An Post is Ireland's national postal operator, providing postal, parcel, distribution and related services to households and businesses across Ireland. Its Mails & Parcels network handles letters, e-commerce deliveries and parcels, while An Post also operates retail and financial services through its wider organisation.
For sending mail and packages, An Post offers several service levels designed around speed, security and cost. Standard Post covers everyday letters, packets and parcels, while Registered Post adds proof of posting and delivery features. Express Post is intended for faster shipments and includes online Tracking, and An Post also provides an International Courier Service for time-sensitive overseas documents and parcels.
An Post's domestic postal network serves addresses throughout Ireland, while its international postal services connect Irish senders with destinations worldwide through partner postal operators. For international shipments, An Post handles the item in Ireland before it is transferred to the postal operator responsible for delivery in the destination country.
For recipients, package tracking provides the clearest way to follow a tracked shipment. You can Track an An Post package through 4Tracking by entering the tracking number supplied by the sender, merchant or An Post. Because 4Tracking supports many postal and courier networks, it can also help when an international shipment moves between An Post and another postal operator during its journey.
How An Post shipment tracking works
An Post tracking is available when the sender has used a service that includes Track and Trace. The tracking number, also called a barcode or Track ID, is associated with the shipment and is scanned as the item moves through the postal network. An Post states that tracking information is updated throughout the day as delivery items are scanned.
To use 4Tracking, enter the complete An Post tracking number into the tracking field and start the search. The system can attempt to identify the carrier automatically. If An Post is not selected correctly, choose An Post manually and run the package tracking request again.
For an international item sent from Ireland using a tracked service, An Post recommends following it through its own Track and Trace system first. Once the item has left Ireland, tracking may continue through the postal service in the destination country. If no destination-country event appears immediately after departure from Ireland, the item may still be travelling to that country's arrivals facility and may not yet have received another scan.
Inbound international items can also be tracked through An Post after they have been received into the Irish postal network, provided the shipment has suitable tracking information. The amount of detail available can therefore depend on the service used and which postal operator currently has the package.
An Post tracking number formats
An Post's official tracking guidance states that its Track ID format for items posted within Ireland consists of two letters followed by nine digits and ending in IE. The carrier gives RR123456789IE as an official example. Another example displayed by An Post is AY123456789IE.
This means a supported An Post tracking-number example follows the structure RR123456789IE: two letters, nine numerical digits and the final country identifier IE. Enter the number without changing or omitting any characters when using package tracking.
Do not confuse the transaction reference shown on an An Post receipt with the shipment tracking number. An Post specifically states that the Trans Ref ID is used to record the transaction and is not a tracking number. If you are receiving a package and cannot find a tracking number, ask the sender whether a tracked postal service was purchased and request the correct shipment number.
An Post delivery times
Delivery times depend on the service and destination. An Post currently lists next-working-day delivery in Ireland for Standard Post, Registered Post and Express Post. These service descriptions are delivery targets for the relevant postal products rather than guarantees that every individual package will arrive at the same time under all circumstances.
For Standard Post sent internationally, An Post lists an expected delivery time of approximately 3–7 working days. Registered Post also lists 3–7 working days for international delivery, while international Express Post and the International Courier Service are shown with expected delivery times of approximately 1–5 working days, depending on the destination and service conditions.
As another supported example, Express Post within Ireland is intended for delivery by close of business on the next working day. An Post notes that collections are not made on weekends or public holidays and that delivery guarantees can be affected by customs intervention or events outside the carrier's control.
International transit times should be treated as estimates because the destination, customs processing and transfer to another postal operator can affect the journey. For the most relevant estimate, use the service selected for your package and compare it with the latest Tracking events rather than applying one delivery time to every An Post shipment.
Why An Post tracking may not update immediately
A tracking number does not necessarily show a new event continuously. An Post updates tracking information when items are scanned in its network, so there may be periods between scans while a package is travelling between facilities or awaiting the next processing stage.
For outbound international shipments, a longer gap can occur after the package leaves Ireland and before the destination postal operator records its arrival. An Post explains that it may not be able to track an outbound international item once it has left Ireland until further information is received from the destination postal service.
If your package has not arrived, first check the latest Tracking event and confirm that the tracking number is correct. If the expected delivery period has passed without a meaningful update, contact An Post or ask the sender to investigate the shipment, particularly when the sender purchased the postal service.
How to contact An Post about shipment issues
An Post provides several official support options for post and parcel enquiries. Customer Services can be reached on +353 (1) 705 7600. Current published opening hours for post and parcel telephone support are Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:30pm and Saturday from 9:00am to 2:00pm.
You can also use the webchat available through the An Post Contact Us page. An Post lists webchat availability from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday and from 9:00am to 2:00pm on Saturday. WhatsApp support for mail and parcel enquiries is listed as available Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. An Post also accepts messages through Facebook and direct messages on X through @postvox.
For a formal postal enquiry or complaint, An Post provides an online enquiry process and accepts written correspondence through Customer Services. When requesting help with a delayed, missing or incorrectly delivered package, have the tracking number, sender and recipient information, posting date and latest tracking event ready. An Post notes that recipients may also need to obtain information such as the posting date and service used from the sender.
Frequently asked questions about An Post package tracking issues
How do I Track an An Post package?
Enter your An Post tracking number into 4Tracking and start the search. If An Post is not detected automatically, select An Post manually and repeat the tracking request. Only items sent using a service that provides tracking can be followed through Track and Trace.
What does an An Post tracking number look like?
An Post states that a tracking number for an item posted within Ireland has two letters followed by nine digits and ends in IE. RR123456789IE and AY123456789IE are examples provided in An Post's official tracking guidance.
Can I use the Trans Ref ID on my An Post receipt for tracking?
No. An Post specifically states that the Trans Ref ID records the transaction and is not a shipment tracking number. Look for the separate Track ID or barcode number associated with the postal item.
Why is my An Post tracking number showing no results?
First verify every character of the tracking number and confirm that the sender used a tracked service. A package may also need to be scanned into the postal network before useful tracking information appears. If you are the recipient and do not have a valid tracking number, contact the sender.
How long does An Post delivery take within Ireland?
An Post lists next-working-day delivery for Standard Post, Registered Post and Express Post within Ireland. Actual delivery can still be affected by the posting time, service conditions, weekends, public holidays and circumstances outside the carrier's control.
How long does An Post international delivery take?
An Post lists approximately 3–7 working days for international Standard Post and Registered Post. International Express Post and International Courier services are generally listed at approximately 1–5 working days, depending on the destination and service used.
Why did my international An Post tracking stop after the package left Ireland?
After an outbound shipment leaves Ireland, it travels to the postal operator in the destination country. An Post may not receive another update until the destination operator processes and scans the item. Once it has been handed over, checking the destination country's postal tracking system may provide additional information.
Can every An Post package be tracked?
No. An Post states that the sender must purchase a tracked service for an item to have Track and Trace capability. If you are receiving a shipment, ask the sender whether a tracked service was used and request the associated tracking number.
Who should I contact if my An Post package is delayed or missing?
Contact An Post Post and Parcels Customer Services on +353 (1) 705 7600 or use the official webchat, WhatsApp or online enquiry options available through anpost.com. You can also contact the sender, especially if details about the postal service, posting date or proof of postage are required for an investigation.
Monthly Delivery Performance for An Post – August 2026
Our comprehensive monthly delivery report for An Post 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 |
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 IRLIreland |  UnknownUnknown |
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 ROURomania | IRL Ireland |
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 BGRBulgaria | IRL Ireland |
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 JPNJapan | IRL Ireland |
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 SVKSlovakia | IRL Ireland |
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 MARMorocco | IRL Ireland |
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 BLRBelarus | IRL Ireland |
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 USAUnited States | IRL Ireland |
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 POLPoland | IRL Ireland |
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 BELBelgium | IRL Ireland |
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 AREUnited Arab Emirates | IRL Ireland |
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 ITAItaly | IRL Ireland |
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 FRAFrance | IRL Ireland |
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 PRTPortugal | IRL Ireland |
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 KORSouth Korea | IRL Ireland |
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