Canada Post Tracking
Canada Post Tracking lets you follow your letters and parcels in real time as they move through Canada Post's national delivery network. Whether you're waiting on a domestic Expedited Parcel or an international Xpresspost shipment, your Canada Post tracking number gives you visibility from the moment the item is accepted right through to delivery or pickup.
Tips for Tracking Canada Post Packages
To get the most accurate and timely updates, keep these tips in mind:
Double-check your tracking number so every digit is entered correctly.
Allow time for the first scan. Tracking activates once Canada Post accepts the item at a post office or processing plant.
Sign up for delivery notifications through the Canada Post app or a free account for email and text updates.
Use a universal tracker like InstantParcels to follow Canada Post and any handoff carriers in one place.
How to Identify a Canada Post Tracking Number
You can find your Canada Post tracking number:
On your mailing or postage receipt from the post office.
On the shipping label or barcode sticker, printed near the barcode.
In the shipping confirmation email or text from the retailer you ordered from.
In your Canada Post account if you bought postage or labels online.
Canada Post Tracking Number Format
Canada Post tracking numbers come in a couple of common formats:
Domestic parcels: Usually a 16-digit numeric tracking number (often shown in groups of four digits).
International items: Canada Post uses the Universal Postal Union S10 format of two letters, nine digits, and the country suffix CA. For example, a registered or international item may look like RA123456789CA or EE123456789CA.
If your number ends in CA, it's an international item sent from Canada and can usually be tracked both on Canada Post and by the destination country's postal carrier.
Canada Post Tracking Status Guide
Each status update tells you where your parcel is in its journey:
Order information received / Electronic info submitted: A label was created, but Canada Post hasn't yet taken physical possession.
Item processed / In transit: Canada Post has the item and it's moving through the network.
Out for delivery: The parcel is on a vehicle for delivery today.
Delivered: The item has been delivered to the address, mailbox, or community mailbox.
Attempted delivery / Notice card left: Delivery couldn't be completed, so a card was left and the item is redirected.
Item available for pickup: The parcel is waiting for you at a post office or designated pickup point.
Canada Post Services
Canada Post offers a range of domestic and international delivery options, most with tracking included:
Regular Parcel: The economical domestic option for non-urgent shipments, with tracking.
Expedited Parcel: Faster domestic delivery with on-time delivery commitments for commercial shippers.
Xpresspost: Speedy domestic and international delivery with a money-back guarantee on many lanes.
Priority: Canada Post's fastest domestic service, with next-business-day delivery to many destinations.
International Parcel and Tracked Packet: Air and surface options for sending overseas, with tracking on most services.
Summary Comparison Table
Service Name | Delivery Time | Tracking Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
Priority | Next business day (many areas) | Yes | Urgent domestic shipments |
Xpresspost | 1-2 business days (domestic) | Yes | Fast, guaranteed delivery |
Expedited Parcel | 1-7 business days | Yes | Everyday business parcels |
Regular Parcel | 2-9 business days | Yes | Economical domestic parcels |
Xpresspost International | 2-7 business days | Yes | Fast overseas shipments |
International Parcel (Surface) | Up to several weeks | Yes (most destinations) | Low-cost overseas shipping |
Canada Post Delivery Standards
Priority: Next business day to many urban destinations.
Xpresspost: 1-2 business days domestically, depending on origin and destination.
Expedited Parcel: Roughly 1-7 business days.
Regular Parcel: Roughly 2-9 business days.
Delivery standards can be affected by distance, weather, customs processing for international items, and peak periods such as the winter holidays.
Canada Post International Tracking
International items sent with Canada Post carry an S10 tracking number ending in CA and can be tracked on the Canada Post website or app while the item is in Canada. Once handed over to the destination country's postal service, tracking continues under that carrier, for example USPS in the United States or Royal Mail in the UK. A universal tracker like InstantParcels follows both legs of the journey under a single number, so you don't lose visibility at the border.
Delayed or Lost Shipments
If your parcel seems stuck or hasn't arrived:
Check the latest scan and expected delivery date in your tracking details.
Allow extra time during peak periods and for international customs clearance.
Check whether a delivery notice card was left or the item is available for pickup.
Contact Canada Post to open a ticket or service request if there are no updates for an extended period.
Canada Post Pickup and Delivery Options
For added convenience, Canada Post offers flexible options:
FlexDelivery: Have parcels sent to a post office of your choice for secure pickup.
Delivery to a safe place: Authorise delivery to a designated spot at your address.
Community mailboxes and parcel lockers: Used for delivery in many neighbourhoods, with a key or notice for larger parcels.
Canada Post Company History
Canada Post Corporation is the primary postal operator in Canada, with roots stretching back to the colonial postal services of the 18th century and established in its modern Crown corporation form in 1981. Today it delivers to millions of addresses across the country and handles a large share of the parcels generated by online shopping, alongside letter mail, financial and money-transfer services, and a national network of post offices.
No matter which Canada Post tracking number you have, domestic or international, you can always track it with our universal postal tracker.
Canada Post Common Questions:
How do I track a Canada Post parcel?
Enter your Canada Post tracking number into the tracking tool on InstantParcels or the Canada Post website or app. Tracking begins once the item is accepted and scanned, after which you'll see updates from transit through to delivery or pickup.
Where do I find my Canada Post tracking number?
It appears on your mailing receipt, on the shipping label or barcode sticker, in the shipping confirmation email or text from the retailer, and in your Canada Post account if you bought postage online.
What does a Canada Post tracking number look like?
Domestic parcels usually have a 16-digit numeric tracking number, often shown in groups of four. International items use the UPU S10 format of two letters, nine digits, and the suffix CA, for example RA123456789CA.
How long does Regular Parcel take?
Regular Parcel is the economical domestic option and typically takes about 2-9 business days depending on the distance between origin and destination.
How fast is Xpresspost?
Xpresspost generally delivers in 1-2 business days domestically, depending on origin and destination, and comes with a delivery guarantee on many lanes. International Xpresspost is usually 2-7 business days.
What is the difference between Expedited Parcel and Priority?
Expedited Parcel is a faster economy service (roughly 1-7 business days) popular with businesses, while Priority is Canada Post's fastest domestic service with next-business-day delivery to many destinations.
Why isn't my Canada Post tracking updating?
Tracking can pause between scans, particularly during long-distance transit, on weekends, in peak periods, or while an international item clears customs. If there are no updates for an extended period, contact Canada Post to open a service request.
What does 'Item available for pickup' mean?
It means your parcel is being held for you to collect, usually at a nearby post office or designated pickup point. This often happens after an attempted delivery or when a signature is required. Bring photo ID and your notice card or tracking number.
What happens if I miss a Canada Post delivery?
If delivery is attempted and can't be completed, the driver leaves a delivery notice card and the item is redirected for pickup. You can collect it from the indicated location or, where available, arrange redelivery.
Can I track a Canada Post item internationally?
Yes. International items carry an S10 tracking number ending in CA and can be tracked on Canada Post while in Canada. After handoff to the destination country's postal service, tracking continues under that carrier. A universal tracker follows both legs under one number.
What is FlexDelivery?
FlexDelivery is a free Canada Post service that lets you have parcels delivered to a post office of your choice for secure pickup, which is handy if you're not home during the day or want a more secure delivery location.
Does Regular Parcel include tracking?
Yes. Tracking is included on Regular Parcel, Expedited Parcel, Xpresspost, and Priority. Some basic international lettermail and small-packet options have limited or no tracking.
What does 'Out for delivery' mean?
It means your parcel has been loaded onto a delivery vehicle and is expected to arrive that day. Watch for the delivery or a notice card if you're not home.
How is a parcel delivered to a community mailbox?
In many neighbourhoods Canada Post delivers to community mailboxes. Letters go in your assigned compartment, and larger parcels are placed in a parcel compartment, with a key left in your mailbox to open it.
What should I do if my Canada Post parcel is lost?
Check the latest tracking scan and confirm it isn't waiting for pickup. Allow extra time during peak periods or customs clearance. If it still hasn't arrived and tracking hasn't updated, contact Canada Post to open a ticket or service request.
Where do I find my Canada Post tracking number?
- If you are sender: you can find your tracking number on the Post Office™ shipping receipt, that was given to you while registration.
- If you are receiver: your tracking number could be located in your shipment confirmation email, or in online store order page.
Canada Post package lost or stolen what to do?
If you think that your package was lost or stolen, you may contact directly with carrier contact center for investigation.
Canada Post contact information:- Website: http://www.canadapost.ca/
- Phone: 1 866 607 6301
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