USPS tracking for international packages works with the 13-character number on your label (two letters, nine digits, then “US”), which you enter at USPS.com, in the USPS Mobile app or by text to 28777. Full USPS Tracking comes only with Priority Mail Express International and Priority Mail International; First-Class Package International Service generally has no tracking beyond a delivery confirmation to select countries.
Once a package leaves the United States, USPS depends on the destination country’s postal service to send scans back, so updates often slow down or pause between export and final delivery. This guide covers which services can be tracked, how to read the number, what the international scans mean and what to do when updates stop.
Which USPS International Services Include Tracking?
USPS lists tracking as included for its two Priority international services, with the caveat that “limitations may apply” to some destinations. The cheaper First-Class international options don’t include tracking, and Global Express Guaranteed, the fastest option USPS used to sell, has been suspended since September 29, 2024.
| Service | Tracking | Expected delivery | Included coverage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority Mail Express International | USPS Tracking (some destination limits) | 3–5 business days | Up to $200 merchandise, $100 documents | Urgent or high-value shipments |
| Priority Mail International | USPS Tracking (some destination limits) | 6–10 business days | Up to $200 merchandise, $100 documents (not Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Boxes) | Most trackable parcels up to 70 lb |
| First-Class Package International Service | Not available; electronic delivery confirmation to select destinations when bought online | Varies by destination | None | Light parcels up to 4 lb and $400 in value |
| First-Class Mail International | Not available | Varies by destination | None | Letters and flat documents only |
| Global Express Guaranteed | Suspended since September 29, 2024 | |||
If you need visibility on a light First-Class international item, Registered Mail can be added for destinations that accept it. It gives the item an R-prefixed number and makes it eligible for an international inquiry, which an ordinary First-Class package isn’t.
What Does a USPS International Tracking Number Look Like?
International USPS numbers follow the Universal Postal Union’s S10 standard: two service letters, an eight-digit serial number, one check digit and the country code “US”, for example CP 123 456 789 US. Because postal operators share this format, the same number usually works on the destination post’s own tracking site after the handoff.
The first letter hints at the service. USPS’s international claims page lists the prefixes it accepts as EA–EZ (Priority Mail Express International), CA–CZ (Priority Mail International), HC–HZ and RA–RZ (Registered Mail). If you’re holding a 20- or 22-digit number instead, it’s a domestic barcode; our guide to USPS tracking number formats and how to look one up decodes each type.
How Do You Track a USPS International Package?
All the official methods read the same USPS data, so pick whichever is convenient. A newly printed label can take a while to show anything beyond “Label Created” until the package receives its first acceptance scan.
- USPS.com: Enter the number in the tracking box on the homepage. You can paste up to 35 numbers at once, separated by commas.
- USPS Mobile app: Enter or scan the number to see the same scan history and turn on push alerts.
- Text message: Text the tracking number to 28777 (2USPS) for the latest status. Adding a keyword after the number, such as AA for all activity, changes what you receive; standard message rates may apply.
- Email or text alerts: From the tracking results page, request updates for that package. USPS keeps these requests active for two weeks.
- Phone: USPS’s Domestic and International Tracking line is 1-800-222-1811, staffed Monday–Friday 8 AM–8:30 PM ET and Saturday 8 AM–6 PM ET.
Our overview of the ways to track a USPS package online, by text and by app walks through each screen. When you’d rather talk to someone about a stalled shipment, the USPS tracking support guide lists which contact channel handles which problem and what details to have ready.
What Do International Tracking Updates Mean?
International shipments show a few scans that domestic packages never get. The wording varies, but most international histories pass through these stages:
| Typical update | What it means |
|---|---|
| Label Created, Not Yet in System | Postage was bought, but USPS hasn’t scanned the package yet. |
| USPS in Possession of Item / Accepted | A Post Office, carrier or pickup accepted the package. |
| Processed Through Facility (ISC city name) | The package reached an International Service Center, where USPS prepares outbound mail and hands customs data to the destination. |
| Departed / Processed Through Regional Facility | The package left U.S. processing and is on its way to the destination country. |
| Arrived at Facility / Inbound Into Customs | The destination post received it and it’s waiting for customs review. |
| Held in Customs / Customs Clearance | Customs is reviewing it. Delays here usually mean missing paperwork, duties owed or a contents check. |
| Out for Delivery, Delivered or Notice Left | Final-mile scans reported by the foreign postal service. |
Our list of every USPS tracking status and what to do next covers the domestic scans in more detail.
Why Does International Tracking Stop Updating?
Most “stuck” international packages are still moving. Tracking is most detailed while USPS holds the package, and it gets sparse after export, because each foreign postal operator decides which scans it sends back to USPS.
- Air transit gaps: No scans appear while the package is on a flight or waiting for one, which can take several days.
- Customs holds: Customs services set their own pace. Incomplete descriptions, under-declared values or restricted items extend the hold.
- Limited data from the destination post: Some postal operators send only an arrival and a delivery scan, or none at all.
- Service alerts: USPS posts country suspensions and delays on its International Service Alerts page, and they’re worth checking before you assume a package is lost.
If USPS stops updating, try the same 13-character number on the destination post’s site, such as Canada Post, Royal Mail, Australia Post or Deutsche Post, which often shows local scans that never reach USPS. Our fixes for USPS tracking that isn’t updating and for a package with no scans after drop-off cover the problems that start before the package leaves the country.
What Can You Do If an International Package Is Lost?
Start an international inquiry, which USPS calls the first step of an international claim. Only the U.S. sender can file online at USPS.com, and the waiting period depends on the service:
| Service | Earliest you can file | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Mail Express International | 3 days after mailing | 90 days |
| Priority Mail International to Canada | 10 days after mailing | 6 months |
| Priority Mail International to other countries | 7 days after mailing | 6 months |
| Registered Mail | 7 days after mailing | 6 months |
| Ordinary First-Class Package International | Not accepted online without Registered Mail | |
Have the tracking number, both addresses, the mailing date, weight, a contents description, proof of mailing (the label, customs form or receipt) and proof of value ready, because USPS won’t accept the inquiry with a document missing. Payment covers only the insured value, so for anything worth more than the included $200 merchandise coverage, buy additional coverage when you ship. Priority international services allow up to $5,000.
How Do You Make an International Shipment Easier to Track?
Choose the service with the tracking you need before you buy the label, since tracking can’t be added afterward. A few habits also shorten customs holds, which cause most of the gaps in international tracking:
- Describe every item specifically on the customs form (“cotton T-shirts”, not “clothing”) and declare its real value.
- Include the recipient’s phone number and the postal code in the format the destination uses.
- Check the destination’s USPS country listing for prohibited items and weight limits before packing.
- Keep the receipt or label record until the package is delivered, since you’ll need it for any inquiry.
Priority Mail International is usually the lowest-cost USPS option that includes full tracking, and you can compare it with Priority Mail Express International in the ParcelPath rate calculator. ParcelPath is free to use and offers up to 89% off USPS retail rates, and the tracking number prints on the label just as it would at the Post Office. If tracking is your main concern, our guide to what USPS tracking costs and which services include it explains the domestic side, and this roundup of multi-carrier package tracking services covers tools that follow a parcel across carriers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I track a First-Class Package International shipment?
Generally no. USPS lists tracking as not available for First-Class Package International Service. When the label is bought online, select destinations get an electronic delivery confirmation that can show a delivery scan, but nothing in between. If you need full tracking, choose Priority Mail International or Priority Mail Express International, or add Registered Mail where the destination country accepts it.
Why does my international package say “Inbound Into Customs” for days?
The package has reached the destination country and is waiting for customs review, which USPS doesn’t control. Holds run longer when the customs form is vague, the declared value looks low, duties are owed or the contents need a license. The destination post’s own tracking site often shows the release scan before USPS does, using the same 13-character number.
Can the recipient track a USPS package in their own country?
Usually yes. USPS international numbers follow the UPU S10 format, which most postal operators read, so the recipient can often enter the same number, such as CP 123 456 789 US, on their national post’s website. The local site frequently shows customs and delivery scans in more detail than USPS.com once the package has arrived.
How long should I wait before reporting an international package missing?
USPS sets the waiting period by service: 3 days after mailing for Priority Mail Express International, 7 days for Priority Mail International (10 days to Canada) and 7 days for Registered Mail. Only the U.S. sender can open the online international inquiry, and the deadline is 90 days for Priority Mail Express International and 6 months for the others.
Is Global Express Guaranteed still available for tracking?
No. USPS suspended Global Express Guaranteed on September 29, 2024, so you can’t buy new GXG labels. For the fastest trackable USPS option today, use Priority Mail Express International, which USPS estimates at 3 to 5 business days, includes USPS Tracking and comes with up to $200 of merchandise coverage.
Sources
- USPS: International Mail and Shipping Services
- USPS: Filing an International Claim
- USPS FAQ: USPS Tracking, The Basics
- USPS: Contact Us (tracking line and hours)
- USPS International Mail Manual 140: International Mail Categories
- USPS International Service Alerts
- S10 (UPU standard) tracking identifiers
Part of our USPS Tracking guide. Related: USPS Tracking and Delivery, USPS Tracking Not Updating, USPS Tracking Not Updating After Drop Off.
