Canada Post is Canada's national postal operator, providing mail and parcel services to individuals and businesses across the country. Its domestic network connects Canadian communities through post offices, processing facilities and delivery operations, making it an important carrier for everyday correspondence, online purchases, business shipments and parcel deliveries within Canada.
For packages sent within Canada, the carrier provides several service levels designed for different delivery needs. Priority is the fastest domestic parcel option, while Xpresspost combines faster delivery with package Tracking. Regular Parcel provides an economical ground option, and prepaid Flat rate boxes offer postage-included shipping for eligible items. Canada Post also provides Expedited Parcel for eligible commercial and Solutions for Small Business customers.
Canada Post also handles services such as Registered Mail for important letters and documents, delivery confirmation, signature options and other features depending on the product selected. Because available features and delivery standards vary by service, the shipping label or receipt is an important reference for identifying the service used and finding the associated tracking number.
For recipients waiting for purchases or personal shipments, package tracking is the easiest way to follow progress through the Canada Post delivery network. Tracking information can indicate when a shipment has been accepted, processed, moved through the network, sent out for delivery or delivered, helping recipients understand where their package is and whether action may be required.
How to Track Canada Post packages
You can Track a Canada Post package through 4Tracking by entering the tracking number in the tracking field and starting the search. 4Tracking provides a convenient way to follow shipment events and delivery progress from one tracking page, which is particularly useful when you receive packages handled by different carriers.
You can also use Canada Post's official Track service. Canada Post accepts a tracking number and, in some cases, a Delivery Notice Card number or a reference number supplied by the sender. According to Canada Post, tracking information is updated as information becomes available.
Canada Post follows packages by scanning their barcodes at points in the delivery process. A package is normally scanned when it enters the postal network and at important delivery stages, including when it goes out for delivery. There can sometimes be several days without a new scan while a package remains in transit, so a temporary gap in Tracking updates does not automatically mean that the shipment has stopped moving.
Canada Post tracking number formats
Canada Post uses more than one tracking-number format. For many domestic items delivered within Canada, excluding certain prepaid envelopes and labels, the tracking number consists of 16 numeric digits. An official example of this format is 1234 5678 9123 4567. When entering the number for package tracking, spaces can generally be treated as formatting rather than part of the identifier.
Canada Post also uses 13-character alphanumeric identifiers on products such as prepaid envelopes and labels. An official example is AA 123 456 789 CA. Canada Post's guidance describes these as combinations of letters and numbers, commonly ending in CA.
A Delivery Notice Card number is different from a normal tracking number. It contains 15 digits and can be used with Canada Post's Track tool for items delivered in Canada. Senders may also create reference numbers for some shipments, although a reference search may require additional information such as the destination postal code.
If you cannot find your tracking number, check the shipping receipt, package label or confirmation email from the merchant or sender. Canada Post states that it cannot retrieve a lost tracking number using the recipient's or sender's name and address, so recipients should contact the sender or retailer if the number is missing.
Canada Post delivery times within Canada
Canada Post delivery standards depend on the service, origin, destination and whether the addresses are in major urban centres, smaller communities or remote regions. Delivery standards are measured in business days, and weekends and statutory holidays are excluded. Items deposited after applicable cut-off times may also be treated as having been deposited on the next business day.
For shipments between major urban centres, official domestic standards provide useful examples. Priority is generally next business day for local, regional and national shipments. Xpresspost is generally next business day for local and regional shipments and about 2 business days for national shipments.
For major urban centres, Expedited Parcel and Flat rate box shipments have standards of approximately 1–2 business days locally, 1–4 business days regionally and 2–8 business days nationally. Regular Parcel has broader estimated standards of approximately 1–3 business days locally, 3–6 business days regionally and 4–10 business days nationally.
Delivery to non-major urban centres and northern or remote communities can take longer. For example, Canada Post lists local delivery standards in northern regions and remote centres of about 5 business days for Priority and Xpresspost, 6–7 business days for Expedited Parcel and Flat rate boxes, and 6–9 business days for Regular Parcel. Regional and national shipments involving these areas may require additional time.
These figures are delivery standards rather than a universal promise for every shipment. Canada Post notes that weather, transportation problems, service disruptions, unusually high parcel volumes and other circumstances can affect delivery. An On-Time Delivery Guarantee applies to certain eligible services, including Priority, Xpresspost, Expedited Parcel and Flat rate box, subject to Canada Post's terms and exceptions. Regular Parcel delivery standards are estimates and are not guaranteed.
How to contact Canada Post about a shipment problem
If Tracking shows that the expected delivery date has passed, start by checking the latest package tracking events and confirming the delivery address. Canada Post allows customers to report eligible missing-package problems and start an investigation through its online support system. For recipients, contacting the merchant or sender is also important because only the sender can ultimately make certain claims and request compensation for a package that Canada Post declares missing.
Canada Post customer service can be reached within Canada at 1-866-607-6301. Published call-centre hours are 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday and Sunday. Canada Post also provides online support and chat, with its virtual assistance available around the clock and access to additional assistance when appropriate.
If a package is marked as delivered but cannot be found, check around the delivery location, household members, community mailbox or parcel compartment, apartment mailroom, concierge or other normal delivery points before reporting it missing. Canada Post can investigate a package that remains missing after these checks.
Frequently asked questions about Canada Post package tracking issues
Why is my Canada Post Tracking not updating?
Canada Post tracks package movement through barcode scans, but a new scan is not necessarily generated at every stage of transportation. The official guidance notes that several days can sometimes pass without a new event while the package remains in transit. Continue to Track the shipment and compare its progress with the expected delivery date. If that date has passed without delivery or useful updates, you can use Canada Post's support process to investigate.
What should I do if Canada Post says my package was delivered but I cannot find it?
First verify the address and search the normal delivery locations around your home or building. Check your mailbox, community mailbox parcel compartment, safe-drop areas, apartment mailroom, concierge or security desk, and ask other household members whether they accepted the package. If it still cannot be located, report the missing delivery to Canada Post so an investigation can be started.
Can Canada Post find my package if I lost the tracking number?
Canada Post states that it cannot disclose or recover a tracking number by searching the sender's or recipient's name or address. Check the shipping receipt, package-label copy, retailer account and shipping-confirmation emails. If you are the recipient, contact the sender or merchant and ask them to provide the tracking number again.
Why does my Canada Post tracking number have 16 digits?
A 16-digit numeric tracking number is a standard format used for many domestic Canada Post shipments within Canada. For example, Canada Post shows the format as 1234 5678 9123 4567. Other Canada Post products can use a 13-character combination of letters and numbers instead, so the appearance of the tracking number can depend on the label or service used.
What should I do when the expected delivery date has passed?
Continue checking the latest Tracking events and make sure no delivery notice or delivery scan has been missed. Canada Post advises customers concerned about a potentially missing package to use its online support process to start an investigation when appropriate. If you bought the item from a retailer, also contact the seller or sender, particularly if a claim or compensation may eventually be required.
Can I Track a Canada Post package using a Delivery Notice Card?
Yes. Canada Post's official Track system accepts the 15-digit number printed on a Delivery Notice Card for applicable items delivered in Canada. The card may also provide information about where the shipment can be collected if a delivery attempt could not be completed.
Monthly Delivery Performance for Canada Post – August 2026
Our comprehensive monthly delivery report for Canada 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 |
|---|---|---|
 INDIndia |  CANCanada |
|
| CAN Canada | CAN Canada |
|
 DZAAlgeria | CAN Canada |
|
 CHNChina | CAN Canada |
|
 USAUnited States | CAN Canada |
|
 BGDBangladesh | CAN Canada |
|
 MARMorocco | CAN Canada |
|
 JPNJapan | CAN Canada |
|
 BGRBulgaria | CAN Canada |
|
 AUSAustralia | CAN Canada |
|
 THAThailand | CAN Canada |
|
 RUSRussia | CAN Canada |
|
| CAN Canada | AUS Australia |
|
 KORSouth Korea | CAN Canada |
|
 HKGHong Kong | CAN Canada |
|