An Post International Tracking Guide

When you’ve sent a parcel to a friend in Australia or ordered something from a shop in the UK, the next thing you want is a clear view of where it is. An Post’s international tracking service gives you that visibility, but only for certain services. We’ll explain how to use it, what delivery times to expect, and what to do when tracking stops updating.

International destinations: 200+ countries (An Post) ·
Tracking service: Free with Registered Post and Express (An Post) ·
Typical tracking updates: Multiple scans from collection to delivery (An Post) ·
Delivery time (tracked to EU): 3-5 business days (An Post) ·
Delivery time (tracked to worldwide): 5-7 business days (An Post)

Five key facts summarise what An Post’s international tracking covers and what it doesn’t, with a clear split between services that include tracking and those that don’t.

The pattern: tracking is a premium feature. If you choose Standard Post without registration, you effectively send your parcel into a black box until it arrives.

How Can I Track an International Parcel with An Post?

An Post gives you three ways to follow your parcel’s journey, each with slightly different levels of convenience and detail.

Track on the An Post website

• Go to anpost.com/track and enter your 13-character tracking number. The site shows the latest scan, including the time and location, as well as proof of delivery if the item has been signed for (An Post Receiving Guidance).
• No registration required – you can track any eligible parcel as a guest (An Post Help & Support).

Track using the An Post app

• The An Post app (available for iOS and Android) offers the same tracking data plus push notifications every time your parcel is scanned (An Post Help & Support).
• You can also save multiple tracking numbers and view history for past shipments (An Post).

Track via third-party services

• If the official site is slow or you want aggregated data from multiple carriers, services like ParcelPanel and Ship24 accept An Post tracking numbers and sometimes pull updates faster than the origin system (ParcelPanel, Ship24).
• Be aware that third-party sites may not show proof of delivery or the full scan history (Ordertracker).

The implication: convenience comes at a cost – third-party tools give you a different view, not a better one.

How Long Does An Post Take to Deliver Internationally?

Delivery times depend on the service you choose and the destination. An Post publishes separate estimates for sending and receiving.

Delivery times to Europe

• Standard Post and Registered Post: 3 to 7 working days (An Post Sending Page).
• Express Post and International Courier: 1 to 5 working days, with next-day delivery to Great Britain and Northern Ireland (An Post International Courier).

Delivery times to the USA and Canada

• Standard and Registered Post typically take 5 to 10 working days, but courier services can deliver in 1 to 3 days (An Post International Courier).
• Customs processing can add several days – a factor that An Post acknowledges but does not control (Ship24).

Delivery times to Rest of World

• International Courier promises 1 to 5 days to the rest of the world, while Standard Post can take 7 to 10 working days (An Post Sending Page, Ordertracker).
• For parcels coming into Ireland from abroad, An Post advises up to 16 working days, underlining the asymmetry between outbound and inbound timelines (An Post Receiving Guidance).

The trade-off: speed costs money, and even with courier services, border delays are outside An Post’s control.

Does An Post Offer International Tracking?

Yes, but only for certain services. Understanding which products include tracking is critical before you post.

Which services include tracking?

• Registered Post – full tracking from collection to delivery, plus signature on delivery (An Post Sending Page).
• Express Post – tracked end-to-end with a delivery aim of 1-5 working days (An Post).
• International Courier – next-day delivery to Europe and fully tracked (An Post International Courier).
• Standard Post (without registration) – no tracking, no proof of delivery (An Post).

What information is tracked?

• Date and time of each scan, location (post office or depot), and a description of the event (e.g., “Your item has been processed”) (An Post Receiving Guidance).
• For Registered Post, the final scan includes a signature image as proof of delivery (An Post).

How to know if your parcel is tracked

• Check the receipt: if the service name includes “Registered” or “Express”, your parcel is tracked. Standard Post receipts show no tracking number (An Post Sending Page).
• If you’re sending online, the checkout screen will clearly state whether tracking is included (An Post).

The catch: tracking is never free with the cheapest option. You pay for visibility, and the price difference is often worth it for peace of mind.

What Is the An Post International Tracking Number Format?

Tracking numbers follow a standard pattern that helps you recognise them immediately.

Typical examples of tracking numbers

• An Post tracking numbers are 13 characters long, starting with two letters (e.g., RM, RD, RF) followed by nine digits and ending with two letters (e.g., RM123456789IE) (An Post Sending Page).
• The suffix “IE” indicates Ireland, the country of origin (ParcelPanel).

Where to find the tracking number

• On the receipt given at the post office counter when you use Registered Post or Express Post (An Post).
• In the confirmation email if you purchased postage online (An Post).
• On the shipping label affixed to the parcel (An Post).

Difference between tracking number and order number

• An order number is internal to the retailer. The tracking number is the only identifier that works on An Post’s tracking system (ParcelPanel).
• If you bought from a marketplace like AliExpress, the seller usually provides the An Post tracking number after dispatch (Parcel2Go).

The pattern: the tracking number is your key to the data. Without it, even An Post’s staff can’t look up your parcel.

Why Is My An Post International Tracking Not Updating?

Stalled tracking is one of the most common frustrations. Here’s what might be happening and what you can do.

Common reasons for delays in tracking updates

• Your parcel may not be scanned again until it leaves Ireland. An Post’s system often shows “Your item has been processed” at the sorting centre and then nothing until the destination country’s postal service scans it (Ship24).
• Customs processing can take several days, especially for parcels entering non-EU countries (Ship24).
• High parcel volumes, especially around holidays, can slow down scans (EVG Finecheck WordPress).
• Third-party tracking sites may have a delay of 2-4 hours before they reflect new scans (Ireland Press).

How long to wait before contacting support

• An Post recommends waiting at least 5 business days after the expected delivery date before contacting customer service (An Post Help & Support).
• For international parcels, allow up to 16 working days if the parcel is inbound to Ireland (An Post Receiving Guidance).

What to do if tracking shows no movement

• First, check the tracking number for typos. An Post’s system will return a “not found” message if the number is incorrect (An Post Help & Support).
• Try the tracking number on a third-party site like ParcelPanel – sometimes the destination carrier’s data appears there sooner (ParcelPanel).
• Contact An Post via live chat, phone, or email after 5 business days. Provide the tracking number and the destination (An Post Help & Support).

An Post International Tracking Specifications

Six specifications define the technical limits of An Post’s tracking system, from the services that support it to the data you can expect.

The trade-off: the more you pay for tracking, the more data you get. Standard Post remains a gamble, but it’s the cheapest option for non-urgent items.

How to Track an An Post International Parcel: Step by Step

Follow these steps to get the most out of An Post’s tracking system, from the moment you post to the final delivery.

1. Choose a tracked service at the counter. Ask for Registered Post or Express Post when sending internationally. The clerk will give you a receipt with a 13-character tracking number. (An Post Sending Page)
2. Save the tracking number. Write it down or take a photo of the receipt. Without it, you cannot track the parcel. (An Post)
3. Check tracking after 24 hours. Go to anpost.com/track and enter your number. The first scan usually appears when the parcel is collected or sorted. (An Post Receiving Guidance)
4. Set up push notifications. Download the An Post app and add your tracking number. You’ll receive alerts for every scan. (An Post Help & Support)
5. If no update after 5 working days, try a third-party tracker. Use ParcelPanel or Ship24 to see if the destination carrier has scanned the parcel. (ParcelPanel, Ship24)
6. Contact An Post after 10 business days. Call or use live chat. Provide the tracking number and destination. An Post can initiate a trace after 15 working days. (An Post Help & Support)

Voices from An Post and the industry

For the latest tracking information, download the An Post app for iOS or Android or use track and trace on anpost.com.

— An Post Help & Support page (An Post)

An Post parcel delivery hours are typically Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm and Saturday from 8:00am to 12:00pm in mostly urban areas.

— Parcel2Go FAQ (Parcel2Go)

Transit times vary by destination, customs processing, and whether another postal operator handles final delivery.

— Ship24 tracking guide (Ship24)

For anyone sending a parcel from Ireland, the choice is clear: pay for a tracked service or accept the risk of an invisible journey. The tracking system itself works well, but it only works for the services that include it. If you need proof of delivery or a way to answer “where is my parcel?”, Registered Post is the minimum. For everything else, you’re trusting the postal system to deliver without a digital footprint. For the sender who values visibility, the extra cost of tracking is a small price for the ability to say, “I know exactly where it is.”

Related reading: International Delivery & Shipping · International Postal Carriers

Frequently asked questions