PostNL International is the international shipping operation of PostNL, the Netherlands' main postal operator, focused on helping Dutch businesses and e-commerce sellers send mail and parcels across borders. From the Netherlands, businesses can use PostNL for international parcels, small packets and letter-post products, while recipients can follow eligible shipments through international Tracking as they travel toward their destination.
For e-commerce shipments, PostNL offers business parcel delivery to more than 190 destination countries. Businesses can create shipments in Mijn PostNL, through supported webshop integrations or through PostNL APIs. International options can include Track & Trace, proof of receipt and insurance, depending on the product selected. Small packets weighing up to 2 kg are also available for businesses that do not need to send a full-size parcel.
PostNL also provides international letter and document services. It distinguishes documents from goods because international postal and customs rules are different for each category. Goods sent outside the European Union require customs information, and PostNL can generate the required customs documentation while the shipment is being prepared in Mijn PostNL. Accurate descriptions, values, weights and customs data are important because incomplete information can delay a package or cause it to be returned.
PostNL International should not be understood as having its own delivery network in every country to which it ships. After a package leaves the Netherlands, international transport, customs and final delivery can involve local postal or logistics partners. PostNL notes that international Tracking also depends on information exchanged with those partners, which is why the frequency and detail of scans can change after a shipment reaches another country.
How to Track PostNL International packages
You can Track a PostNL International shipment on 4Tracking by entering the barcode or tracking number supplied by the sender. 4Tracking is a universal package tracking service, which is useful for cross-border PostNL shipments because the same parcel may generate tracking events from PostNL and from the delivery network handling it in the destination country.
The tracking number can normally be found on the shipping receipt, parcel label or shipment confirmation sent by an online store. PostNL instructs users to enter the barcode without spaces. On PostNL's own international Track & Trace service, the destination and recipient information may also be requested to retrieve the available shipment details.
Once PostNL has received and scanned a tracked shipment, Tracking can show events such as acceptance, processing in the Netherlands, international dispatch, arrival in another country, customs-related processing and delivery activity. The exact events vary by service and destination. PostNL specifically warns that it depends on international partners to exchange Track & Trace information, so some destinations can produce fewer or later scans than others.
If a PostNL International package appears to stop moving after leaving the Netherlands, this does not necessarily indicate a lost shipment. It may be travelling between postal facilities, waiting for an international departure, undergoing customs processing or awaiting the next scan from a local carrier. PostNL recommends checking the local postal operator's tracking system as well when international partner data is not appearing promptly.
PostNL International tracking number formats
PostNL uses several barcode formats, so there is no single tracking-number pattern for every international product. Its public Track & Trace documentation says PostNL barcodes commonly begin with 3S or 2S and contain a combination of letters and numbers. For international business shipping, PostNL's developer documentation provides more specific formats according to the destination and product.
For EU parcel shipments, PostNL documents the 3S barcode format. A 3S barcode can be 13 or 15 characters depending on the product and configured customer range. For EU parcels, PostNL's developer documentation shows 13-character examples such as 3SABCD1175003, 3SABC19149187 and 3SA5210528875. These are official technical examples rather than tracking numbers for real customer shipments.
For many shipments outside the EU and for international postal products, PostNL uses internationally recognized S10 barcodes. These are 13 characters long and typically follow the structure 2 letters + 9 digits + NL. The final NL identifies the postal authority under which the identifier was issued. PostNL's developer documentation has historically documented non-EU parcel prefixes such as CC, CD, CF and CP, with official examples including CC123442066NL, CD111208171NL and CP112251335NL.
PostNL changed the automated generation of international S10 barcodes in March 2026. Under the current automated label process, PostNL documents LW for tracked international letterbox and packet shipments, RF for registered international letters and CW for Rest-of-World parcels. Older or differently configured integrations may still produce earlier prefixes such as LA for tracked international packets, RI for registered international letters or other C-prefix parcel identifiers. This is why two legitimate PostNL International shipments do not necessarily begin with the same letters.
PostNL also uses UL and UM for certain automatically generated untracked international letterbox and packet barcodes. A shipping barcode therefore does not by itself guarantee full package tracking. If the service purchased was untracked, entering the identifier may provide limited information or no end-to-end Tracking events.
PostNL International delivery times
PostNL publishes average international delivery times according to the destination and shipping product. These estimates refer to the expected transit toward the first delivery attempt and are not guaranteed delivery dates. PostNL notes that congestion, transport disruptions, weather and customs processing can make a shipment take longer.
For nearby European destinations, PostNL's current business estimates are relatively short. For example, tracked small packets and parcels from the Netherlands to Belgium are estimated at approximately 1-2 working days. Shipments to Germany are generally estimated at 2-3 working days for both tracked packets and parcels. For France, PostNL lists approximately 2-4 working days.
Other European routes can take longer. PostNL lists tracked packets to Italy at approximately 4-6 working days and parcels at 3-5 working days. For Spain, tracked packets are listed at around 3-4 working days and parcels at 3-5 working days. Parcels to the United Kingdom have an average estimate of approximately 4-6 working days.
For the United States, PostNL currently lists approximately 6-8 working days for tracked packets and 6-9 working days for parcels. These figures are estimates rather than promises. Customs requirements can add additional time, especially outside the EU, and PostNL explains that international delivery times can also depend on how frequently transport departs for a particular destination.
The international route itself helps explain why package tracking sometimes appears inactive. PostNL notes that a parcel can travel by aircraft or truck, undergo additional customs checks and eventually be delivered by a local carrier. Some destinations receive frequent departures from the Netherlands, while others are served less frequently. If a shipment arrives just after a scheduled international departure, it can wait longer before continuing its journey.
How to contact PostNL about an international shipment
If your PostNL International Tracking has not updated for an unusually long time or the shipment is beyond the normal delivery estimate, start by checking the complete Tracking history and confirming that the tracking number was entered correctly. PostNL also recommends checking whether the recipient has already received the item because international partner scans are not always transferred immediately.
PostNL provides its online Service & Contact area for shipment questions and problems. Its customer-service system includes the Daan chatbot, which can help check parcel status, start a complaint and connect users with a customer-service representative when additional assistance is required. For Dutch business customers, current PostNL documentation also lists 088 868 68 68 as the PostNL Business Customer Service telephone number.
If you are the recipient of a PostNL International package in another country, contacting the sender is often the best first step for a formal investigation because the Dutch sender holds the shipping contract and proof of posting. Once the parcel has entered the destination country's delivery network, the recipient can also check the same tracking number with the local postal operator. PostNL specifically notes that its international Tracking information depends on data supplied by its partners.
When reporting a shipment problem, keep the complete tracking number, recipient address, destination country, posting date and proof of shipment available. Business senders should also retain order, customs and shipment information from Mijn PostNL, especially when a parcel is delayed at customs or appears to have been returned.
Frequently asked questions about PostNL International package tracking issues
Why is my PostNL International Tracking not updating?
International shipments can have gaps between scans while they are travelling between countries, waiting for international transport, undergoing customs procedures or being transferred to a local delivery partner. PostNL also depends on its international partners to return Tracking data, so a shipment can continue moving even when no new event appears immediately.
Why does my PostNL International tracking number show no results?
Check that the entire barcode was entered correctly and without spaces. A newly created shipping label may not show useful Tracking information until the parcel receives its first operational scan. Also confirm that the sender purchased a tracked product, because PostNL offers some international products that have a shipping barcode but are not intended for full Track & Trace.
What format does a PostNL International tracking number use?
The format depends on the service. EU parcels commonly use a 3S barcode, while many international postal and Rest-of-World products use a 13-character S10 identifier consisting of two letters, nine digits and NL. Current automatically generated international identifiers can begin with prefixes including LW, RF and CW, depending on the service.
Why does my PostNL tracking number end in NL?
Many PostNL International shipments use the Universal Postal Union's S10 identifier format. In this format, the final two letters identify the issuing postal authority. NL represents the Netherlands. A number ending in NL does not mean that PostNL itself will perform final delivery in every destination country.
Why do some older PostNL International packages start with LA, RI, CC or CP?
PostNL has used several international S10 prefixes for different products and technical integrations. Its developer documentation includes LA for tracked international packet products, RI for registered international letters and C-prefix identifiers such as CC, CD, CF and CP for non-EU parcels. PostNL introduced new automatically generated prefixes in 2026, including LW, RF and CW, so both older and newer formats can be encountered.
Can I Track a PostNL International package after it leaves the Netherlands?
Yes, eligible international shipments can continue to provide Tracking information after leaving the Netherlands. However, the amount and timing of information depend on the destination and the local partner's data exchange with PostNL. If updates stop, try the same tracking number with the destination country's postal operator as well as 4Tracking.
How long does PostNL International delivery take to Germany?
PostNL currently publishes an average delivery estimate of approximately 2-3 working days for tracked packets and parcels from the Netherlands to Germany. This is an estimate, and disruptions or additional handling can extend the actual transit time.
How long does PostNL International delivery take to the United States?
PostNL currently estimates approximately 6-8 working days for tracked packets and 6-9 working days for parcels to the United States. Customs processing and other international transport factors can add time beyond these estimates.
Why is my PostNL International package delayed at customs?
Goods sent outside the EU require customs information, and the destination customs authority can inspect a shipment before releasing it for delivery. Missing, inaccurate or incomplete product descriptions, values, weights or customs information can contribute to delays. Customs processing time is outside the normal transport process and is not fully controlled by PostNL.
Why does my package show that a local carrier is delivering it?
PostNL sends parcels internationally from the Netherlands but works with postal and logistics partners for delivery in other countries. A local carrier appearing in Tracking is therefore a normal part of many international routes and does not mean that the shipment has been incorrectly transferred.
What should I do if my PostNL International package is overdue?
Compare the shipment's latest Tracking event with PostNL's published estimate for the destination. Check with the recipient and, when appropriate, the destination postal operator. If the parcel remains missing, the sender should contact PostNL through its Service & Contact channels with the tracking number and proof of shipment so the available investigation procedure can be started.
What should I do if my PostNL International package says delivered but the recipient did not receive it?
The recipient should first check the delivery details, household members, neighbours and any pickup location indicated by the local carrier. Because international final delivery can be performed by a partner, the destination carrier may have additional delivery information. If the package still cannot be found, the sender should contact PostNL with the shipment details and proof of posting.
Can I Track a PostNL International shipment without a tracking number?
Normal package tracking requires the barcode or shipment identifier. If you do not have it, ask the sender or online store to provide the PostNL tracking number from its shipment confirmation or shipping label. A shop order number should not be assumed to be the PostNL barcode unless the merchant specifically identifies it as such.
Monthly Delivery Performance for PostNL International – September 2026
Our comprehensive monthly delivery report for PostNL International in September 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 |
|---|---|---|
 NLDNetherlands |  SAUSaudi Arabia |
|
| NLD Netherlands |  ITAItaly |
|
| NLD Netherlands |  ESPSpain |
|
| NLD Netherlands |  FRAFrance |
|
| NLD Netherlands |  POLPoland |
|
| NLD Netherlands |  DEUGermany |
|
| NLD Netherlands |  BRABrazil |
|
| NLD Netherlands |  BGRBulgaria |
|
| NLD Netherlands |  MARMorocco |
|
| NLD Netherlands |  AREUnited Arab Emirates |
|
| NLD Netherlands |  USAUnited States |
|
| NLD Netherlands |  HRVCroatia |
|
| NLD Netherlands |  MKDNorth Macedonia |
|
 UnknownUnknown | NLD Netherlands |
|
| NLD Netherlands | NLD Netherlands |
|