How to track a parcel with only the tracking number

You've got a tracking number but no idea which courier it belongs to, or the link in your email doesn't work. Here's how to find your parcel.

1. Identify the type of number

Tracking numbers have recognisable formats:

• Two letters, nine digits, two letters (like RR123456785GB): an international postal item. The last two letters show the sending country.
• Starts with 1Z: UPS.
• Four letters ending in U, then seven digits (like MSKU1234565): a shipping container.
• 11 digits starting with an airline code (like 176-12345675): air cargo.

Paste the number into the universal tracker and DocNova identifies it for you, checks the check digit for typos, and opens the right tracking page.

2. Use the right website

International postal items are handed from one postal service to another at the border. Track them on the sending country's postal website at first, then on the destination country's site once they arrive. Universal trackers such as 17TRACK and Parcels search many carriers at once and are useful when you don't know the courier.

3. When tracking stops updating

• No information yet: new labels can take a day or two to appear in the system.
• Stuck "in transit" for days: common for international parcels between countries and during customs clearance.
• Held at customs: you may need to pay duty or provide documents; watch for a message from the courier.
• Delivered but not received: check with neighbours and your building's reception, then contact the sender or courier quickly.

Watch out for scam messages

Fake "delivery problem" texts and emails are very common. Don't pay small "redelivery fees" through links in unexpected messages. Instead, type the tracking number into the official courier website yourself.

Frequently asked questions

Why does the courier website say "not found"?

The parcel may not have been scanned yet, the number may have a typo, or the parcel may have been handed to a different carrier for final delivery. The universal tracker's check-digit test catches many typos.

Can I track without a tracking number?

Usually not. Ask the sender for the number, or check your order confirmation emails.