: An international shipment is leaving the country it was sent from. A long quiet period often follows.
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  Arrived at destination country, import: The carrier reports the shipment in the country it is addressed to. See what happens next.
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  Customs clearance, held by customs, clearance delay: Customs is processing the import. It may need documents, information or a payment of duties or taxes; check any request on the carrier’s own website.
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  Handed over to local carrier, received by local delivery company: Another carrier, often your national post, delivers the last part of the journey, sometimes with its own tracking number.
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  Delayed, arriving late: The carrier expects the package later than planned. It is still in the network; tracking updates at the next event.

Delivery

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  Out for delivery, with courier, on vehicle for delivery: On the way to the delivery address today.
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  Delivery attempted, notice left, missed delivery: The courier couldn’t deliver, for example because a signature was needed. The event or a card says whether it will be tried again or where to collect it.
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  Ready for pickup, available for collection, at pickup point or locker: Waiting for you at a post office, a shop or a parcel locker, usually for a limited number of days. Look for a pickup code in a message or a card.
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  Delivered: The carrier recorded the delivery, often with a place, a signature or a photo. Nothing there? See delivered but not received.

When something needs attention

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  Exception, delivery exception, problem: Something interrupted the delivery: an address problem, weather, damage, a closed business or a missing payment. The event text says which, and what to do.
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  Held at depot, on hold: Waiting at a depot, for example because of a backlog or a problem with the address or label. If it doesn’t move on within a few working days, contact the carrier or the shop.
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  Returned to sender, return in progress: The package is going back, for example after an undeliverable address, a refused delivery or an uncollected pickup. Contact the shop about a refund or a new shipment.
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  Tracking expired, no further updates: The carrier stopped following the number, often long after the last event. If the package never arrived, contact the seller.