Canada Post tracking
Canada Post tracking statuses explained
Canada Post is Canada's national postal service and also carries many online orders, delivering to doors, community mailboxes, parcel lockers and post offices. A parcel is usually scanned when it is first mailed and again when it goes out for delivery, with sorting scans at major facilities in between. Track shows a short status at the top, such as 'In transit' or 'Notice left', and a line-by-line history below it with wordings such as 'Item processed'. Parcels from abroad pass through customs first, and updates from foreign postal services can reach Track late.
Every Canada Post tracking status explained
| Status | What it means | Should you worry? |
|---|---|---|
| Item processed | Your parcel was scanned at a Canada Post sorting site and is moving on through its network. | Normal |
| Item delayed, stay tuned for updates | Canada Post has marked your parcel as delayed and has no new delivery date to show yet. | Keep an eye on it |
| Tracking not updating | A gap between scans is normal at Canada Post and does not by itself mean your parcel is lost. | Keep an eye on it |
| Available for pickup | Your parcel has reached a post office and is ready to collect. | Take action |
| Notice left | Canada Post could not deliver your parcel as expected and has sent it to a post office for pickup. | Take action |
| Delivered, but not received | Track shows a delivery scan but the parcel has not reached you, so first check the places Canada Post leaves parcels. | Take action |
| Item being returned to sender | Canada Post could not complete delivery and is sending your parcel back to the address on its label. | Take action |
| Item out for delivery | Your parcel is on its final leg with a delivery agent and usually arrives the same day. | Normal |
| Check delivery progress | Delivery of your parcel has been interrupted, and the reason is in the delivery progress lines below the bar in Track. | Keep an eye on it |
| Item held by customs | Customs is reviewing your parcel, which is standard for all international parcels, and it cannot move on until released. | Keep an eye on it |
| Electronic information submitted by shipper | The sender has created a shipping label and sent Canada Post the details, but no scan shows Canada Post has the parcel… | Normal |
| Delivery Attempt Made / Rescheduled for delivery next business day | Canada Post tried to deliver your parcel and could not, or the parcel went back to the depot. | Keep an eye on it |
Canada Post delays
Canada Post says road closures and weather can slow a parcel, and its parcel guide also names transport delays, demonstrations and power outages. Most delayed parcels arrive within 5 business days of the expected delivery date. Past strikes caused long delays: parcels already in the network stayed there until work resumed, then trapped parcels moved first in, first out, new commercial volumes and on-time guarantees were held back, and catching up took weeks. Canada Post and its main union have since signed new long-term agreements, so a strike by that union is not a likely cause while those run. Parcels from abroad also wait on customs, where Canada Post says it cannot intervene, and service to some countries can be suspended.
Is your parcel from Canada Post late or missing?
Who is responsible for a late or missing parcel from Canada Post?
If you bought online from a business, the seller chose Canada Post and is its customer, so a late, lost or missing order is in most cases for the seller to put right, with a replacement or a refund. Canada Post also says that only the sender can receive compensation for a missing parcel.
For a parcel you sent yourself, Canada Post's General Terms and Conditions are the contract between you. Most Priority, Xpresspost and Expedited Parcel shipments include cover of up to $100, the first $100 must be bought for Regular Parcel, and you can add more when you mail it, up to $5,000 within Canada and $1,000 for most US and international shipments. Compensation is the lowest of the item's value, the cover you bought or the cover included, plus postage where it applies. A claim for a missing parcel has to start within 90 days of the shipping date within Canada, or 6 months for the US and abroad. A late parcel on a guaranteed service may earn the sender a postage refund, but the terms excuse causes beyond Canada Post's control, including labour disruptions and customs.
Questions about Canada Post tracking
What does 'Item processed' mean on Canada Post?
Your parcel was scanned at a Canada Post facility and is moving on. Canada Post does not define the line by name, but its parcel guide lists sorting at a major facility as a tracking event. It is a normal step.
What does 'Item delayed, stay tuned for updates' mean on Canada Post?
Canada Post has no delivery date to show right now. It does not define the wording, but in histories people share it replaces the expected date until the next scan. That alone does not mean the parcel is lost.
Why is my Canada Post tracking not updating?
Canada Post typically scans a parcel when it is first mailed and again when it goes out for delivery, so several days with no update can be normal. A scan can also be missed, or the parcel can be waiting at customs.
How long does Canada Post hold packages?
A post office holds a parcel for 15 calendar days, and a Final Notice Card goes out if nobody has collected it after 5. After that, the parcel goes back to the sender. A parcel in a building parcel locker stays for up to 5 days, then you get a card to collect it from a post office.
What does 'Notice left' or 'Notice card left' mean on Canada Post?
Canada Post could not deliver the parcel as expected and has sent it to a post office for you to collect. It is held for 15 calendar days.
Based on
- Canada Post: My package hasn't arrived (who can be paid, time limits, $100 base cover)
- Canada Post: My package was delivered late (postage refund for the sender, guaranteed services)
- Canada Post: Coverage options, parcel guide ($100 included, first $100 bought for Regular Parcel, up to $5,000)
- Canada Post: General Terms and Conditions, customers without a Standing Offer Agreement (liability cover, excusable delay)