La Poste is France's national postal operator and one of the country's main networks for sending and receiving letters, registered mail and parcels. Its postal services are available through post offices and other contact points across France, giving individuals and businesses access to mailing, parcel shipping, collection and delivery services. La Poste also has confirmed local postal points in Monaco and Andorra, while international shipments to other countries may be delivered through partner postal or logistics networks.
For parcels, La Poste's best-known service is Colissimo. Colissimo provides tracked parcel delivery to homes and pickup points, with options that can include delivery with or without a signature depending on the service purchased. La Poste says its French parcel network includes more than 26,000 contact and pickup points, including post offices, Pickup locations and parcel lockers, making it possible to send, receive or collect packages through several delivery methods.
La Poste also provides tracked letters and registered-mail products for documents and other eligible postal items. Tracking can be used to follow supported mail and parcels from acceptance through processing and delivery. For some international letter products, however, Tracking may stop when the item leaves France if end-to-end tracking is not available for the destination, so the amount of information shown depends on the service and destination.
Internationally, La Poste offers Colissimo shipping to a large number of destinations. These international deliveries should not be confused with La Poste having its own local delivery network in every destination: La Poste states that it works with local partners for international delivery. Customers can still use the shipment identifier to Track supported packages as tracking information is exchanged between the postal and delivery networks involved.
How to Track La Poste packages
You can Track a La Poste package on 4Tracking by entering the shipment number provided by the sender or shown on your proof of posting. 4Tracking is a universal package tracking service, so it is especially useful when you receive shipments from different carriers or when an international parcel moves between La Poste and another postal operator.
Enter the complete tracking number without adding spaces or changing its characters. La Poste advises customers using its own tracking tool to enter the shipment reference without spaces and with letters in uppercase. The number can normally be found on the proof of posting, postal product or shipping confirmation. Depending on the shipment, La Poste can also accept an attempted-delivery notice number or a partner reference for certain international items.
Tracking events can show that La Poste has accepted the shipment, that it is moving through the postal network, that delivery is being prepared, that a delivery attempt was made or that the item has been delivered or made available for collection. If an international package is handed to a local delivery partner, new scans can depend on the information exchanged by that partner with La Poste.
La Poste tracking number formats
La Poste states that tracked mail and parcel identifiers generally contain between 13 and 15 characters. The tracking number is normally printed close to the barcode or QR code and can also appear on the proof of posting, a detachable section of prepaid postal packaging, a tracking ticket or an email confirming an online postage purchase.
One officially documented format for tracked mail contains 1 digit + 1 letter + 11 digits. La Poste gives 3Y00432154789 as an example of this structure. Another documented format contains 14 digits, with 87000000000000 given by La Poste as an example. If the number is printed after the letters SD:, the SD prefix itself should not be entered as part of the tracking number.
La Poste also documents 13-character references for some postal mail, including international references where the first two characters may both be letters. Other international tracking references accepted by La Poste can contain 15 characters, either 15 digits or 14 digits followed by 1 letter. Because La Poste operates several letter and parcel products, you should not reject a tracking number merely because it does not match one particular format.
The safest approach is to copy the complete shipment identifier exactly as supplied by La Poste or the sender. Do not use an online shop's order number unless the merchant specifically identifies it as the postal tracking number. If you scan a postal DataMatrix code, it can contain additional information beyond the actual tracking reference, so entering the dedicated tracking number printed with the item is generally easier.
La Poste and Colissimo delivery times
Delivery time depends on where the parcel starts, its destination and the La Poste product selected. For Colissimo sent from metropolitan France to metropolitan France or Monaco, La Poste currently states a delivery time of 48 hours, or 2 working days. Specific Colissimo offers can describe French delivery as 24 to 48 working hours depending on the service and contractual conditions, so the estimate associated with the actual postage purchased should take priority.
For Colissimo shipments from metropolitan France to French overseas destinations, La Poste publishes indicative times ranging from 5 to 22 days depending on the selected offer and destination. Colissimo OM is generally indicated at 5 to 7 days, while Colissimo Eco OM can take up to 22 working days. Customs processing is not included in these estimates. For shipments moving within certain overseas zones, such as within the Antilles or the Réunion-Mayotte zone, La Poste gives an indicative time of 48 working hours.
For international Colissimo shipments, La Poste states a general range of approximately 3 to 15 working days, depending on the destination, service and possible customs processing. Its published examples indicate around 3 to 4 working days for many European destinations such as Germany, Italy and Ireland; around 5 to 7 working days for many farther destinations such as Japan, Mexico and New Zealand; and up to approximately 8 or 9 working days for examples including India, Nigeria and Australia. These figures are indicative rather than universal guarantees.
International delivery can take longer because of customs procedures, exceptional weather, geopolitical disruptions and available international transport capacity. A package can therefore remain without a new scan even though it is still moving toward its destination. For the most accurate assessment, compare the delivery estimate for the specific Colissimo service with the latest package tracking events rather than assuming that every international shipment follows the same schedule.
How to contact La Poste about a shipment
If your La Poste Tracking has stopped updating, a parcel has not arrived within the expected period or you need to report another delivery problem, La Poste provides an online Aide et Contact service where customers can find assistance and submit a complaint. Keeping the tracking number and proof of posting available will make it easier to identify the shipment when requesting assistance.
Individuals in metropolitan France can contact La Poste customer service by telephone at 3631. La Poste currently lists this service as available Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 19:00 and Saturday from 8:30 to 13:00, excluding public holidays. Professional customers have a separate number, 3634. Telephone availability and charges can differ when calling from outside France or from overseas territories, so customers in those locations should use the current contact options shown on La Poste's official Help and Contact page.
A formal complaint can also be submitted online through La Poste's Help and Contact area, at a postal contact point, or by post to SERVICE CONSOMMATEURS 99999 LA POSTE. For a missing or delayed shipment, keep the original proof of posting because La Poste's conditions state that proof of acceptance can be required when carrying out a shipment investigation.
Frequently asked questions about La Poste package tracking issues
Why is my La Poste Tracking not updating?
There can be a period between two postal scans while a parcel is being transported or processed. International shipments can have longer gaps when they move between La Poste and a destination-country partner or pass through customs. Continue checking the Tracking history, and contact La Poste if the shipment is substantially beyond the expected time for the service used.
Why does my La Poste tracking number show no results?
Check that you entered the complete reference without spaces and that any letters are in uppercase. A newly posted shipment may also need time for its first Tracking event to appear. Make sure you are using the postal shipment number rather than the merchant's order number. If your label shows SD: before the number, do not include SD when entering the tracking reference.
How many characters does a La Poste tracking number have?
La Poste says tracked postal identifiers generally contain between 13 and 15 characters. Officially documented examples include a 13-character format made of one digit, one letter and eleven digits, as well as 14-digit references. Some international references can contain 15 characters. The exact format varies according to the postal product.
Where can I find my La Poste tracking number?
The number can usually be found close to the barcode or QR code on the shipment documentation. Depending on the product, it may also be printed on your proof of posting, tracking sticker or ticket, prepaid postal item, or the confirmation email generated when postage was purchased online. If you are the recipient, ask the sender or retailer to provide the shipment number.
Why did my international La Poste package stop tracking after leaving France?
End-to-end Tracking is not available for every international mail product and destination. La Poste specifically notes that some tracked international letters can only be followed until they leave French territory. For parcels and other products, updates also depend on the local partner and the tracking data exchanged during delivery. A lack of additional events therefore does not automatically mean the item is lost.
How long does a La Poste Colissimo package take within France?
For Colissimo sent from metropolitan France to metropolitan France or Monaco, La Poste publishes a delivery time of about 48 hours, or two working days. Some current Colissimo offers describe delivery in France as 24 to 48 working hours depending on contractual conditions. Weekends, public holidays, service conditions and exceptional disruptions can affect the actual delivery date.
How long does international La Poste delivery take?
La Poste gives a general Colissimo international range of approximately 3 to 15 working days depending on destination and service. Published examples include around 3 to 4 working days for many European countries and longer periods for more distant destinations. Customs processing can add time and is not necessarily included in the advertised transport estimate.
What should I do if my La Poste package is delayed?
First compare the current Tracking status with the expected delivery time for the service that was purchased. If the parcel is still within the normal window, continue monitoring it on 4Tracking. If it is substantially overdue or the status indicates a delivery problem, the sender or recipient can contact La Poste through its Help and Contact service. Keep the tracking number and proof of posting available.
What should I do if La Poste says my package was delivered but I cannot find it?
Check your mailbox, household members and any delivery information shown in the Tracking history. Colissimo can be delivered to a mailbox, handed over according to the selected service, or made available through a pickup location in certain situations. If you still cannot locate the package, contact La Poste promptly with the shipment reference so the delivery can be investigated.
What happens after a failed La Poste delivery attempt?
Depending on the shipment, La Poste may offer another delivery attempt or allow you to select a new delivery date or nearby pickup location. The Tracking page or delivery notice should indicate the available option for your specific item. Colissimo and registered-mail items that are made available at a post office must be collected within the applicable holding period before they are returned to the sender.
Can I Track a La Poste package without its tracking number?
Normal online package tracking requires a shipment reference, delivery-notice number or another reference accepted by La Poste for the particular item. If you do not have one, ask the sender to check the proof of posting or shipping confirmation. A recipient's name or an e-commerce order number should not be assumed to work as a La Poste tracking number.
Monthly Delivery Performance for La Poste – August 2026
Our comprehensive monthly delivery report for La Poste in August 2026 is based exclusively on shipments confirmed as delivered, detailing the fastest, average, and slowest transit times from origin to destination. Shipments still in transit are excluded to ensure accurate and reliable insights.
| From | To | Delivery Time |
|---|---|---|
 FRAFrance | FRA France |
|
 MARMorocco | FRA France |
|
 DZAAlgeria | FRA France |
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| FRA France |  UnknownUnknown |
|
 SVKSlovakia | FRA France |
|
 DEUGermany | FRA France |
|
 INDIndia | IND India |
|
 BGRBulgaria | FRA France |
|
| Unknown Unknown | FRA France |
|
 PHLPhilippines | PHL Philippines |
|
| IND India | FRA France |
|
 NLDNetherlands | FRA France |
|
| FRA France | DEU Germany |
|
 ROURomania | FRA France |
|
 CHNChina | CHN China |
|